BECOMING A CARDIAC SONOGRAPHER: 5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFOREHAND
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- čas přidán 28. 02. 2023
- Hi everyone! I wanted to share another career inspired video about the 5 things I wish I knew before I decided to become a Cardiac Sonographer. There are many different streams in healthcare and I am here to share what I see as someone who is in the ultrasound field. When I started this career, I was only 24, and it's crazy to know that society expects you to set your career up in such a young age. I hope what this video helps you decide whether or not Sonography is a career for you.
Here is the link to the article I mentioned in this video relating to incidence of injury: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...
I start my Cardiac Sonography school next week! I’m so nervous, and excited!
Very exciting!!! Good luck to you 😊😊
Good luck!! I start mine in August!
Thanks! Can you make a vlog on how to apply as Cardiac Sonographer for international applicants?
What school did you enroll in ?
How’s it going?
As someone heavily considering the career path I find this so helpful, thank you so much for these educational videos!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I hope to be making more videos in the future :)
Thankful this was very helpful! I cannot wait to start! ❤
This was a very informative video, and I appreciate your insight. Thank you.
You’re a real one for this video. So insightful hank you ❤
Very in depth information, thanks!
This is awesome information dee thank you i always wanted to get into this career and i feel so ready and relieved and informed❤❤❤❤❤
You are so welcome!
thank you for this information it's very helpful and a good image how work life will be outside of school or clinicals. super excited, nervous, and putting myself down. it's normal and I know I can do this!
Hi there! Sorry for the late response. I am very excited for you! It’s not going to be easy but it’s definitely a rewarding career. Wishing you the best of luck!
Starting my program in the Spring of 2025! Thank you for all your insights!
This video is so helpful, thank you!
Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you for making this video! Do you know how someone can build up a good memory for this career?
Hey! Would you make a video about your school’s program regarding what types of questions they asked, etc?
Hi there! My program actually never required an interview process. But I can ask around and see what my colleagues were asked when they had to go through the interview process for their school. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to make a video out of it, but I’ll definitely look into it and maybe make a comment during a future video!
Please, we know you are busy, but keep doing videos. Trust me, you help a lot of people who are happy to hear your advice 😊. I can't wait for the next video! How do you display your emotions when you see bad news?
Thank you for the encouragement! ❤️ I am going through a life change at the moment which I why I haven’t been able to get to making videos atm. I try my best to at least answer as much of the questions I get. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a chance to create another video soon!
To answer your question, I personally have a resting face for the most part and a lot of people are t able to read my emotions. Wearing a mask helps, but in all honesty, I’m more focused on gathering all the evidence during my scan. That way I can let the cardiologist know right away and they can see all the additional images gathered
I can't wait to see your channel grow! I am still pre-sonography, but I am excited for the upcoming years. How did you handle or prepare for the nerves of getting accepted (or not) into the program? I am so scared. Mainly because I'm not doing so well in A/P :( Is it true that C's can still get degrees? LOL
Hey there! Thank you so much for the support ☺️ the fear of the unknown can be very nerve wracking. And I remember during that time, I was a very nervous person. I had a few back up plans so being accepted into those programs helped me ease my mind. I just needed to know that I had a further game plan after my kinesiology degree.
To be honest, I wasn’t the greatest in school during university. I found that once I got into the program, I did a lot better because everything I learned was very relevant to my scope of practice. So don’t worry too much if you’re not excelling in general courses. Hope you found this helpful!
Hey!! This video was really helpful thank you! I just got accepted into the cardiac sonography program. I’m wondering which areas do the massages help with pain and did the pain go away with massage?
Do you have any other areas that hurt and do you ever stand while doing scans?
This is one of the main things I’m concerned about because I just saw that there are many injuries in this field.
Also what study techniques did you use for this program? Thank you I’m advance!
Hi! Great video. I’m deciding between MLT or DMS but still can’t decide. Can you do a video and talk about the pros and cons or one that talks about what type of person would be suitable for this job.
Hi there! Thanks for watching! Both MLT and DMS are great fields to go into (although they differ vastly). Yes, I can definitely prepare a future video in regards to that topic. Thanks for your suggestion!
I’ve worked as a phlebotomist for 19 years and every tech I’ve come across says MLTs are extremely underpaid. I’d say sonography pays much more.
@@nikolebrandi you know, I’ve heard that before and I will take your advice. As much as how I love it, I need something that makes decent money to atleast have an apartment and a cheap car. Thank you 🙏 for replying.
