Become a Cardiovascular Technologist
Cardiology, or the study of the heart, is becoming increasingly sophisticated with continual advances in technology. It is essential that the healthcare workers who assist physicians with cardiac care be well trained and up to date on the latest techniques. Cardiovascular technologists, also known as vascular sonographers, help doctors diagnose circulatory abnormalities by analyzing pulses, assessing blood flow in arteries and veins and listening to the vascular flow. Pursuing a career in this high-specialized field is very rewarding.
Instructions
1. Assess whether or not this is the right career for you. Successful employees have an interest in math and sciences, want to work in the healthcare field, have mechanical aptitude and are able to follow detailed instructions. You will spend most of your time walking and standing and, at times, be involved in highly stressful situations.Read up on the career in books such as the U.S. Labor Department Occupational Handbook and talk with individuals who work in the field. While in school, volunteer at a healthcare facility to determine your interest.
2. Expect to take at least a two-year Associate's program at a junior college. Increasingly, employers are looking for individuals who have a four-year degree. In the first year(s), students take core classes. Then, they enroll in courses specifically related to their field.
3. Consider specialization in a particular area. Cardiovascular technologists may focus on one of the following practices: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular technology. Individuals who specialize in invasive cardiology help with cardiac catheterization procedures. Those who focus on echocardiography give electrocardiograms (EKGs) and sonograms of the heart. Vascular technologists assist physicians by diagnosing circulation problems.
4. Most EKG technicians learn on the job from an experienced supervisor or a cardiologist. This training normally lasts about eight to sixteen weeks. The majority of employers prefer to instruct people already in the healthcare area—nursing aides, for example. Some people in the EKG field are students who are enrolled in two-year programs in order to become technologists while working part time to gain experience and advance their credentials with future employers.
5. Check with your state's medical board to see if you need to be licensed to practice in the state and certified. Certification is available by successfully passing an examination given by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), depending on your area of specialization. Certification is awarded in cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, vascular ultrasound and cardiographic techniques.
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