Sophie Hsu, 4 June, 2024
Current student Sophie Hsu shares advice, a day in the life on placement, and why she chose to study medical imaging.
Read about:
Why study medical imaging?
I wanted to study a vocational degree and I was interested in a career working in healthcare.
I enjoyed science in high school and thought medical imaging would be a suitable option for me as you get to interact with and help patients while still applying science through the use of imaging technologies.
Tips for making the most of your day at uni
- Uni is a great place to study, if you have a lecture at 10am, it may be worth going into uni 2 hours earlier so you get the opportunity to review and study new content.
- QUT has so many great lunch options on campus and close by, I suggest if you have a break in between your classes you explore what's available.
- There are always lots of society meetings and events happening on campus, if you happen to be at uni these days, make sure to check them out. Joining new societies can help build new friendships and may be a good opportunity to network. You can stay connected with these groups on social media.
- If you have an assignements to do, do it after class while your friends are also on campus, that way you can collaborate on ideas and discuss areas where you may be stuck on.
Timetable hacks (tips for creating your ideal timetable)
Play to your strengths
You should choose classes that work with your schedule. There is no point choosing 7am classes if you have trouble waking up in the morning. Uni is very flexible so it can accommodate other commitments in your life.
Build your week your way
Depending on how often you would like to go to uni you can either schedule all your classes over one or two days, or decide to spread them out over the week. Each have their pros and cons.
Some people find having all their classes in one day to be overwhelming, while others might love it, as it gives them an opportunity to do other things during the week. Find out which one you are.
Remember to rest (snacks are important)
I would also try to choose classes that are close together, however remember to schedule a break in between to for lunch. You need fuel to learn!
Bonus tip
If you prefer driving to uni I recommend choosing classes which are either earlier or later in the day to secure a parking spot.
Medical imaging placements
We start placement in first year and continue until fourth year. Placements are an opportunity to learn new skills, get involved in the team, and understand what your role as a radiographer will be in specific workplaces.
Every placement site is different which means the scope of learning that occurs is vast between the sites. I found being involved and taking the x-rays and CT’s myself made me more confident and competent as a student. I have been involved in some exciting cases while up in theatre or in resus. Every day is different!
Morning
Typically, I wake up at 7:00am to get ready for my 8:00am placement shift. Once ready, I eat breakfast and grab my lunch from the fridge which I pack the night before. At 7:30am I drive to my hospital for placement. I will report to the area of the imaging department I have been rostered in for the day, then begin seeing patients. After around 2 hours of work I will have a tea break where I take the opportunity to sit outside in the sun.
Afternoon
Around lunchtime I will have another break and eat my lunch. Then I head back into the department to continue seeing patients. Depending on the day, I may go to theatre or ICU to do a mobile x-ray. Once my shift concludes at 4pm, I thank the radiographers and head home.
Evening
I arrive home at around 4:30pm and the first thing I do is shower to clean myself of the hospital germs. I make my dinner and eat it around 5:30pm. During dinner I like to watch some YouTube to unwind after a long day. After dinner I clean up, prepare my lunch for tomorrow, and go to my room to begin studying. I have academic units in conjunction to my placement so I dedicate my evenings to catching up with university work. At the moment I am working on my final year medical imaging honours project. Around 9pm I will finish work and relax by reading my book before going to bed.
Example timetable (placement mode)
Read advice for getting support and balancing the costs of placement.
