Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Home :: More Career Profiles
Cardiovascular Technologist |
Career OverviewCardiovascular technologists engage in invasive studies of the heart. They work in coronary care settings or in surgical intensive care units and have considerable specialist training.
Their primary function is to help physicians introduce various dyes, probes, and catheters into patients’ hearts and legs to assist in the diagnostic process. Dyes, probes, and catheters are typically used to diagnose blockages in the cardiovascular system that may affect circulation.
Technologists may also assist cardiac surgeons during angioplasties; these procedures are used to open clogged arteries. With the appropriate training, cardiovascular technologists may also assist surgeons to insert pacemakers under the chest wall to facilitate a normal cardiac rhythm.
Cardiovascular technicians and specialized cardiovascular technicians work under cardiovascular technologists to facilitate care of cardiac patients. Technicians are entry-level workers who usually work at cardiologist offices or at the bedside of inpatients; using an EKG machine they are generally responsible for detecting and tracing the electrical impulses transmitted by the heart musculature.
Specialized cardiovascular technicians perform more sophisticated tasks using advanced machinery. Unlike general cardiovascular technicians, specialized technicians are trained to operate portable EKG machines known as holter monitors that record electronic heart activity over an extended period. Specialized cardiovascular technicians may also oversee patients who are undergoing stress tests of diagnostic purposes.
Beginning as either a cardiovascular technician or as a specialized cardiovascular technician it is possible to undertake additional training to become a cardiovascular technologist; the career track of most such professionals.
|
Career RequirementsThe prerequisite for most courses in cardiovascular technology is a high school diploma or its equivalent.
On-the-job training is offered to most EKG technicians and the training is typically overseen by an EKG supervisor or a cardiologist. Most on-the-job training programs run between six to sixteen weeks. Most hospital facilities prefer to organize and run training programs like these, however, some community colleges and technical schools work with hospitals to offer formal training programs for EKG technicians that usually last for one semester.
Whether on-the-job or at an accredited school, education and training covers academic instruction is areas such as anatomy and biology. Specialized training is provided in noninvasive and invasive technology.
Despite the prevalence of on-the-job training, only a few professionals receive all of their training on-the-job. The vast majority of technologists complete a two-year junior or community college program before entering a professional situation. Four-year programs are increasingly available; the first year of the college program focuses on core academic courses, including biology, anatomy, biochemistry, physics, and mathematics. The second year begins instruction in either invasive or noninvasive cardiovascular, or noninvasive vascular technology.
Professional certification is available in cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, vascular ultrasound, and cardiographic techniques from the Cardiovascular Credentialing International. Cardiac sonographers and vascular technologists can also apply for professional certification from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
|
Advertisement
|
Job OutlookThe job outlook for skilled technicians and technologists in cardiology is average to above average. For EKG technicians with routine training in EKG cardiology, employment opportunities are considered fair.
Cardiovascular technologists work in the offices of cardiologists and in hospital settings treating patients with many different health related issues and performing a variety of invasive and non-invasive procedures.
One of the most advanced areas of medicine, cardiology is an exciting field to work in. Opportunities are promising for individuals with strong people skills, good manual dexterity, and an interest in routine to complex patient care.
The job outlook is expected to remain positive for the next decade as the population ages and cardiac and vascular issues become increasingly common health problems.
As the role of cardiovascular technologists may expand over the course of the next decade, employers prefer to hire cardiac technologists with diverse backgrounds in medicine and experience as nurse aides or medical assistants. Cardiac technologists with experience using specialist equipment like ultrasound, echocardiograms, Holter monitors, and stress testers will also have particularly good employment prospects.
|
Career TrackCardiovascular technologists have a number of different career options depending on their training, experience, and interests. Cardiology technologists assist in the cardiac catheterization procedure, preparing patients for the procedure, assisting the physician, and monitoring the patient.
Cardiovascular technologists who specialize in echocardiography or vascular technology perform noninvasive testing with ultrasound equipment. Vascular technologists or vascular sonographers assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation.
Cardiac sonographers or echocardiographers, as they are sometimes called, use ultrasound technology to examine and monitor the heart chambers, valves, and vessels. Electrocardiograph technicians take basic EKGs, assisting physicians during the procedure and in the interpretation of collected data.
|
CompensationThe salary range of cardiovascular technologists is $25,000 to $45,000. Within this range, the average income of EKG technicians is $25,000. Most positions are full-time and include standard benefits in the payment packages.
|
|