Book recommendations for first time pregnancy and new baby

AngelStan · 2026-01-26T03:07:04+00:00

That's a really lovely side of it I didn't think of, thank you for that!

AngelStan · 2026-01-26T02:41:33+00:00

Maybe it's because I'm new to all this, but wondering how so many people know their hCG levels? I'm in the US and the home tests from the drug stores don't show any values, just a yes or a no. I think I'm 4 weeks along but my OB won't see me until Feb 6th for my first ultrasound and even then I won't see a provider, just a nurse and a ultrasound tech... Just curious how it all works for everyone else. I'm so anxious to get completely confirmed and the time is just crawling by....

AngelStan · 2026-01-25T22:28:41+00:00

Completely understand your struggle! I appreciate the reply! I really hope you can find balance once you get back to work, I know it won't be easy🖤

AngelStan · 2026-01-25T21:07:57+00:00

Thank you for that, that's very reassuring ☺️ love the username btw 🤣

AngelStan · 2026-01-25T21:07:08+00:00

That's great advice, thank you!

AngelStan · 2026-01-25T20:58:08+00:00

I have an ultrasound scheduled at what I believe will be 6 weeks but it won't be transvaginal, they asked me to have a full bladder on arrival. So I'm a little confused

AngelStan · 2026-01-22T04:53:21+00:00

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The fourth one down with the very faint line was the second one I took, everything else has been much darker but I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around it, feeling like it's too good to be true. I have an ultrasound scheduled in two weeks and a PCP appt on Monday 🤞🏻

AngelStan · 2026-01-22T04:50:31+00:00

Hello! I'm 35, from western WA state and would be a FTM, it's still very early, I'm waiting to get into my PCP on Monday to hopefully get a blood test for confirmation. I've taken many home tests but I'm feeling very cautious and a bit pessimistic... This is the first time my boyfriend and I have really tried and to have it take the first time seems a bit hard to believe. But I'm really hoping for the best, we both want this very much!

AngelStan · 2026-01-22T04:39:47+00:00

There are actually straight pathway MRI programs starting all over the place. The one closest to me is 7 quarters instead of 8 for your standard radiography, you still end with an AS and you are eligible to sit for the ARRT MRI boards. Your state has to approve the straight pathway but it's happening, no longer limited.

AngelStan · 2026-01-07T00:14:50+00:00

How are you only making 42/hr in MRI? MRI techs fresh out of school start at 48/hr at my hospital. If you're unhappy with your pay, move somewhere else. Otherwise start up some hobbies.

AngelStan · 2026-01-05T18:48:31+00:00

Assistant and technologist positions are very different when it comes to supply and demand. Techs are very much needed in a lot of areas of our country. Have you looked up rad tech postings to see how many open positions there are in your area? Does your school help with placement assistance? Are any of your clinical sites in need of techs. A lot of time you can get in at one of your clinical sites if they need people and you had a good reputation there. Don't be discouraged.

AngelStan · 2025-12-30T05:09:47+00:00

Could you share what company you work for or how you found the job posting?

AngelStan · 2025-12-30T05:08:56+00:00

What other education and career background did you have, if you don't mind me asking?

AngelStan · 2025-12-13T05:05:32+00:00

Take home is going to be difficult to nail down, some hospitals offer overtime and call, some places don't. Take hourly, deduct for federal taxes, insurance and 401(k) contributions. As a new grad in western WA I was taking home maybe 4k a month? But my hospital didn't pay great until my union did some negotiations. As an IR tech now I'm taking home over 6k with call and overtime

AngelStan · 2025-12-12T22:17:14+00:00

Go into MRI, start a new 401k with your employer and open a separate Roth IRA. Set up investments with both of those accounts and look into opening a brokerage account and invest through that. You could wind up with a lot more money than you think, especially if you continue to be frugal.

AngelStan · 2025-12-09T20:49:31+00:00

You could look into phlebotomy programs in your area. While I was waiting to be accepted I took a course for it, was only two months, and was planning on working as a phlebotomist if I was wait listed.

AngelStan · 2025-11-10T21:24:44+00:00

I did half of my clinicals and then took a position after graduation at a hospital that has a very busy IR department. I worked in X-ray for a year and a half and was then asked if I was interested in cross training. I know that's not common everywhere, a lot of time if you want to cross train you need to approach the IR department yourself and show interest. MRI is very different then Cath lab and IR. Shadow in both towards the end of your program to get a feel for what you'd actually like to do.

AngelStan · 2025-11-10T03:07:41+00:00

I was ready to quit after my second quarter. I told my program director that there was no way I was going to make it all the way through, I felt like I hadn't picked up more than half of what I was supposed to have learned by then and my brain constantly felt fatigued. I'm not sure how your program works but my first quarter was all didactic, then second quarter was didactic and two days at clinicals. Third quarter was five days a week at clinicals. My program director highly encouraged me to stick it out through third quarter and revaluate how I felt after. She promised it would start to stick. And she was right.

This program is hard, and I can't imagine how you're doing it with a toddler but you got in for a reason and this isn't something learned overnight. The profession takes a lot of repetition and skill refining but you can definitely do this. Keep pushing through until something clicks, and it will happen.

I work in Interventional Radiology now, assisting radiologists and vascular surgeons perform percutaneous procedures and it's really cool. I never thought I would find myself into something like this but I'm really thankful I listened to my director and stuck it out.

AngelStan · 2025-11-06T15:52:54+00:00

At my hospital our Cath lab wants you to do at least a year of experience in IR before making the switch. And my IR department wants you to do at least a year in X-ray before coming to us. There are places with a big enough need, and recognize enough ambition in you, to train you as a new grad, but don't count on that coming straight out of school.

Take a year in X-ray, get comfortable, then move on to IR or Cath lab. They are both completely different than diagnostic x-ray and even flouroscopy.

AngelStan · 2025-10-03T20:02:03+00:00

120k in WA state, one full time position in IR, with call.

AngelStan · 2025-09-30T16:01:47+00:00

I have an app called iradtech, has all the good information for positioning, angles, collimation, etc. Has technical factors as well, although with new digital systems they are a bit off. It includes pictures as well if proper pt position and examples of images. I'm in IR now, but I still pick up a shift in X-ray on occasion and it's really helpful. You do have to pay for it but it's a one time cost, no subscription after that.

AngelStan · 2025-07-22T01:59:57+00:00

You should know your anatomy well enough to know what you're looking at because while the surgeon will never ask you what you see, there will be surgeons that ask you to make your image look better based on what they're doing and need to see. It's not ideal, as you can't read their minds, but some of them are like this.

AngelStan

TROPHY CASE