HealthcareISCO 2269
Radiographer
A radiographer is a person who uses imaging and radiation technologies to examine, treat and care for patients.
Check yourself in a minute: radiographer
Rate 5 of the 53 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
respond to changing situations in health care
provide psychological support to patients
use e-health and mobile health technologies
interact with healthcare suppliers
conduct cancer screening tests
About radiographer
Radiographers work across medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, and the technology changes with the department: ionising radiation in plain imaging and computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and radioactive sources in nuclear medicine and treatment. In radiotherapy they carry out computerised treatment planning, working out how a dose is delivered to a target while sparing the tissue around it. In imaging they perform cancer screening examinations.
Radiographers explain each examination to the patient and help them into the right position, because the patient has to understand what will happen and stay still while it does. Radiographers also handle emergency care situations, such as a patient deteriorating during an examination.
Healthcare legislation and the quality standards of healthcare practice govern the work, and healthcare data management systems hold the images and the dose records that have to stay linked to the right patient. Formal requirements are set by national rules on medical professions and on working with ionising radiation.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (53)
hygiene in a health care settinghygiene in a health care settingThe procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipmen...pharmaceutical productspharmaceutical productsThe offered pharmaceutical products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.health care legislationhealth care legislationThe patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.medical terminologymedical terminologyThe meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.health care occupation-specific ethicshealth care occupation-specific ethicsThe moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patie...radiation physics in healthcareradiation physics in healthcareThe radiation physics related to conventional radiology, CT, MRI, ultrasound, diagnostic nuclear medicine and their principles such as areas of application, indications, contraindications, limitations...evidence-based radiography practiceevidence-based radiography practiceThe radiography principles that require the application of quality decision-making and radiography care based on proven clinical expertise as well as the most recent research developments in the field...medical contrast agentsmedical contrast agentsSubstances used in medical imaging techniques to reinforce the visibility of certain features in organs or cells.radiobiologyradiobiologyThe way ionising radiation interacts with a living organism, how it can be used to treat various cancers and its effects.paediatricspaediatricsPaediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.healthcare data systemshealthcare data systemsThe types of systems that manage and maintain healthcare user data.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...medical oncologymedical oncologyThe characteristics, development, diagnosis and treatment of tumors and cancer in human organisms.psychologypsychologyThe human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.pathologypathologyThe components of a disease, the cause, mechanisms of development, morphologic changes, and the clinical consequences of those changes.radiation protectionradiation protectionThe measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.scientific research methodologyscientific research methodologyThe theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.first aidfirst aidThe emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.provide psychological support to patientsprovide psychological support to patientsProvide accurate psychological and emotional support to anxious, vulnerable and confused healthcare users related to the treatment undergone.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.interact with healthcare suppliersinteract with healthcare suppliersMaintain relationships with suppliers who sell healthcare equipment, tools and supplies.conduct cancer screening testsconduct cancer screening testsUndertake screening test at an early stage, before cancer symptoms appear, taking physical exams, laboratory tests, imaging procedures and genetic tests.empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...analyse X-ray imageryanalyse X-ray imageryAnalyse X-ray imagery in order to locate the sources of patients` difficulties and interpret the findings.apply radiation protection proceduresapply radiation protection proceduresInspect rules related to ionising radiation and ensure these abide by the Medical Exposure Directive (MED).maintain imaging equipmentmaintain imaging equipmentInspect imaging equipment and quality assurance processes. Report malfunctions.manage radiology information systemmanage radiology information systemDevelop and maintain a database to store, manage and distribute radiological images and data.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.interpret requests for imaging examinationsinterpret requests for imaging examinationsReceive and interpret requests from medical practitioners for imaging examinations to be performed on patients.provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.provide informationprovide informationEnsure quality and correctness of provided information, depending on the type of audience and context.operate medical imaging equipmentoperate medical imaging equipmentProduce high quality medical images using technologically advanced medical imaging equipment such as CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), mobile X-ray machines, ultrasound (US),...comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...apply radiological health sciencesapply radiological health sciencesUse and apply radiological health sciences according to the situation and patient's response to treatment.post-process medical imagespost-process medical imagesPerform post-processing on medical images, or develop X-ray films, checking processed images to determine if further care is necessary.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.develop new imaging techniquesdevelop new imaging techniquesDevelop and execute new techniques to be used in radiography imaging.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...determine imaging techniques to be performeddetermine imaging techniques to be performedDetermine the appropriate imaging techniques to provide the appropriate diagnostic information to the doctor who requested it.adhere to organisational code of ethicsadhere to organisational code of ethicsAdhere to organisational European and regional specific standards and code of ethics, understanding the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and apply this awareness.apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...ensure compliance with radiation protection regulationsensure compliance with radiation protection regulationsMake sure the company and the employees implement the legal and operational measures established to guarantee protection against radiation.conduct radiotherapy computer planningconduct radiotherapy computer planningProduce a three-dimensional plan of the distribution of radiation across the anatomical area to be treated.apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.calculate exposure to radiationcalculate exposure to radiationCalculate radiation data about procedures, such as length and intensity of exposure.prepare patients for imaging proceduresprepare patients for imaging proceduresInstruct patients prior to their exposure to imaging equipment, correctly positioning the patient and imaging equipment to obtain the best image of the area being examined.
