The first week in February

I went to my hospital location on Monday and we didn't have a patient until 3:45 p.m. and I usually leave at 3 p.m. I was really upset at first, but because I didn't have any patients, I was able to play around with the scanner. I believe it helped me out a lot just learning how one factor can change another.
(For those of you who are wondering... I did end up staying and doing the one patient!)

My hospital clinicals

The new hospital that I have been going to is a smaller hospital (approx. 40 beds) but it has some of the latest MRI and CT scanners! I love being able to learn on newer equipment as well as older equipment. It helps me become more versatile! I'm hoping that I see as much as I can over the next year in MRI so I can become the best technologist that I can! I am also hoping to gain more CT knowledge so I don't lose my skills as a CT tech.

MRI comps

Yesterday was a pretty steady day. I received a thoracic spine comp, as well as a knee and a shoulder. I'm very excited to start my clinicals at the hospital! I hope I can see unusual exams to give myself more experience in the field.

Intro for spring semester 2010

Hello all! I hope everyone is ready to start the new semester. I know I am:) I'm excited to start a new clinical site at a local hospital!!

Chiari Malformation

On Friday, we had a patient that was complaining of headaches on the left side. When we scanned a brain with and without contrast the tech I was working with noticed a Chiari malformation, which is where the cerebellar tonsils are being pressed down by the brain. We went over what it was, when it happens (when the brain and skull are developing), and what can happen when you have one. An example is when the malformation presses on the spinal canal and causes a blockage of signals to the brain. It was really interesting to me to see an anomaly like this.

We also scanned orbits, pituitary, a wrist, a knee, a thoracic spine, and a lumbar spine. The thoracic spine was on a patient that had a very high pain tolerance!! His spine looked horrible! There were so many bulging discs and degenerative changes.

unique exams

My last clinical day was a very unique day. I had an MRI ST neck with, MRI ST pelvis to check for a mass/lesion in the uterus, and an MRI chest exam to check the attachment of the pectoralis muscle. These exams are pretty uncommon at the facility that I do my clinicals with the exception of the ST neck. The pectoralis muscle attachment exam was extremely difficult to do becuase of the air in the lungs and the motion of the heart. Despite the difficulty, the images turned out pretty well!

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.