Radiation Therapists

People in this career often have these skills:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Position patients for treatment or examination.
• Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
• Administer cancer treatments.
• Protect patients or staff members using safety equipment.
• Verify accuracy of patient information.

• Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
• Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
• Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
• Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
• Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
• Interact with patients to build rapport or provide emotional support.
• Maintain medical facility records.
• Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
• Fabricate medical devices.
• Develop medical treatment plans.
• Calculate numerical data for medical activities.
• Process x-rays or other medical images.
• Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
• Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
• Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
• Train medical providers.
• Supervise patient care personnel.
• Prepare medications or medical solutions.
• Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.

• Respiratory Therapists

• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

• Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

• Surgical Technologists

• Neurodiagnostic Technologists

• Endoscopy Technicians

• Medical Equipment Preparers