Optional (20) — show
orthopaedicsorthopaedicsOrthopaedics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.human physiologyhuman physiologyThe science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.pharmacologypharmacologyPharmacology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.epidemiologyepidemiologyThe branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution and control of diseases. The disease aetiology, transmission, outbreak investigation, and comparisons of treatment effects.pedagogypedagogyThe discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.development trends in radiographydevelopment trends in radiographyThe current techniques and developments in radiography and medical imaging.educate on the prevention of illnesseducate on the prevention of illnessOffer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and healt...inform policy makers on health-related challengesinform policy makers on health-related challengesProvide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.interpret medical imagesinterpret medical imagesAnalyse medical images in order to diagnose illnesses and injuries.prepare lesson contentprepare lesson contentPrepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.perform lecturesperform lecturesPresent lectures to various groups.perform clinical research in radiographyperform clinical research in radiographyPerform clinical research in the field of radiography, ranging from recruitment to trials through research studies, evaluating newer technologies and techniques as part of providing evidence based pra...identify progression of diseaseidentify progression of diseaseRecognise changing signs, symptoms and progression of disease and make appropriate decisions related to the continuation or changing of the treatment.advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.conduct health related researchconduct health related researchConduct research in health related topics and communicate findings orally, through public presentations or by writing reports and other publications.use foreign languages for health-related researchuse foreign languages for health-related researchUse foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.implant brachytherapy treatmentsimplant brachytherapy treatmentsImplant radioactive sources into or adjacent to a specific target within the body and supervise all high-dose rate brachytherapy treatments.use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.use obstetric sonographyuse obstetric sonographyApply medical ultrasonography to obstetrics to show the foetus in the mother`s womb.Interpret diagnostic procedures for vascular surgeryInterpret diagnostic procedures for vascular surgeryInterpret procedures such as venography, angiography in vascular surgery and interpret invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities such as CT scan, MR imaging, and ultrasound.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
diagnostic radiographer41 shared essential skillsnuclear medicine radiographer41 shared essential skillsradiation therapist27 shared essential skillsorthoptist25 shared essential skillsspeech and language therapist25 shared essential skillsdietitian24 shared essential skillsnurse responsible for general care23 shared essential skillsoccupational therapist22 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a radiographer do?
Radiographers use a range of technologies to examine, treat and care for patients. They work in the fields of Medical Imaging, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine and apply ionising radiation, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and radioactive sources.
What skills does a radiographer need?
A radiographer needs 53 essential skills, including hygiene in a health care setting, pharmaceutical products, health care legislation, medical terminology, health care occupation-specific ethics.
Will AI replace radiographer jobs?
The AI disruption score for radiographer is 23/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: medical terminology, manage healthcare users' data, calculate exposure to radiation. Most resilient: empathise with the healthcare user, deal with emergency care situations, human anatomy.
AI Replacement Risk
23/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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