Becoming a Cardiac Life Support Technician
Cardiac Life Support Technicians assist cardiac physicians in urgent treatment of cardiac arrest, stroke etc. and diagnosing patients with heart and blood vessel ailments. Their responsibilities include performing ultrasound procedures, operating diagnostic equipment, preparing patients for procedures, analyzing images, inserting catheters, evaluating patients’ progress report etc. In some cases, they also assist physicians and surgeons during surgical procedures.
Cardiac Life Support Technicians work in both government and private medical settings. They are employed in hospitals, doctors’ offices, medical laboratory, cardiac rehabilitation facilities, urgent care clinics, diagnostic laboratories etc. These professionals need to spend long hours on their feet and work even in overnight shifts or weekends.
Educational requirements
To qualify for the position of Cardiac Life Support Technician, the aspiring candidates must have to complete at least a 2-year associate’s degree course in cardiovascular technology. The syllabus includes physics, physiology, pathology, anatomy, diagnostic testing, electrocardiography etc.
Cardiac Life Support Technician aspirants may pursue a 4-year degree program in cardiovascular technologists to find better job opportunities in this field.
Licensure & Certification
The practice of Cardiac Life Support Technician requires license and certification in many states of USA. The aspiring candidates need to pass required examinations to obtain licensure and certification. The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) and the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) offer certification for these professionals.
Skill Set
Apart from clinical knowledge, Cardiac Life Support Technician possess wide range of skills such as dexterity to perform procedures, attention to detail, tolerance for long working hours, empathy towards patients, high medical ethics, physical stamina for lifting and positioning the patients and equipments, ability to perform duties with accuracy in time limitations, work with compassion, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, basic computer knowledge etc.
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for a Cardiac Life Support Technician remains excellent in the USA. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 39% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Cardiac Life Support Technician was $52,070 in 2012.