Yeah I was trying to think back to my (very limited, as in they finally got around to it about two days before I left) OSHA training, and I feel like the badges were included in that. Even when they could have used my help, they always had someone else who had a badge assist, so it seemed pretty important.
WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?! For the love of Pete. The tech who is responsible for OSHA in the clinic said that it's basically a joke in the hospital. I'm totally fine with passing on xrays until I 'earn' a badge...the other assistant is getting one now that she's been here for three months. When I asked the manager if I had a badge, that's when she said "Not yet. Oh, Susie (not her actual name...lol), you can get yours now though. It's been three months." I helped with like five today....measly numbers, but still.
Yeah, I found this too, the only thing I'm wondering about is this particular statement, because I'm not sure how many x-rays you would have to assist with in order to be close to that limit
I mean I totally get that some OSHA req's are just a pain. But when you're dealing with radiation and it's something as easy as ordering me a badge...come on now. Now I'm just annoyed because all I had to do was Google it to see that it is clearly a violation to deny me a badge, yet expect me to assist.
I've been working at the clinic I'm at now for over 9 months and still don't have a badge. :/ I was told by the office manager in our most recent staff meeting that they wait until you've been there 6 months to order you one, and that she's going to get on that, so we'll see. One of the other techs who's been working here about a year and a half doesn't have one yet either, but she's also been trained as a receptionist and has been doing that primarily since shortly after I started. I wasn't familiar with the badges until I started working here, and I don't assist with X-rays very often (maybe 10 films a week maximum), but maybe I should be more annoyed/worried about it than I am?
Yeah I have no idea how to figure any of that out. I'm assuming distance to the source length of exposure, etc. are factors.
I totally understand why I don't have keys. It is my first week, after all. But after that three month mark hits, I will be assigned Sunday kennel duty and rotate with the other assistants, so I'll get keys then.
Yeah....I know....
It seems to me that the 3 month thing might be a standard probationary period, since I had the same experience, and the office manager specifically said that they usually wait 3 months, but since I wasn't going to be there much longer than that it wouldn't be worth it to go to the trouble to get me a badge. But they shouldn't be expecting you to assist on a regular basis without one.
The scatter distance on our machine was only 6 feet, and it wasn't in a separate room from the treatment area, so we would just have the doors that led to the exam rooms and the kennels closed. The badges were kept in a drawer that was probably at least 6 feet from the machine. After a while I started hanging out just far enough away that the scatter wasn't likely to reach me instead of scurrying out of the area entirely. Important bits behind a counter, of course 😛
Pretty sure the limit is only attainable if you live next to a nuclear reactor. Our radiology techs at school who take rads all day long are not even close to the limit (a 10-fold away!).
I just find it funny that the manager demanded I wore the lead gloves, but won't provide a badge.
I hate to be a P.I.T.A., but I'll probably just say I'm not okay holding during x-rays without a badge from now on. They'll have to pull aside the other tech, I guess.Me right now:
Let me rephrase.. A nuclear reactor experiencing a meltdown 🙂. But all joking aside, badges are important to make sure the equipment is functioning properly and not giving off insane doses of radiation. This clinic sounds like a trainwreck. There are a lot of clinics in MI that are willing to give you good quality experience, you just gotta look for them. This place does not sound like it can offer you that. I bet you those mice are just waiting to nibble into those surgery packs and contaminate the **** out of them, no pun intended.
The worst part is that I am the type of employee who takes it upon herself to fix everything. Which might be exactly what is needed (except I might not be the right person to get rid of mice...). The rest of the staff certainly work hard. I just think the lack of moral over many years has led to a run-down clinic. Plus the building is over 50 years old and has recently flooded.
Yeah it's already happened. I had to repackage some things and toss unused envelopes all together because they have been chewed on. 🙁 I want to work for a clinic I'd be comfortable bringing my animals to. I can tell you that as of now, my animals would never step foot in this hospital. I just don't want to jump the gun and leave after my first week. It was the only clinic hiring within 45 minutes, too.
Enough with the moral compass.
Good point, I didn't think of that at all. How can I tell if the technician is using good technique? I have no formal training in the matter.
😉
Yeah as of now, my imaginary pro/con list is full of cons :/ It's a basic piece of safety equipment....they can't be that expensive....can it?
It shouldn't cost them at all, actually. And if they continue to force it you can report them to OSHA anonymously and they will inspect the clinic
It ok. That's why we work with animals. Because humans are dumb.
My point was, that by taking 3 months of x-rays without a badge will probably not be harmful, but it is not recommended.
The company I use does them by batches. So up to 10 costs the same then 10-20
Nice.
Oh. Hmm. Sounds like honest ignorance then. Which I know is still frustrating.
That's pretty bad, but I constantly surprise my mother with things that vets do - and she's a (human) nurse who at least occasionally took my childhood dog to the vet!
this guy was one of the type that doesn't get veterinary med AT ALL.
I'm so sorry, Gwen 🙁. Sending thoughts your way!
That's BS. We've talked about this where I work and many of us agree it would be great to have a guy around sometimes, but ultimately if a position becomes available, the better candidate is hired, regardless of gender.
