‘Sparkle’ in the Silver State: Get Your A.S. in MRI

Date: April 24, 2023

“The Silver State,” a.k.a. Nevada, is a moniker dating back to 1859 when silver was first discovered. This boom led to a migration that took over the region.¹

Today, Nevada is vastly known for its rampant laws, excessive gambling, and legalized vices.² Its most touted tourist attraction, the Las Vegas strip,³ is synonymous with the sounds of slot machines, dazzling lights, and no end of adult entertainment. So much so that its largest city is associated with an ongoing bachelor party. While the phrase, “Whatever happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas,” might serve as a regional pledge or area slogan for what is dubbed “America’s Playground.”⁴  

“The Silver State” Has a Quieter Side

Yet, beyond its resort hotels, sparkling skyline, and exotic parties, “The Silver State” has a far quieter side. Beyond its great popularity and the hustle and bustle, Nevada is primarily rural. The state’s other side is home to various natural sites, including desert landscapes, rolling rivers, expansive lakes, tributary silver and gold mines, and more than 2101 named mountains.⁵ 

Wherein tucked into the 36th state is The Valley of Fire State Park, Lake Tahoe and Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and the Truckee River.² Contrasting its metropolitan side, roughly two-thirds of the state is covered in desert landscapes, including the Mojave Desert (Death Valley).⁶ Additionally, it hosts several state parks. Red Rock Canyon and a portion of the Grand Canyon also call it home,⁶ as does a portion of the  Sierra Nevada mountain range.

State Anomalies 

Nevada has some cultural anomalies too. Unique aspects include:

1. One, it has no state income tax. 
2. Two, Nevada has lenient marriage and divorce laws. For instance, a couple can get married in Nevada, 24 hrs a day, with no waiting times. This convenience has brought about iconic chapels and destination weddings.
3. Three, Nevada is home to Area 51, a classified U.S. military installation.⁶ The intense secrecy surrounding Area 51 makes it a frequent subject of conspiracy theories and a central component of the unidentified flying object (UFO) folklore.^{7, 8}
4. Four, Nevada ranks No. 1 in the U.S. for mining.²  It is the fourth-largest producer of gold in the world. Wherein it supplies 75 percent of all gold mined in the U.S. Copper and black opals are other natural resources.¹ I.e., The Carlin Trend has produced over 84 million ounces of gold since its discovery.² 

Not All Stirling

Despite its “glitz and glamour,” raw metals, and rugged natural beauty, not all are “sterling” in the “Silver State.” One area of great challenge is quality healthcare. By and large, Nevada residents struggle to afford high healthcare costs. So much so, a survey of more than 1,130 Nevada adults, conducted from June 21–July 8, 2022,⁹ found the following items of concern:

1. Three in five persons (65 percent) experienced at least one healthcare affordability burden in the past year;
2. Four in five persons (83 percent) currently worry about affording healthcare in the future;⁹
   
3. Lower-income respondents and respondents with disabilities reported higher rates of going without care and incurring debt due to healthcare costs.⁹

Healthcare Education

Many feel the antidote to poor healthcare resides in health and science education. Experts say the fight against subpar care begins with accessible medical care and a ready-trained workforce. With such a need, now is the time for suitable answers and solutions. 

Now May Be the Perfect Time For a Student To Enter the Field

If one is contemplating whether a healthcare profession is for you, now may be the perfect time for a student to enter the field. Whereby here are some key areas to consider according to a healthcare goal.

1. The climate for trained healthcare professionals is currently high.
2. Many allied health and imaging programs don’t take years of schooling. Surprisingly, there are specific programs one might train in and complete quicker than one might realize.
3. Multiple options in modern healthcare training exist which don’t require high prerequisite thresholds for acceptance into specific programs.

Career Path, MRI Imaging

One healthcare program meeting the above criteria is MRI imaging. MRI imaging is a non-invasive imaging technology that produces three-dimensional detailed anatomical images.¹⁰ Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans are procedures for imaging the human brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. 

