So by now I hope everyone knows after all the cardiovascular career posts that I want to specialize in critical care nursing. Critical care is a field in nursing that deals specifically with human responses to life-threatening problems. A critical-care nurse is a licensed professional nurse who is responsible for ensuring that all critically ill patients and their families receive optimal care.
Although very sick and complex patients have always existed, the concept of critical care is relatively modern. As advances have been made in medicine and technology, patient care has become much more complex. To provide appropriate care, nurses needed specialized knowledge and skills, while care delivery mechanisms also needed to evolve to support patients’ needs for continuous monitoring and treatment. The first intensive care units emerged in the 1950s as a means to provide care to very sick patients who needed one-to-one care from a nurse. It was from this environment that the specialty of critical-care nursing emerged.
Critical care nurses work in a variety of different areas, with a diverse patient population. According to the March 1996 DHHS report, 60 percent of all nurses work in the hospital setting. Within the hospital setting, critical-care nurses are found wherever there are critically ill patients: intensive-care units (ICUs); pediatric ICUs, neonatal ICUs, cardiac care units, cardiac catheter labs, telemetry units, progressive care units, emergency departments, and recovery rooms. Increasingly, critical-care nurses work in home health, managed care organizations, nursing schools, outpatient surgery centers, clinics, and flight units. Critical-care nursing includes the sub-specialties of adult, pediatric, and neonatal nursing practice.
I personally have not decided on a subspecialty. I'm just hoping that my background in cardiac technology and cardiac sonography will guide me into a great career in the field of nursing.
Resources: Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow
Friday, January 2, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
This Semester
So you're probably wondering why most of my posts so far are all about Diagnostic Imaging when my blog is titled my nursing experience. Well you're not alone. Some people in my life are wondering the same thing. They often wonder why I went to school for so long and worked so hard to just take a detour and do something else. Its not that I have given up on my dream to become a nurse. I haven't. I didn't work my ass off for the last year and a half to get A's and B's in all of my pre-nursing prerequisite courses (e.g. Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Chemistry, etc) for nothing.
I had planned on applying to the nursing program this year and enter the Spring of 2009. It wasn't until my advisor allowed me to take a couple of courses out of sequence. She warned me that one failed nursing course could affect my application (the application process is a point system). And two failed nursing courses could result in dismissal of the program. So I took caution. I didn't want to fail any courses being outside of the nursing program. Nor did I want to affect my overall grade point average. Anyway, I spent 3 weeks in Pathophysiology and realized that applying to the nursing program this year was not in my best interest.
I told my mother, advisor, and friends/classmates that I decided I wasn't ready. For the most part they took the news really well but they were surprised of my decision seeing as though I am a pretty level headed, smart, and focused student. They were even more surprised (or maybe not?) about what I told them next. I told them for the next year and a half I'll be studying a program called Cardiac Technology. They were a bit worried for a minute that I have been in college for so long without a major and that I changed my mind yet again. But I assured them that I didn't. With me not applying for nursing this year I have to do something. Since I want to become an ICU nurse choosing this program would have its advantages. Those advantages are experience, knowledge, increase marketability, and supplemental income.
When I told them about the advantages, it was no surprise that they were a little bit more relaxed and intrigued about my decision. Of course they were more interested in the negative/disadvantages than the positives. I told them that everything has its pros and cons. But this program has only one disadvantage for me. That is its locaton. Harper College is about 50 miles away from where I currently live. And in a town I never been to (Palatine, IL). So its different but I think I'm up for the challenge.
So why Cardiac Technology? Well to make a long story short I wanted to enroll into a short term program (less than two years) mainly diagnostic medical sonography (specializing in obstetrics and gynecology). So I did some research about local programs in my area. Most of the diagnostic medical sonography and radiologic programs in the Chicagoland area either required a degree in a health related field (which I do not have) or is/was extremely expensive and/or not accredited by CAAHEP.
