Get to the heart of the matter in healthcare by becoming a cardiovascular technician.
What is a Cardiovascular Technician or Technologist?
Cardiovascular technicians or technologists use medical equipment such as ultrasounds to take images of the heart and identify possible heart problems like cardiovascular disease or an oncoming heart attack. They are commonly employed in healthcare environments that include:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient care facilities
- Physician’s offices
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories
Explore more information on cardiovascular technician job duties, skills, demand and programs below.
- Job Duties
-
Cardiovascular Technician & Technologist Job Duties
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians are responsible for assisting licensed physicians in the detection and treatment of illnesses involving the heart and blood vessels. Depending on the area of specialization, cardiovascular technologists can:
- Review and record patient medical histories relevant clinical data
- Prepare patients for exams
- Administer anesthesia
- And more
A non-invasive cardiovascular technologist focuses on performing patient exams utilizing high technology equipment. Some tests professionals in the field perform include:
- Echocardiograms
- Heart scans
- Stress tests
- Electrophysiology tests.
In some cases, non-invasive cardiovascular technicians may assist a physician to detect patient ailments.
- Career Skills
-
Cardiovascular Technician & Technologist Skills
Certain skills and characteristics are necessary for students in cardiovascular sonography programs to excel. These may include:
- Technical Skills: These healthcare professionals are using complex equipment on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s crucial to be comfortable working with technology and the ability to operate, maintain and troubleshoot the machinery is also needed.
- Interpersonal Skills: Cardiovascular technicians and technologists work with patients when they perform tests or assist a cardiologist. Some patients, depending on the circumstances, could be scared for the procedure or uncomfortable being in a healthcare environment. Cardiovascular technicians and technologists need to be personable to make the patient feel at ease.
- Attention to Detail Skills: The heart is an extremely important organ in the body, so a cardiovascular technician or technologist needs to pay attention to every detail no matter how small, especially when performing medical exams.
- Demand
-
Cardiovascular Technician & Technologist Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for cardiovascular technicians and technologists to increase between now and 2020 by 29 percent. This is faster than the national average for all jobs, and amounts to 14,500 cardiovascular technician and technologist positions.*
* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians.htm. This is a national projection. Conditions in your location may vary.
- Programs
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Cardiovascular Technician & Technologist Programs & Training
When looking for cardiovascular sonography schools or cardiovascular technician training it is essential to find a program that can help you learn career-relevant skills using industry-current equipment and software.
Cardiovascular technology courses students can expect to encounter include:
- Sonography
- Anatomy and physiology
- Patient care procedures
- Medical terminology
- And more
Are you thinking about becoming a cardiovascular technician or technologist? Does cardiology sound interesting to you? Discover more information by locating cardiovascular technology schools near you today.
Program availability and/or degree offerings subject to change. Employment and salary are not guaranteed.
Cardiovascular Technology / Sonography Schools
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9-10 of 10 School(s)
Sanford-Brown College - San Antonio
Sanford-Brown is known throughout the healthcare industry as an educator of professionals who have acquired the real-world knowledge and practical skills to fill vi...
Learn More!
Associate and Certificate
Bilingual Medical Assistant (Spanish/English), Cardiovascular Sonography , Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Assistant , Medical Billing Administrative Specialist, Medical Billing and Coding
Sanford-Brown College - Phoenix
Sanford-Brown is known throughout the healthcare industry as an educator of professionals who have acquired the real-world knowledge and practical skills to fill vi...
Learn More!
Associate and Certificate
Allied Health, Cardiovascular Sonography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Dialysis Technology, Medical Assistant , Medical Assistant Bilingual (Spanish/English), Medical Billing and Coding , Pharmacy Technician
9-10 of 10 School(s)
