Cardiovascular Technologists And Technicians

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Description

Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests. Includes vascular technologists.

Tasks

Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
Observe gauges, recorder, and video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system.
Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
Prepare and position patients for testing.
Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.
Perform general administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments or ordering supplies or equipment.
Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
Assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac or peripheral vascular treatments, such as implanting pacemakers or assisting with balloon angioplasties to treat blood vessel blockages.
Inject contrast medium into patients' blood vessels.
Assess cardiac physiology and calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system.
Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, or cerebral circulation.
Transcribe, type, and distribute reports of diagnostic procedures for interpretation by physician.
Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
Activate fluoroscope and camera to produce images used to guide catheter through cardiovascular system.
Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities.
Enter factors such as amount and quality of radiation beam, and filming sequence, into computer.
Set up 24-hour Holter and event monitors, scan and interpret tapes, and report results to physicians.
Conduct tests of pulmonary system, using spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Psychology: Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Work Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Work Context

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled: How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Contact With Others: How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Telephone: How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Physical Proximity: To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets: How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Exposed to Disease or Infections: How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
Exposed to Radiation: How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
Work With Work Group or Team: How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Time Pressure: How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Work Style

Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Work Values

Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

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Lay Titles

ARRT Technologist (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Technologist)

Cardiac Catherization Laboratory Technologist

Cardiac Catheterization Special Procedures Technologist

Cardiac Catheterization Technician

Cardiac Catheterization Technologist

Cardiac Monitor Technician

Cardiac Technician

Cardiograph Operator

Cardiographer

Cardiology Technician

Cardiology Technologist

Cardiopulmonary Technician

Cardiopulmonary Technologist

Cardiovascular Interventional Technologist

Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist

Cardiovascular Radiologic Technologist

Cardiovascular Sonographer

Cardiovascular Technician

Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT)

Cardiovascular Ultrasound Sonographer

CATH Lab Radiological Technologist (Catheterization Laboratory Radiological Technologist)

Cath Lab RN (Catheterization Laboratory Registered Nurse)

Cath Lab Specialist (Catheterization Laboratory Specialist)

Cath Lab Tech (Catheterization Laboratory Technologist)

Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)

Certified Cardiology Technologist (CCT)

Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)

Computed Tomography Technologist (CTT)

Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician

Echo Tech (Echocardiography Technician)

Echo/Vascular Tech (Echocardiology/Vascular Technician)

Echocardiogram Technician

Echocardiograph Technician

Echocardiographer

Echocardiographic Technologist

Echocardiology Technologist

EEG Technician (Electroencephalogram Technician)

EKG/ECG Technician (Electrocardiogram Technician)

Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Technician)

Electrocardiograph Operator

Electrocardiograph Technician

Electrocardiographic Technician

Holter Scanning Technician

Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist

Perfusionist

Pulmonary Function Technician

Pulmonary Function Technologist

Radiographer

Radiological Technologist

Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS)

Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)

Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS)

Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT)

Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Special Procedures Radiological Technologist

Stress Test Technician

Telemetry Technician

Vascular Technician

Vascular Technologist

X-Ray Technologist

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $25.04 hourly, $52,070 annual.

Employment (2008):: 50,530 employees