What are the risks in the long term of working as a Radiographer Tech?

I'm looking into Radiography and Nursing. With Radiography, one of the problems i am worried about is the long term effects of the radiation I will be prone to day after day. How safe is it, really? And what would be the better career choice between the two???

You should be trained in all safety procedures before treating patients. I think nurses are in higher demand and have more career options from what I observe at the hospital I work at. However most nursing requires more schooling than radiographers. (I am in the radiology department, email me if you wish through my profile)

X-ray protection has come a long way. Many protections have been put in place to shorten exposure dramatically. But I recommend wearing lead in a room when you have to hold a patient. And for God's sake, wear a thyroid collar in fluoscopy, lest you acquire thyroid cancer! Report It

Boredom, mostly. And hospitals usually aren't located in the best parts of town. But if you folow the safety procedures, you won't be at much greater risk than someone who flies a few times a year (cosmic rays), lives in a major city (nuclear power plants) or visits the dentist annually (X-rays). Nurses have to empty bed pans among other unpleasant tasks.

....=)

Anything outside of the hospital is a risk, you have protective clothing to waer and there are rules to follow before you energize someone to hell/

Ican tell you that you don't want to be a nurse. I am currently a nurse, and the shortage is horrible. We get very little respect. Patients and family member have threaten to suite nurses and hospital because of the lack of care. I am LPN and I was going for my BSN, but I have changed to Respiratory therapist.

Some say you can get extra radation. However, you can wear a pin that will let you know if you have been exposed.