I finished my bachelors degree in Biochemistry recently and have decided that I really don't want to go to med school, dental school, or get a PhD in Chemistry but I want more education. My grandpa was a professor and my father is a medical doctor (Pathologist) I am a bit of a nerd as you would expect, but I really like people and don't really like research. I am really good at memorizing, and really enjoy repetitive work. I think it sounds like a good fit. I am going to go apply to some schools. even if I decide its not for me...I might work for a few years to pay off any debt and make some money, then I might go to pharmacy or optometry school If I've decided this is not right.
I scan left handed too. I find it strange and sometimes impossible to scan echo right handed. In my area most of my patient’s body habits is to high to scan over/right handed for echo
Hey there! Thanks for sharing! When I did my training, I started off right handed but the job a landed was a department that scanned left handed. I’m grateful to have fully transition to left handed for the very same reasons you’ve mentioned. Although it’s a great skill to be able to scan with either left or right hand, ergonomically, it makes sense (and makes it a lot easier) to scan left handed.
I’m also a male applying for an adult echo program in May. Do you prefer to sit or stand while doing scans? Also what are the pro and cons of working at a hospital vs cardiologist office?
Hey there! Great to hear that you’re applying for the program. For myself, it depends on the situation. There are times where I feel that standing will optimize the images the best, and other times where I can sit for the entire exams. Sometimes I’ll stand because of the angles of certain images. Generally though, I’ll be sit for ~ 80% of my exams.
In regards to your second question, Hospital and cardiology offices both offer different perks. For hospitals, you usually get the benefit of having benefit packages, vacation time, and pension can be enticing (sometimes they call these types of jobs the “golden handcuffs”). With cardiology offices, there’s usually the benefit of not needing to do on calls, working 9-5, usually no weekends. I can make a video sometime about more pros and cons in regards to this question, because I feel that there’s a lot more to say.
Hey Dee , I have a question about speed , I am also in this field since last 3 years but I still take 45 mins to finish each exam . I work in a hospital which has old population and as you know because of body habits , patients are very difficult to scan specially in the hospital. I will really appreciate if you tell us how to finish exam in less time? Any tips or ideas you can share with us I will really appreciate your help!
I am little pic perfectionist so it takes time . Please help !!
I’m so glad to come across your channel at this point in time. I’m still taking some prerequisite classes before applying to a DMS program. I was wondering once I’m done with the program and sit for the exam, will that exam be for all types of registry such as general, vascular, and cardiac? Or will I need to obtain a certificate for cardiac sonography?
Hey there! If you’re in the DMS program, you’ll be sitting for exams based on your specialties. So if your program does not include cardiac sonography, then you won’t need to worry about that specific exam when you sit for your registry exams. Hope that helps!
@@dayswithdee6670 Gotcha. Thank you! I appreciate it. 😅
@@dayswithdee6670Thank you for this video. I'm studying cardiac sonography now and just finished 1sr semester, and next week will start the 2nd semester. My question what do you recommend books or study guide that I can be dependent on it?
@@meenamanoosh3504 i saw ur comment i am starting my program in a few months how was your first semester
I’m a middle school teacher looking into a career change! The only accredited school near me is an OBGYN DMS program.
?? If I do this program, can I still do echo as a job ?? How? Do I have to another program??
Thanks for your help in advanced!!!
I’m starting my program next fall and it’s specifically for cardiovascular, they don’t have any other options available. I was kind of upset at first. Does it ever get boring just looking at the heart and nothing else? Also do you ever scan pregnancies to see the babies heart? Just super curious!
Hey there, congrats! I get that question a lot from my patients. I see where they come from - it’s only one organ. But once you actually learn about the theoretical components of cardiac sonography, you will understand why it’s a specialized field. The images and protocol may be repetitive, but it takes time, skill and effort to be able to investigate pathology in real time. I did not become comfortable with cardiac sonography until probably 3 years into working full time. So for me, it’s not boring. I like being an investigator and presenting finding to cardiologists makes it rewarding.
You can specialize even further into fetal echo. It’s definitely a different ball game. Paediatric echo is also another field you can explore. It’s definitely more complex as there may be cases where the heart does not form correctly.
I know you may feel upset at first but I would just say to give it a chance. My sister is a general sonographer. That also has its pros and cons. And once you get used to cardiac, if you decide to further pursue general sonography, it should be a bit easier to understand since you’ll have a foundation on understanding ultrasound physics. Best of luck to you!