The career definition of a Cardiac Technologist is a diagnostic cardiac sonographer who is a highly skilled professional who specializes in ultrasound equipment to record dynamic visual images of the heart and its circulation. They work in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices producing echocardiograms to assist the physician in diagnosing heart disease. The graduate also receives instruction in carotid and peripheral vascular ultrasound and EKG related diagnostic testing. According to the US Department of Labor Outlook Handbook edition 2008-2009, employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to increase by 26 percent. Starting annual salaries have been in the range of $40,000-$50,0000.
I had planned on applying to the nursing program this year and enter the Spring of 2009. It wasn't until my advisor allowed me to take a couple of courses out of sequence. She warned me that one failed nursing course could affect my application (the application process is a point system). And two failed nursing courses could result in dismissal of the program. So I took caution. I didn't want to fail any courses being outside of the nursing program. Nor did I want to affect my overall grade point average. Anyway, I spent 3 weeks in Pathophysiology and realized that applying to the nursing program this year was not in my best interest.
I told my mother, advisor, and friends/classmates that I decided I wasn't ready. For the most part they took the news really well but they were surprised of my decision seeing as though I am a pretty level headed, smart, and focused student. They were even more surprised (or maybe not?) about what I told them next. I told them for the next year and a half I'll be studying a program called Cardiac Technology. They were a bit worried for a minute that I have been in college for so long without a major and that I changed my mind yet again. But I assured them that I didn't. With me not applying for nursing this year I have to do something. Since I want to become an ICU nurse choosing this program would have its advantages. Those advantages are experience, knowledge, increase marketability, and supplemental income.
When I told them about the advantages, it was no surprise that they were a little bit more relaxed and intrigued about my decision. Of course they were more interested in the negative/disadvantages than the positives. I told them that everything has its pros and cons. But this program has only one disadvantage for me. That is its locaton. Harper College is about 50 miles away from where I currently live. And in a town I never been to (Palatine, IL). So its different but I think I'm up for the challenge.
So why Cardiac Technology? Well to make a long story short I wanted to enroll into a short term program (less than two years) mainly diagnostic medical sonography (specializing in obstetrics and gynecology). So I did some research about local programs in my area. Most of the diagnostic medical sonography and radiologic programs in the Chicagoland area either required a degree in a health related field (which I do not have) or is/was extremely expensive and/or not accredited by CAAHEP.
The career definition of a Cardiac Technologist is a diagnostic cardiac sonographer who is a highly skilled professional who specializes in ultrasound equipment to record dynamic visual images of the heart and its circulation. They work in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices producing echocardiograms to assist the physician in diagnosing heart disease. The graduate also receives instruction in carotid and peripheral vascular ultrasound and EKG related diagnostic testing. According to the US Department of Labor Outlook Handbook edition 2008-2009, employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to increase by 26 percent. Starting annual salaries have been in the range of $40,000-$50,0000.
So with all that said, classes aren't starting for another three weeks but I'm anxious to learn something new and start a new journey.
Cardiovascular Technology
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments. They perform ultrasound or cardiovascular procedures and monitor patient’s heart rates. They also operate and care for testing equipment, explain test procedures, and compare findings to a standard to identify problems. Other day to day activities vary significantly between specialties. CVTs may specialize in three areas of practice: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular technology.
CVTs specializing in invasive procedures are called cardiology technologists. They assist physicians with cardiac catheterization. CVTs assist as the physician inserts a catheter with a balloon on the end to the point of obstruction. This procedure can determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. Part of the procedure may involve balloon angioplasty, which can be used to treat blockages of blood vessels of heart valves without the need for heart surgery. Another procedure with a catheter is an electrophysiology test. An electrophysiology test can help locate the specific areas of heart tissue that give rise to the abnormal electrical impulses that cause arrhythmias. During the procedures, CVTs monitor patient’s blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and notify the physician if something appears to be wrong. Technologists may also prepare and monitor patients during open heart surgery and during the insertion of pacemakers and stents that open up blockages in arteries to the heart and major blood vessels.
Technologists who specialize in vascular technology or echocardiography perform noninvasive tests which do not require the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body. For example, procedures such as Doppler ultrasound transmit high-frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body and then processes reflected echoes of the sound waves to form an image.
