VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY

By: Nikki Sheehan

WHAT IS A VASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST?

Use imaging technology to help diagnose cardiac and blood vessel sickness in patients.

Help treat problems in the cardiac and vascular system.Ex: blood clots

TYPICAL WORKDAY Turn on and prep the imaging machines Typically perform 7 to 10 studies/exams per

day At the end of the day

Clean and stock outpatient rooms Turn off imaging machines

Prep and maintain imaging equipment

Perform ultrasounds and vascular studies

Notice the difference between normal and abnormal images.

Like working with others

Patience Good people skills

Primary Responsibilities

Personal Characteristics

LIKES DISLIKES Being around

patients Being able to help

patients Scanning

When patients are difficult to scan

When patients move around too much

CHALLENGES OF BEING A VASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST Patients with physical limitations Abdominal scans

Difficult because they take the most skill and concentration

Some patients are hard to scan Ex: ultrasounds can’t see through air

STABILITY OF THE WORKPLACE The workplace is pretty stable There is a constant flow of patients Patients have a recall schedule to follow, so

they must keep returning

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES Good people skills Independent

decision making Be open to always

learn new things

A knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy

Medical experience for ultrasound program

HOSPITAL V.S OUTPATIENT

Techs are on call Work holidays and

weekends Extra hours More detective work

when it comes to finding out what is wrong with the patient

Normal work hours Have a set schedule Normal patient

schedule No on call

Hospital Outpatient

SALARY AND EXPECTED GROWTH Entry Pay – 15.97 hourly/33,220 per year Median Pay – 20.11 hourly/41,820 per year Experienced Pay – 28.29 hourly/58,840 per

year

The expected growth for this career is 21.4% over the next four years

EDUCATION

Get an associates or bachelor’s in applied science. Then go on to a tech program.

OR complete a post-

secondary training program offered through a technical institute, a hospital, or a 2 or 4-year college.

Scan for two years while in Vascular Tech program

College Path Clinical

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS Must be certified with either ARDMS

(American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography)  or CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) or both, depending on where you want to work.

To keep your ARDMS you must: pay a renewal fee each year Have a minimum of 30 medical education hours

every three years  must complete the recertification assessment

People tend to enter this career and stay until they retire.

There is room in this career to advance to a management position or become an application specialist with ultrasound companies

SVT – Society of Vascular Technologist

PAVA – Peoria Area of Vascular Technologists

SVU - society of vascular ultrasound

ICAVL ARDMS

From ARDMS you get RVT (registered vascular tech)

From CCI you get RVS (registered vascular sonographer)

Organizations Credentials

WHY YOU MAY WANT TO JOIN THIS PROFESSION If you don’t like needles, but still want to be

in the medical field No matter how long you are in the job

something new always comes along This profession can be very rewarding

You could find an aneurysm on a patient and/or critical stenosis in a carotid artery that was unknown

ADVICE ABOUT THE JOB Absorb as much as you can from your

trainers Ask lots of questions Be willing to take on tests that you may not

feel comfortable doing, that is the only way you will become comfortable