I was looking into cardiac sonography. I am currently a respiratory therapist and I can’t deal with the high stress situations and constant emergencies.
Has this been rewarding for you? How hard was the schooling?
Hi, what do you think are the disadvantages of sinography studies?
Hi I'm wondering if the program already includes courses like math, biology and English, why would I need to take more pre reqs on top of that?
Hey there! That’s a great question. Actually, from my understanding, courses like math, biology and English are NOT part of the program. A lot of the courses are ultrasound related and program specific. Hope that helps!
Hey there,
I’m about to start my career as DMS, I’m just curious like What type of Entry assessment test question you can expect?
Hey there! Congrats on starting your journey! Unfortunately I won’t be able to help you with this question. My program did not require any interviews and was based on qualifications and relevant scope of practice. There are many resources on CZcams with Sonographers experienced in the interview process
Do you feel this is a good career for someone later in life? I am 45 now and curious about the musculoskeletal injuries affecting my career longevity.
Question? If you are a medical sonographer can you perform a cardiac sonography?
Would you recommend cardio or the dms. My daughter is interested
Great video. I am a new echo tech and my shoulders are dying. Any ergonomics tips?
Hey there! Congrats to the start of your new career! Yes, i think from personal experience, my first year was very rough because I was in a lot of pain. I’m not the best with ergonomics so I don’t feel comfortable enough to give out any of my tips (I trained left handed scanning on the job so I use whatever tips my coworkers gave me).
What helped were 3 things: massage therapy, physiotherapy (especially dry needling), and exercise. If you have access to those things through your benefits, I would definitely take advantage of that. Hope that helps!
As a Cardiac Sonographer, are there any vaccinations requirements?
@@MeltedwithLovelike most healthcare careers, it most likely depends on what state/ location you work in. Usually flu shots are required and most immunizations are required for clinicals
I am interested in become a cardiac sonographer. I'm planning on applying for a bachelor program of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I was told by someone that DMS program only works for those who want to specialize in OB/GYN which does not make sense to me. I'm still doing my research but I believe that first you need to attend an accredited DMS program then you need to pass the SPI exam and from there, you can take another exam to earn credential to specialize in whatever area such as cardiac, vascular, OB/GYN, etc.. Isn't that right? The person tried to tell me that the program I wanna apply for which is Diagnostic Medical Sonography at UT MD Anderson in Texas is not the right path if I wanna become a cardiac sonographer because they're 2 different thing. I'm kinda confused now :/
Hey there! Sorry for the late response. To answer your question, the person you spoke with is correct. If you want to become a cardiac Sonographer, you’ll want to look for a cardiac sonography program. The diagnostic medical sonography program covers every other part of the body excluding the heart. The person you spoke with is trying to give you a heads up that you’ll end up wasting your time if your main goal is to go into cardiac sonography. Hope that helps!
@@dayswithdee6670 thank you so much! Is cardiac sonography the only specialty in which people need to take a specific program for it? Because in my state, there is only one college that has cardiac sonography program in which you can earn associate.
I'm looking to earn a bachelors. The school I wanna apply for only teaches general ultrasound but I can earn a bachelor degree with it.
That person I spoke to also told me that general sonography can only qualify me for OB/GYN and possibly vascular. But i did some research on the ARDMS website and they said that if you hold a bachelors in sonography program, you can take SPI then choose any specialty you seek even echocardiography without any clinical experience since you hold a bachelor and also that program has clinical internships every semester as stated in their catalog. I might be wrong tho :( im new to this. Hope I could get ur advice!!!
@@tracyh5054Hi Tracy, my name is Courtney. I am currently in my 3rd semester of cardiovascular sonography school earning an associates degree. Diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) holds different specialties such as ob/gyn, small parts,abdomen, musculoskeletal (I believe),and vascular. The reason why cardiac has its own track is because it focuses on one major organ which is the heart (echo). DMS focuses on many organs while in the program. I know if you earn an associates vs bachelors vs masters (rare to hold) is that there is relatively no pay difference however, if you hold a higher degree, then you are able to move up in your department to a manager position , or if you want become an instructor at a college/university. People who have an associates in sonography don’t have that luxury lol 😂. It just all depends on what you want to do with your career. Remember to think about the long term goals! Hope this helps.
@@tracyh5054yes clinicals are typical for every sonography program. With an associates, you are still eligible to take SPI and specialize in whatever modality (area of choice) you would like to do.
