Becoming a Cardiovascular Technician
Cardiovascular Technicians use imaging machines and technology to diagnose and treat all types of heart ailments. They study the behavior of heart and surrounding blood vessels. They also assist the Cardiologists during various functions such as reviewing patients’ medical history and conditions, performing ultrasound process, answering patients’ queries, dealing with their family members, recording the findings and passing on results to physicians.
The Cardiovascular Technicians work at medical settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, offices, care clinics, research labs etc. They are required to adjust to flexible working hours. They must be fit physically and mentally due to the demanding nature of their job. The Cardiovascular Technicians who specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing and Holter monitors are known as cardiographic or EKG technicians.
Education Requirements:
- Earn an Associate’s Degree: The aspiring Cardiovascular Technicians must complete an associate’s degree in cardiovascular technology, which includes academic coursework and laboratory training. The students learn about various heart ailments, symptoms, diagnostic methods and cure during the training. They may be required to get some hands-on experience at hospitals and clinics, depending on their coursework.
- Advance Course Option: After completing the associate’s degree, the aspiring Cardiovascular Technicians may go for advance course study in various subjects such as EKG analysis, cardiovascular care, cardiovascular hemodynamics, echocardiography, ultrasound principles and cardiovascular agents.
Key Areas of Specialization: In general, the cardiovascular technology is based on three different areas of specialization. They include:
- Invasive Cardiology
- Cardiac Sonography
- Vascular Technology/Sonography
Salary & Job Outlook:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected the job outlook for Cardiovascular Technicians to grow at 24% during the period of 2008-2018. The average salary for Cardiovascular Technicians is $23.91 on hourly basis and $48,300 per annum if it’s a full-time employment.