Radiology Assistant?

[HenryH]

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Earlier today, I was informed of a career called Radiology Assistant/Radiology Practitioner Assistant. From what I was told, the job is low-stress, includes all the interesting aspects of radiology, doesn't involve call and pays in the six-figures range.

Does anyone here have more information on this job, the education required, etc.?

Thanks...

 

[fab4fan]

http://www.asrt.org/content/RTs/SpecialtySpecific/RadiologistAssistant/Radiologist_Assistant.aspx

 

[Taurus]

The glossy brochure you read doesn't give you an idea of the politics behind the scenes. There is a very strong anti-midlevel sentiment among radiologists. This thread is but a small sample.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=378554

Go to auntminnie.com, create an account, and do a search for "RPA". You'll see what I mean. The nurses don't seem to believe me when I say that all physician groups are watching what's happening with the DNP's and CRNA's and are learning from it.

 

[deleted6669]

also there are currently only 2 rpa programs and I believe they are only licensed to work in ny state at this point.....

 

[Taurus]

There's even a nursing group called "Certified Radiology Nurses" or CRN's. Unbelievable.

I say, the more, the merrier. RPA's, RA's, PA's, NP's, and CRN's will fill the same role.

 

[core0]

There's even a nursing group called "Certified Radiology Nurses" or CRN's. Unbelievable.

I say, the more, the merrier. RPA's, RA's, PA's, NP's, and CRN's will fill the same role.

CRN's are nurses with added training. They do conscious sedation and chemo as well as recover patients from IR procedures similar to GI nurses in the GI lab. Not at all the same. They are not APNs. Similarly RA's and RPA's are radiology techs with additional training in specific procedures. Once again not the same. The only NPPs that work in radiology are PAs and NPs.

David Carpenter, PA-C

 

[Taurus]

CRN's are nurses with added training. They do conscious sedation and chemo as well as recover patients from IR procedures similar to GI nurses in the GI lab. Not at all the same. They are not APNs. Similarly RA's and RPA's are radiology techs with additional training in specific procedures. Once again not the same. The only NPPs that work in radiology are PAs and NPs.

David Carpenter, PA-C

We like to keep CRN's from being considered as APN's too. Didn't NP's and CRNA's start out as RN's with certificate training as well? If nurses thought they could make radiology into another anesthesiology, don't you think they would jump at the chance to make an advanced nursing pathway for CRN's?

The important thing is that radiologists do not want to create the equivalent of CRNA's in radiology, regardless of what their background is. That's why some have stated that they won't even acknowledge RPA/RA's. As anesthesiology has shown, the key is to not rely on any one group. My preference is to hire a PA and train them in radiology.