Hi! Idk if this is totally true because my program offered general, ob, cardiac, & vascular! So after graduating, you can sit for these registries & work in any modality
i wanted to be a medical speech pathologist but the pre reqs are too expensive before i can even apply to grad school so im looking for backup sonographers
Hey there! Glad you are exposing yourself to different areas in healthcare! Sonography and speech language pathology are two very different streams. Both offer the satisfaction of helping others. Hope you’re able to figure out where you want to specialize:)
I'm a Paramedic looking to get out of 9-1-1 full time due to burn out and high stress. I still want to stay in medicine because I love what I do but would this be a good change in pace?
I’m a respiratory therapist, and I am very tired of the high stress environment and constant emergencies as well. I think this field sounds really interesting.
In india we have cardiovascular technology so ....do we need additional qualification can you pls tell me if you don't know can you ask someone and help me... Iam really afriad to taje this course Because a lot of people told me that this have less salary and opportunities is thia trye
Hlo mam perfusion technology or cardiovascular technology which course have more scope in jobs and salary, plz reply mam😢
Do you have B.S. in the field or just the cert ? Thinking of applying this fall.
Hey there! My specific program was a graduate certificate. Depending on the school you apply, they may offer either a certificate, diploma or a degree. A lot of it depends on previous experience or exposure to the healthcare field. You’ll need to research what you’ll be receiving in the end, because it all comes down to the school you choose. Hope that helps!
Hi!! Your vids are fantastic! I'm a recent graduate myself. I graduated from India with a BSc in cardiovascular technology. Could you help advise me on how to apply for a position as an overseas graduate as a cardiac sonographer? How can I get started?
Also, how can I get registered there ?
Hey there! Thank you so much for your lovely words! Congrats to you for graduating from cardiovascular technology! I’m not sure if it’s different in India, but in Canada, cardiovascular technology is actually different from a cardiac Sonographer. It requires additional schooling. The best route would be to apply to accredited cardiac sonography schools. If you’re interested in working in Canada, sonography Canada is a great resource to look into. Hope that helps!
Thanks for sharing 🫶💕
Thank you for your support ❤️ your words mean a lot!
Im a male and i was very interested in this field is there a specific type of sonography that you would reccomend??
Hey there! Glad to meet another person interested in sonography! To be honest, it’s hard to say what specialty in sonography you should do. I would suggest that if you have a chance, to try and shadow different specialties in sonography and see what sparks your interest. Some specialties include (but not limited to): Cardiac, general, vascular, paediatrics, musculoskeletal, etc. if you’re not able to shadow, there may be videos online to give you a glimpse of what is involved in each type of specialty. Hope that helps!
how often do you come across bodily fluids like vomit or blood or emergencies in general?
Hey there! This is a great question. It really depends on where you work. When I worked in a smaller community hospital, I didn’t really encounter much blood or emergency situations. I now work at a level 1 cardiac center and I do find that I deal with those situations a bit more often. I would probably say maybe once or twice a month? It’s scary to deal with at the beginning but over time you’ll build your confidence and those situations will get easier.
In terms of vomit, I’ve only had maybe 2 people vomit in front of me in the 8 years I’ve worked (never on me). I usually don’t see blood - maybe I’ll have the occasional patient have blood transfusions. If you work at a cardiac center, you’ll see more stitches than blood. Hope that helps!
I decided on this career but I’m so scared that I have someone’s life in my hands. Do you feel a lot of pressure dealing with the heart? What if you miss something crucial?
Hi there! Congrats to you! I understand where you’re coming from. It can be very scary but it also shows that you care about doing a good job and being thorough. I am fortunate to work at a facility where I have doctors, fellows and residents close by to answer any of my questions or concerns. If you have a gut feeling that something’s off, I would mention it to a doctor just in case. Echo isn’t an end all be all exam. There will be other exams that can detect things that we may miss. The key is to make sure you’re paying attention to what you see, and if something doesn’t seem right, that you’re able to let a doctor know. Hope that helps!
Do you have take the tease exam?
Hii is it okay if a indian is applying for registered cardiac sonographer exam.?? I have completed my bachelors and 2 years experience. Plz reply
Hi there! If you are thinking about working in Canada, I believe you just need to make sure you are registered with ARDMS and most jobs will take that as a credential for the job. It really depends on the site. Some places need you to register with sonography Canada. But I find that ARDMS is easier to come by.