Because of its low-risk-to-benefit ratio, the MRI has even been called one of the most revolutionary procedures of this century. It is often used for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring.10  Whereby an MRI Technologist is a person who conducts diagnostic examinations on patients, operating MRI scanners to create diagnostic images.¹¹

Forecast for MRI Imaging

Once more, according to the BLS, the job outlook for MRI Technologists is approximately six percent from 2021–2031.¹¹ Further, there are more than 16,600 openings for the profession projected each year, on average, over the next decade.¹¹ 

Many also find in the profession a living wage. As of May 2019, the mean annual salary for MRI technologists in Nevada was $81,060 to $97,180* a year.¹²  Whereby, the national median salary for these professionals in 2021 was $77,360.^*13 

‘The Silver Lining’

Additionally, MRI Technologists as a career rank #10 in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Healthcare Support Jobs” and #74 in 100 “Best Jobs” overall. Vocations are ranked according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors, including median salary, job market, future growth, stress, and work-life balance.¹⁴ 

More Than Silver

Given the job satisfaction of an MRI profession, the organic Nevada attractions, and the opportunity to do good, perhaps an MRI program in this state might be just “what the doctor ordered!” 

If you aspire to bring acts of sterling acts of healthcare service to the “Silver State,” see Gurnick Academy’s new MRI program with clinical locations in Nevada today.~ 

^*This may or may not be your experience. It’s important to remember that salaries can vary depending on many factors, including seniority, experience, geographic location, company policies, and culture. 

Citations:

^{1^a, b} Austin, Shelbi. “10 Things to Know about Nevada.” U.S. News and World Report. May 13, 2019. (Accessed March 23, 2023.)
^{2^a, b, c, d} “17 Things Nevada is Known and Famous For.” NomadsUnveiled, NomadsUnveiled. May 19, 2022. (Accessed Feb. 21, 2023.)
³ Giordano’s. “Best Tourist Attractions in Nevada–Giordano’s.” May 23, 2019. (Accessed Feb. 21, 2023.)
⁴ Matt and Cheryl. “Nevada: America’s Playground.” We’re in the Rockies.© October 26, 2022. (Accessed March 24, 2023.)
⁵ “USA–Nevada Mountains.” PeakVisor, Routes Software SRL. (Accessed Feb. 22. 2023.)
^{6^a, b, c}  Attractions of America. “Nevada Top 33 Attractions of America.” Attractions of America Accessed February 21, 2023. (Accessed Feb. 21, 2023.)
⁷ Jacobsen, Annie (2012) [2011]. Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base. New York: Back Bay Books. ISBN 978-0-316-13294-7. (Accessed March 23, 2023.)
⁸ Lacitis, Erik (March 27, 2010.) “Area 51 Vets Break the Silence: Sorry, But No Space Aliens or UFOs.” Seattle Times. Archived from the original, June 10, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2013. (Accessed March 23, 2023.)
^{9^a, b, c, d}  “Nevada Residents Struggle to Afford High Healthcare Costs; Worry about Affording Healthcare in The Future; Support Government Action Across Party Lines.” Healthcare Value Hub,©* Sept. 2022. (Accessed March 23, 2023.)
^{10^a, b} National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).” National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. July 17, 2018. (Accessed Feb. 21, 2023.)
^{11^a, b, c} Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Radiologic and MRI Technologists.” (Accessed Feb. 17, 2023.)
¹² “Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2020. (Accessed March 23, 2023.)
¹³ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Radiologic, and MRI Technologists. (Accessed February 21, 2023.)
¹⁴ U.S. News Best Jobs. “MRI Technologist Ranks among Best Jobs of 2019.” U.S. News and World Report L.P., 2016. (Accessed Feb. 21, 2023.)

Of Note:

Gurnick Academy is not endorsed, associated, or affiliated in any way with Healthcare Value Hub.^© 
Gurnick Academy is not endorsed, associated, or affiliated in any way with We’re in the Rockies.^©

Categories:

• healthcare
• MRI Tech