Internship/Mentor Interview

1. Where you able to work a part-time job while doing your prerequisites
at PCC?
X-Ray: Yes, until I got into the actual program, which took up a lot
of time and didnt leave much room for anything else.
2. How important is the medical work experience when applying for the
program?
X- Ray: Since its a point-based application and its very
competitive you need to make sure you can get as many points
as possible, so every category is important. Yes, you basically
have to have medical work experience before going into the
field.
3. Is every day different or is it basically the same process each day?
X-ray: Every day is totally different! Were lucky enough to work
in a very diverse module where you wont have a million repeats
a day. Every once in a while we get days that are more
interesting than others, but we stay on our toes.
MRI: We get a lot, mostly actually, shoulders knees, and spines.
Occasionally well get crazy people that try and climb out of the
machines, but not very often. Its a stable job.
Mammography: Since our module is so specific, we only do
breasts and bone density. Its the people that make each day
special.
4. How hard/easy is it to raise kids while working:
Ultrasound: Obviously being on-call is rough some nights, but
ultrasound is still good compared to some other departments. A
lot of nights I get to go home at 5 and spend the evening with
my kids. Its like most jobs, Id rather be at home with my kids
but I have to make money.
5. Is it easy to continue your education if you ever want to move up?
X-ray: Tuality is great because theyll pay for half or more of your
tuition if you decide to go back to school. Sometimes its hard to
juggle work and school, but its worth it to be able to become a
manager or something.
6. Does it ever get too stressful?
CT: Because of the system we have where we can see all the
patients lined up and see how many drop in from the emergency
room, the anxiety can go up. Then you actually start working
through them and its not as bad as youd initially thought.
Ultrasound: As techs were not allowed to say much to the
patients. Our only responsibility is making sure we are taking
images that can be used to make a good diagnosis, we dont

have to worry very much about the diagnosis, which takes a

huge weight off.
7. How is the management? Do they work around your schedule?
Nuclear Medicine: Management is fine; they try to make sure all
the employees are happy. Were a small department, so we dont
have any alternative workers which sometimes make scheduling
difficult.
8. Would you recommend PCC?
Preceptor: I definitely have bias towards PCC because I went
there and think its amazing. I recommend it to anyone who is
looking to have easy access to the field.
X-ray: I am so glad I started at PCC, they provide all the
opportunities youll ever need and you get into the field fast. PCC
is great.
9. What is it like being a woman in the field?
Mammography: Obviously since we work primarily with women,
the work environment is good and we get along with the
patients. Were lucky to live in such a liberal part of the country
where people dont care so much about having a male medical
professional.
10.
Do the restraints on what you can tell patients ever bother you?
CT: Sometimes yes, because were the ones who work with the
patients and do the procedures. Patients sometimes get
frustrated when we have to explain that we wont be the ones
looking critically at the images or making any decisions.
Especially since Ive been doing this for so long and I know when
something isnt right, but I cant be the one to tell them that. At
the same time though, it is one less thing I have to worry about.
11.
How do work rotations work?
Its complicated, depends on the department, and the
employment status of the individual. In most departments youll
be on call at least one night a week.
12.
Has the field changed at all since you began?
MRI: The patients are ruder. 20 years ago we would be thanked
for helping them, people were a little in aww of us and what we
do. A lot of the respect is gone and people dont appreciate the
help we provide the way they used to.
CT: When I first started doing CT, there was no certification. It
used to be that way with a lot of the modules. Someone within
the department would agree to train you, and you kind of just
started doing it. Now there are regulations and classes and tests
you have to pass before you jump on.
13.
Is there an advantage in begin able to work multiple modules?

X-ray: Oh ya, for sure. It increases your job security in case there are
cut-backs in any of the departments. And it keeps things interesting,
I like being able to work multiple jobs in one week.
14.
Which season is the hardest to work in?
CT: Summer for sure, not just because its nice and I want to go
outside. During the summer people are outside more and think they
can do things they just cant. Naturally more people get hurt and we
end up with more people flooding over from the ER. Also during the
summer, we get a lot more kids, for some reason some parents
have a problem pulling their kids out of school for medical
procedures and wait till summer to get everything done.
15.
Do you agree that the cost of education versus the benefits you
get from this job is a good ratio?
X-ray: Its great for sure! We basically have a two-year degree then
we get paid quite a bit off the bat, its not a bad situation.
Nuclear Med: Well especially since I had kids before I started
working, this was a really easy route for me. I could go to school
part time, and in the end I got a job that pays the bills, thats all I
really wanted.