This school I’m looking at costs 61K for two years, I get a AA degree, certs, and clinical experience along with getting me a job as well
Have you tried just looking up on the web “cardiovascular sonography programs near me”?😊
My husband wants to join a sonography program, he works at a warehouse now and does so much physical activity…I’m assuming he would be fine for point #1 😆
Hey there! If he’s used to physical activity, it may be easier to adjust to the physical demands of sonography! Wishing him the best of luck on his future endeavours :)
What are the exams to be taken after completing this course
Hey there! I can only vouch for what happens in Canada, but at the moment, you’ll need to pass your ARDMS exams or exams from Sonography Canada. Depending on what your credentials are, you may first need to see if you’re qualified to take those exams. Hope that helps!
I studied human physiology in school... Can I get a graduate certificate in cardiac sonography?
Hey there! Sorry for the late response. To answer your question, it really depends on the school you apply to. I can imagine that human physiology would be an asset when applying. You can also contact the school to see if there are ways to improve your odds in getting admitted.
For myself, my school offered the program as a graduate certificate but different schools will offer the program in different ways. I’ve seen it as diplomas and degrees. So it really is up to you to look into the requirements. Hope this helps!
@@dayswithdee6670 What's the name of your school please?
Does a vascular sonographer perform 😅more work than a cardiac sonographer I see vascular perform more test than cardiac I’m trying to figure out which one performs more work
You do more in Vascular sonography because most cardiac scans end up in the hands of cardiology Reg. And Cardiac physiologist. Its better to do cardiovascular sonography.
I’m a male you think it’s rare for a men to become one cause I’m in school for it rn??
Hey there! Good question. When I was in school, there were definitely less males training to become a Cardiac Sonographer. I mentioned it in my video because some people may not know the nature of the field. One of the imaging sets we have to take are located under the left breast, so I have seen some female patients request for female only techs. It doesn’t happen a lot, but be aware that it does happen from time to time. Hope that helps!
I am located in the TMC and our ratio is roughly 40% M and 60% F
Guys if the paitent send you away it's less work for you. It's not a bad thing imo. Career is still great and $$$$
How get PhD in cardiac sonographer
Hey there! From what I gather, I don’t believe there are any PhD programs for sonography. It’s usually available as a diploma, degree or a graduate certificate
I just got accepted into the echo program offered at my college! I am so excited to start, but if you’re comfortable answering- do you know the range of starting salary? I know it’s different depending on state, location etc. but is there a pay difference between clinic vs hospital? If so, would you know the difference? Thank you so much, your video helped a ton! 🫶🏻
I actually worked with someone while in hospital and she stated that she was getting $32 starting off entry level.
Hey there! Congrats to you! Really wishing you the best in this new chapter in your life! You are correct, the salary is really going to be based on location and the type of facility you work in. I am comfortable sharing my salary with you because I do work in the public sector in a hospital so this information is publicly made known.
When I first started 8 years ago, I made roughly 55k or around $28/hour. I currently make 105k or around $50/hour. I work in the west coast in Canada. I’ve never worked in a clinic but it also depends on where you live. In the west coast, clinics tend to pay higher than hospitals. In the east coast, I found it can be the opposite
Do you have IG?
As a male I totally understand women feeling uncomfortable with that. I would be uncomfortable too I have a lady I wouldn’t feel comfortable another dude scanning that area
Injuries before even starting. 😢no thanks. Going to be a NP.
Yes, it’s very common for ultrasound techs to get injured in this career. Definitely not for everyone but it’s a rewarding career. I’m very happy that you’ve found your calling as an NP! :) we need more healthcare workers!
What’s an NP ?
@@chenni4127nurse practitioner? I think
@@chenni4127nurse practitioner
Injuries are very preventable. It’s all about ergonomics and be aware of your body.
Pto a thing
Is vacation a thing
Or you in the office all day
"injuries" haha. man, imagine putting these soft people in a laborious job like brick laying or landscaping. They would die in the first day.
Hey there! You have a point, there are many types of laborious jobs, and sonographers unfortunately also have to deal with injuries at work. It may be a different kind of injury compared to other labor heavy jobs, but the reason why I brought it up is because it’s something that a lot of future prospects don’t realize that comes with the job.
sure, it just amazes me how soft people are these days. people who get an education and work in a nice air conditioned facility where they scan patients all day say there are real risks to injury in those positions. Im a RN and i used to do landscaping. want to talk about injury? try repeatedly lifting 80lb bags of cement of your shoulder all day and huge branches.
@@dayswithdee6670
Question? If you are a medical sonographer can you perform a cardiac sonography?