I Was Lucky!

People always ask me how I got into the MRI field. And I have to tell them that I was Lucky!

That's not entirely true, but it does have some merit because I landed my first MRI Tech job only 8 months out of college. And that is unheard of, or at least at that time it was.

Here is how I did it.

In September 1992, I graduated from Wenatchee Valley College with an AA in Radiologic Technology (I was an x-ray tech). Back then, they didn't teach MRI or CT in the Radiology Programs. Those things had to be learned OTJ or on the job. So, I had no experience in MRI, although that is the whole reason that I went to Rad Tech school, was to end up in MRI someday. I knew that I would have to do my "time" in x-ray before I would be able to advance into an MRI position, so I accepted a graveyard shift at KMC in Richland, Wa.

That is where my first professional job was and like I said, I was there for 8 months.

But I didn't just work my graveyard shift and go home every day. As soon as I was off duty in x-ray, I would head straight over to the MRI department and watch them, and learn from watching.

Well, in 8 months, a position opened up in MRI and there were two qualified candidates who applied. A CT tech named Carol and myself. I was qualified because I had learned enough from observing every morning, that I could actually scan a brain scan all by myself.

That is all it took for the staff to realize that I was the person for the job.

Well, I did have a very close tie to the MRI department (I was married to the MRI Supervisor) but I knew that would not be enough to land me the job. But because I had proven my desire, my initiative to learn and my knowledge of the job, I was hired by my spouse and it still looked good to all who tried to say that I earned the position in bed.

That was 15 years ago and I am sinced divorced x 5 years burt I am still working in MRI and my name is well known over the NorthWest for my skills, training abilities and my work ethics.

About the Author

Jennifer Staley RT.R.CT.MR.
has worked in MRI training for 15+ yrs & enjoys teaching patients & staff MRI Safety especially.
Her latest website found at http://Team-Hockey.com is dedicated to her son Chad, and her first website
at http://wellnessmagnets.com is dedicated to all the patients that have touched her life through MRI.