Activity 2: Job Descriptions

Activity
Provide a copy of a medical dosimetrist job description from your facility (attach to your
assignment). Analyze the job description. Is comprehensive? Is it missing information? Using the
lecture notes and additional research sources, to analyze the components of the job description. If
you have changes to it, be specific and say why.
Can this job description effectively be used for an employee professional development plan
(PDP)?

Response
A job description should describe the duties and responsibilities of a particular job, in addition to
providing information regarding who the worker works with and reports to, required
qualifications for the job and what the employer expects from the employee filling that job.1 My
organization has job descriptions for 4 positions. I chose to look at the job description for the
Radiation Therapy Dosimetrist, which is my current title.
I feel that the descriptions are somehow generic and very general. In fact they are the same
descriptions repeated in all the 4 positions. One can easily see that they miss precise detail that
would describe the actual duties in the positions. For instance, I double as a clinical instructor;
however, this is not captured in my job description as a responsibility. (A copy is attached).

In regards to whether these job descriptions can effectively be used for an employee professional
development plan (PDP), my answer is yes, but discreet objectives and measurable goals will
need to be formulated from these general descriptions. A PDP is a written document used to
focus, evaluate and prioritize professional development activities.2 For example one employee
objective could be: To enhance skillset and increase knowledge by taking coursework on
policies, current trends, and best practices.

The job descriptions have definitely been overtaken by time. A revision to match the fast
evolving dosimetry working environment is highly needed.

1. Lenards, N. Human Resources [SoftChalk]. LaCrosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry

Program; 2014.
2. Build your professional development plan. Eat Your Career website.
http://www.EatYourCareer.com. Accessed November 12 2014.