My mobile gaming life.

On 03/06/2013 at 07:40 AM by smartcelt

I do X-Ray for a living. Specifically mobile X-Ray. I go around to nursing homes and assisted living centers. Basically do the same exams done in hospitals and clinics. Except for contrast studies and special procedures. Our bread and butter is bone work and chests. Been doing it for 16 years now. With two different companies,one in Tulsa,and one in St. Louis. It's a pretty good living and gets me out of the bowels of a hospital. Fresh air and the open road each day. Well until I go into the nursing home.....then it's not so fresh anymore!

This job does offer some advantages for a gamer. I drive a lot,so I can listen to gaming podcasts on the road. I can cue up the video ones on my iPad to view while I am processing the digital images with my scanner/laptop combo. They are usually a few minutes in length,so it works out nicely. As for actual gaming? I often take my Vita,3DS,or PSP along with me. Mostly on nights I am on call. That way I can get in a bit of gaming while I wait for reports from our radiology group. Takes them about an hour or so to get reports up on their website. There is no way I could do any of this in a hospital setting. Some nosy supervisor would get picky with me. Even if there were no cases holding. "You have time to lean,you have time to clean" they might say. What is this,McDonalds? Been there,done that. Worked for the man(Ronald!) in both high school and college. But this is different. I am the chief technologist at my company. The only person I answer to is the owner of the company. He's a gamer as well. And he knows I get s$&t done. At a pretty rapid pace. But in my down time it is all me. What else is there to do but game or listen to music. Well,I do have Netflix on all my devices,which is very cool.

Dragon1989

03/06/2013 at 07:56 AM

From what i read u got a pretty cool job, always in the open world visiting new places each day + u have the time to play in ur PSP,PSvita, and 3DS sweet. Maybe withe PS4 u can play ur console games in ur Vita while u are in the road (cuz Sony said u can play it anywhere as long as u have a good connection).

Ranger1

03/06/2013 at 08:01 AM

On days that I know I'm going to be stuck in the booth for extended periods of time, I sometimes take my DS to work with me. Other than that, I don't really have any down time at work.

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/06/2013 at 08:40 AM

Sounds like a sweet gig; I didn't work for Ronald, but my first job in high school was at Boston Market, so I'm familiarized with "time to lean, time to clean." Of course, I was only there three months, then my three years at Outback Steakhouse, the mantra from management was "run this food you $%%&^, or I will personally (!@%$# straight up your ass!"

Good times. Not sure why I censored "shove this banana sandwich" and left "up your ass" in there, but good times.

At my current job, either we're getting something prepped for the next shot, or we're making as little noise as possible when rolling sound (I'm a Production Assistant for a company that makes web content), so I don't have downtime really, unless I'm in the warehouse; in which case, I'll probably do like you and bring a DS in between shipment arrivals.

How'd you get to become a mobile X-Ray guy, what college and all that? Sounds like your schooling must have been intense, at least compared to my lazy ass and my BA degree haha. Very cool post, little gaming, little reality, I like it.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

03/06/2013 at 08:44 AM

that's pretty interesting. It's nice to find a job that really suits you.

I worked at McDonalds when I was young too. To hell with those bastards...

smartcelt

03/06/2013 at 11:31 AM

To answer your question,Joe,I had to got to school for two years. Got an associates degree in radiography. Then you have to take a test with ARRT to get registered. You have to do some continuing education each two year period,but it is pretty easy. i have worked hospitals and clinics before. But this job is just right for me, Always something different going on and I get plenty of OT. Good for the old wallet!

03/06/2013 at 09:02 PM

I might just look into that, actually, thanks!

GrayHaired

03/06/2013 at 09:21 PM

Nice, you get outside and on the road. Im stuck inside all the live long day, with out heat or A/C.....

PixlBit