CT boards

I PASSED MY CT BOARDS!!!!!!!!

I was so nervous before taking the exam and even during the exam. There were a lot of questions that I had no idea what the answer was. I was definitely sweating before I pressed the next button after the exam.

I'm so excited that I have CT completely done and now I just have to worry about MRI and my Bachelors Degree.

Needle sticks

I am now beginning to feel a lot better with doing complete exams from start to finish including needle sticks! I thought it would take me a while to learn a technique in needle sticks, but I try to do stick every single person that comes in so I can get the practice. One of the techs that I work with told me that if I miss the vein to anchor the vein down hard, pull the needle out a little, then go to the right until you get blood return (I guess it's because I'm right handed). I really don't know how, but it's worked for me.

Monday clinicals

Monday clinicals were very busy, so I got to see and do a lot. Most of the cases were usual head, sinus, chest, abdomen, and pelvis studies, but we had two cases that were soft tissue necks!

This week I had to pick up hours at work and miss out on one day of my clinicals, so now I think I'm behind on my hours. I feel like there is not enough hours in the day!

Hopefully after next week my life will calm down a little so I can dedicate more time towards my education.

Update on MRI and CT clinicals

This past week I got a competency on an MRI C-spine. I am now understanding that a lot of the procedures are set up the same way, but I'm still trying to understand how to revise the protocols that are already in the computer if we have to do any additional views, etc. MRI is still extremely complicated, but I am slowly getting it.

I am still trying to study for my CT boards, so I'm still working on the Toshiba CT scanner on Mondays. The Toshiba scanner computer is not hooked up to the automatic injector so the delay times are not shown on the computer screen. I feel that having this feature challenges me to remember the delay times of each exam. I also feel that since I am working at an outpatient facility, I don't get to see as many exams as I would like. Most of the exams I see are basic chest, abdomen, pelvic, and head CT's with the occasional PE chest, extremity, and soft tissue neck.

My 1st MRI comp

This week I got my very first comp in MRI!! The comp was a knee and I did everything including filming. That may not seem like a lot, but It meant a lot to me. I might not know everything about MRI, but it is starting to make a little more sense the more and more I do exams.

MRI is difficult

I now have started MRI officially! MRI is a lot difficult then what I originally thought. It is starting to come to me, but there is so much to know. I am now working on the open MRI scanner where I have helped scan numerous extremities, spines, brains, and a couple abdomens. The abdomens I have seen have not been the best to watch. One study was to look at the liver and the other was to look at the kidneys. The protocol on the liver study had to be changed dramatically because the ordering physician also wanted to look at the adrenals, so I kind of sat back and watched because I had know idea what the MRI tech was doing!

About CT:

Unfortunately I haven't taken my CT boards yet, but I hope to learn more about anatomy and pathology before taking them. I find it very difficult to try to study for my CT boards, keep up in class, work, and understand MRI all at the same time. My goal is to take the CT boards in a few months and then I can primarily focus on MRI and my classes.

MRI clinicals

I'm excited to have another semester under my belt. It's almost time to take my CT boards!