“Children’s truly embodies its Promise: People First, Children Always. They take care of their employees.”

As a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist, Miciah Jackson works with a multidisciplinary team of nurses, radiologists, anesthesiologists, sedation nurses and many others to capture the images our physicians use to diagnose and prescribe treatment plans for pediatric patients.

Since joining Children’s more than four years ago, Miciah has enjoyed the camaraderie she shares with her supportive, passionate colleagues. And she’s come to realize that Children’s cares deeply about the kids and teens it serves—and its people.

A Typical Day: MRI Technologist

4:45 a.m. Miciah wakes before the sun rises and turns on an R&B playlist to motivate her as she gets ready for the day. She enjoys a cup of coffee while preparing her lunch and snacks. Today, she packs some of her favorites: veggie chips, fruit cups, and cheese and crackers. Then she starts her commute to Children’s Egleston Hospital for her final, 12-hour shift of the week.

6:30 a.m. Miciah arrives at the radiology department at Egleston, where she turns on the MRI machines and checks the rooms. Today, Miciah serves as Charge Tech for inpatient scans—a leadership role that involves coordinating with floor nurses to determine which patients being added to the day’s schedule need sedation or anesthesia. She’s also in charge of overseeing the equipment. It’s important Miciah and her team keep their three MRI machines operating because they typically scan about 24 patients each day.

7:30 a.m. “Good morning,” Miciah greets her first patient of the day. She starts the appointment with some screening questions to ensure the patient does not have an implant, pacemaker or anything else that could be an issue during the MRI. All patients receive a safety check before each scan because absolutely no metal can go into the machine. “Since MRI devices use strong magnets, they can cause certain metals to shift or heat up in the body,” Miciah explains. As an extra precaution, she conducts a final check with a metal detector before wheeling her patient into the MRI room. Some patients require sedation to stay calm and still during their scan. But this patient will remain awake, so Miciah lets them pick a movie to watch in the scanner.

Noon Breaking for lunch, Miciah heads upstairs to eat in the Egleston Garden. When her break is over, she heads back downstairs to meet with members of the Biomedical Engineering team who have stopped by for their daily equipment check.

2:30 p.m. During a break between scans, Miciah checks her email and reads the latest updates from the Clinical Practice Council for Radiology at Children’s—a new committee that aims to improve workflow and daily clinical practices through feedback from staff. Suddenly, a call comes in from the Emergency Department (ED): A patient with a back injury needs an urgent MRI. Miciah alerts her team to prepare a room and adjusts the schedule to accommodate this last-minute addition. “I enjoy the pace of MRI,” she says. “It’s a challenging and unique position.”

4:30 p.m. Miciah’s last patient of the day is a familiar face; she has had several scans at Egleston during the last several months. Before they head into the MRI room, Miciah gives the patient a big smile and a high-five. “One of my favorite parts of my job is when patients recognize me from previous scans,” Miciah says. “It puts patients more at ease when they see someone they recognize. And I enjoy catching up with them and learning how their care has progressed.”

6:30 p.m. After completing her last scan, Miciah turns off the MRI machines and heads home for the day. On the way, she stops for an end-of-the-workweek treat. Currently, she works back-to-back shifts Tuesday through Thursday, and enjoys the flexibility her schedule offers. “I’ve only had this schedule for a few months, but I like it a lot,” she says. “I can spend more time with my family and friends and even take a short trip over my long weekends.”

10:00 p.m. After a few episodes of HGTV’s “House Hunters,” Miciah is ready to call it a night. While she looks forward to starting her weekend tomorrow, she’s also grateful to have a job she loves. “I’ve seen how hard work can pay off at Children’s,” Miciah says. “It has been a great place to build my career and get involved. Plus, I love our Mission and knowing my work helps kids.”

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