Radiation therapists play an essential role in helping cancer patients and administering radiation treatments. They work in health centers, outpatient care centers, and physician offices. They are highly trained to deliver the best remedies to all patients.
You must have a bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy or any equivalent course for you to start working as a radiation therapist. However, having a degree in radiation therapy doesn’t necessarily mean that you can only work as a radiation therapist.
There are other professions related to this field that you can qualify for, as long as you have the credentials. Here is an array of similar occupations that you can try.
Related Professions
You can work in many other similar professions with the qualifications of a radiation therapist. The medical sector encompasses a wide area of well-earning jobs.
According to the Department of Labor & Statistics, a radiation therapist’s job is highly competitive. Therefore, it may help to give other similar professions a shot as well, especially if they require the same skills and experience.
Respiratory Therapists
As a respiratory therapist, you will care for patients who have troubles breathing. This role is an opportunity to utilize skills to help both premature babies with undeveloped lungs and older people at the same time.
Your role will also involve attending to patients suffering from shock, drowning, or heart attacks. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and, in this case, you would play a significant role in saving lives.
Registered Nurses
As a registered nurse, your role will involve dealing with patients most of the time. You will educate them on various diseases as well as coordinate with them and the doctors.
A registered nurse collaborates with the doctor, sharing information about patients that is essential for their treatment. You will also have to advise and offer emotional support to the patients and their family members.
This job requires you to have extensive knowledge of different diseases to provide facts to the patients. Most of the time, you will be handling the patients and monitoring their progress.
Dental Hygienists and Assistants
As a dental hygienist, you will provide preventive dental care to the patients and examine them for any oral diseases. You will educate patients on dental health and provide various ways they can implement to maintain good oral health.
Dental hygienists must have extensive information on how to help patients deal with any kind of dental problems. They must also be an excellent communicator, assisting patients in understanding the benefits of good oral health.
You can also secure a job as a dental assistant helping patients with dental problems.
MRI Technologists and Radiologic
MRI technologists help in creating diagnostic images to assist with identifying the patient’s problems. Radiologic, on the other hand, performs diagnostic imaging tests.
Your role will involve performing x-rays on your patients. You must have explicit knowledge of how the technology works.
Cardiovascular Technologists
Working as a cardiovascular technologist entails operating the imaging equipment that creates images to help diagnose medical conditions. You will work closely with a physician sharing your insights on the image or tests that are done and help assess the problem.
You can try out this profession if you have extensive and advanced technology skills to conduct successful tests.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
You can try a similar profession as a nuclear medicine technologist if you have extensive experience in radiation therapy. Your job will involve preparing radioactive drugs.
Furthermore, you will administer medications to patients for therapeutic or imaging purposes.
Physical Therapists
People who have had injuries or surgeries need a physical therapist to help them go back to their healthy life within no time. This job also involves helping patients manage their pain and heal more quickly.
You can try out this profession and help your patients regain their movements through physical therapy sessions.
Final Thoughts
Radiation therapists have numerous opportunities they can try out. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy, you can now try other health science-related professions.
