29-1124.00 · Task explorer
Radiation Therapists: reported tasks and exploration worksheet
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Use the skill profile to plan your next practice →
Read the task inventory
This source lists 22 tasks, including 19 marked Core and 3 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.
Task source dates: 07/2013.
22 tasks shown
Core · Task 4086 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
Core · Task 4085 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
Core · Task 4088 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
Core · Task 4090 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
Core · Task 4091 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
Core · Task 4087 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
Core · Task 4092 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
Core · Task 4093 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
Core · Task 4095 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
Core · Task 4089 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
Core · Task 4094 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Check for side effects, such as skin irritation, nausea, or hair loss to assess patients' reaction to treatment.
Core · Task 4097 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Prepare or construct equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, or protection devices.
Core · Task 4099 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy.
Core · Task 4096 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session.
Core · Task 4098 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Photograph treated area of patient and process film.
Core · Task 4101 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Act as liaison with physicist and supportive care personnel.
Core · Task 20408 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Schedule patients for treatment times.
Core · Task 4102 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Provide assistance to other healthcare personnel during dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Core · Task 4100 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Train or supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists.
Supplemental · Task 4103 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Implement appropriate follow-up care plans.
Supplemental · Task 4104 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Store, sterilize, or prepare the special applicators containing the radioactive substance implanted by the physician.
Supplemental · Task 4105 · 07/2013 · Incumbent
Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials, such as cobalt, radium, cesium, or isotopes, for use in radiation treatments.
Make the shortlist useful
- Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
- For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
- Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.
The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.
Keep your worksheet
Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.
Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.