CT Test

I was trained in CT at work during the month of July. It was great learning a new modality and getting to split my time between CT and x-ray.


There was a new law starting January 1, 2011 that stated if you weren't registered in modalities like CT, you would need to be re-certified every 10 years. Otherwise you would be grandfathered in and wouldn't have to worry about it.


I had to complete my list of exams that were required before I could send my paperwork off to schedule my exam. When the paperwork went through I scheduled my exam for December 6. I wanted it to be over before Christmas so I could enjoy the holiday.


Life was a little stressful with being pregnant and having to force myself to study whenever I had the chance. I really had to discipline myself to focus. Brittany, a fellow coworker and I studied a couple of times and I was feeling pretty good. However the test was way harder then I thought and I just wanted it to be over as soon as it began.


I wasn't feeling very confident when I pressed the submit button but lo and behold I did pass and that was all that mattered. Now I could move on and put the studying behind me. Such a relief!

Kania Clinic

I decided at the beginning of November of 2008 that I was going to put my notice in at the Kania Clinic in Tri-Cities. I had been working there since January and mainly did it to help pay off my school loan as quickly as possible. I was getting towards the end of my loan and decided that driving back and forth to only work four days a month wasn't worth it anymore. I hadn't been there a long time, but I really liked the people there and was going to miss them. I was looking forward to being able to have that extra day to get things done. Now I have three days off in a row!Natalie, Me and Sally

Sally, Nicole and Me

Me and Sally

Kania Clinic

Back in May, those of us working at the Kania Clinics in Tri-Cities were informed that the clinics were being sold. Kennewick General Hospital was buying the Kennewick clinic and Lourdes Hospital was buying the Pasco clinic. They made sure to let us know that we would all be able to stay on as employees we just had to choose which clinic and reapply to that specific one. I decided to go with the Pasco Clinic since it was closer to me.

After I had the chance to sit down with someone and discuss my options, we came to the conclusion that I would be considered per diem since I was only available 3 days a week. That was a little shock at first because I had been used to getting 16 hours every week. The more I thought about it though, I decided that this would be a good idea and give me more time to relax. I haven't done the best with letting myself slow down and enjoy my days off in between jobs.

I have to admit, it has been really nice to have all this extra time off. It also gives me a chance to be able to take more trips to visit friends and family since I can't on the weekends. So here was an update for you and right now, life is going great

Work Update

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. I have been working quite a bit and just not taking the time to create a new post. I promise I will get better at all this!

I have been at my new job at the hospital in Hermiston for two months now. I love the people I work with and always have a great time. I have been working the weekend shift and thats been going pretty good. I love working with Ann the CT tech, we have a great time laughing and joking around. Things are pretty laid back on the weekends, which is nice that we don't have to deal with everyone else there and the drama! It's amazing how fast 12 hours can actually go. Right now things are working out okay, but eventually I want to move into another shift during the week. I miss my weekends and being able to see more friends and be involved in more things. It won't be too much longer with some of our older techs retiring this summer and new weekday positions opening up.

As the weekend tech, I also take call on Saturday nights. What this means is that I work my 12 hours on Saturday and then from 7pm, when I get off to 7am, when I start work again, I am on call to come in to take x-rays for the emergency room. I will tell you right now that it isn't a favorite of mine. I average about 2 hours of sleep and its never all at the same time. This past weekend was absolutely crazy. I was called in at 8:30pm to find 7 x-rays to do! Come on, I am only one person!! Yikes! Then I find out that we have traumas coming in from car/motorcycle accidents. I had to call in someone for backup and I was at work from 9pm to 3am straight working from one patient to another. Two of the patients had shattered femurs and boy was that cool to look at! I know, I am a sick person because I love looking at broken bones. Then I was able to be at home for 20 min before being called in again. So, needless to say I got about 45 min of sleep the whole night and then was back at work by 7am for my last 12 hour shift of my weekend. I actually managed to stay pretty alert and awake, though I felt I was only using about 15% of my brain at times!

I have also been putting in about 16 hrs a week at Kania Clinic in Tri-Cities. I work a 4 hr shift on Tuesday nights and a 12 hr shift on Wednesdays. I work at both the Pasco and Kennewick clinics where the setup is basically the same. Its been nice to get to know the doctors and nurses better. I like who I work with and have become great friends with fellow lab/x-ray tech Heather.