Technicians who assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation are known as vascular technologists or vascular sonographers. Vascular technologists evaluate pulses and assess blood flow in arteries and veins by listening to the vascular flow sounds for abnormalities. Then they perform a noninvasive procedure using ultrasound instruments to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or after surgery.
Echocardiography is an area of practice that includes giving electrocardiograms (EKGs) and sonograms of the heart. Cardiovascular technicians who specialize in EKGs, stress testing, and those who perform Holter monitor procedures are known as cardiographic or electrocardiograph (or EKG) technicians. Cardiac sonographers may also assist in transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing a tube in the patient's esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.
To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient’s chest, arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination, especially on persons who have reached middle age or who have a history of cardiovascular problems.
For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient’s chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. For a treadmill test, EKG technicians monitor the heart's performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion. Like vascular technologists and cardiac sonographers, cardiographic technicians who perform EKG, Holter monitoring, and stress tests are known as noninvasive technicians.
CVTs specializing in invasive procedures are called cardiology technologists. They assist physicians with cardiac catheterization. CVTs assist as the physician inserts a catheter with a balloon on the end to the point of obstruction. This procedure can determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. Part of the procedure may involve balloon angioplasty, which can be used to treat blockages of blood vessels of heart valves without the need for heart surgery. Another procedure with a catheter is an electrophysiology test. An electrophysiology test can help locate the specific areas of heart tissue that give rise to the abnormal electrical impulses that cause arrhythmias. During the procedures, CVTs monitor patient’s blood pressure and heart rate with EKG equipment and notify the physician if something appears to be wrong. Technologists may also prepare and monitor patients during open heart surgery and during the insertion of pacemakers and stents that open up blockages in arteries to the heart and major blood vessels.
Technologists who specialize in vascular technology or echocardiography perform noninvasive tests which do not require the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body. For example, procedures such as Doppler ultrasound transmit high-frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body and then processes reflected echoes of the sound waves to form an image.
Technicians who assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation are known as vascular technologists or vascular sonographers. Vascular technologists evaluate pulses and assess blood flow in arteries and veins by listening to the vascular flow sounds for abnormalities. Then they perform a noninvasive procedure using ultrasound instruments to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or after surgery.
Echocardiography is an area of practice that includes giving electrocardiograms (EKGs) and sonograms of the heart. Cardiovascular technicians who specialize in EKGs, stress testing, and those who perform Holter monitor procedures are known as cardiographic or electrocardiograph (or EKG) technicians. Cardiac sonographers may also assist in transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing a tube in the patient's esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.
To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient’s chest, arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination, especially on persons who have reached middle age or who have a history of cardiovascular problems.
For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient’s chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. For a treadmill test, EKG technicians monitor the heart's performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion. Like vascular technologists and cardiac sonographers, cardiographic technicians who perform EKG, Holter monitoring, and stress tests are known as noninvasive technicians.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing ailments. Besides the familiar x-ray, another common diagnostic imaging method is ultrasound. Sonography, or ultrasonography, is the use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessement and diagnosis of various medical conditions. Sonographers use special equipment to direct nonionizing, high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient's body. The equipment collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotapped, photographed, or transmitted for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.
Many people associate sonography with obstetrics and the viewing of the fetus in the womb, but this technology has many other applications in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions throughout the body. Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female productive system), abdominal sonography (the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas), neurosonography (the brain), or breast sonography. In addition, sonographers may specialize in vascular sonography/technology or cardiac sonography also known as echocardiography.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in the imaging of the female reproductive system. Included in the discipline is examining the fetus of a pregnant woman to track the body's growth and health.
Abdominal sonographers inspect a patient's abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions primarily involving the gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and male reproductive system. Abdominal sonographers are also able to scan parts of the chest, although studies of the heart using sonography is usually done by echocardiographers (which is going to be my specialty).
Neuorsonographers focus on the nervous system, including the brain. In neonatal care, neurosonographers study and diagnose neurological and nervous system disorders in premature infants. They may also scan blood vessels to check for abnormalities indicating a stroke in infants diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. Like other sonographers, neurosonographers operate transducers to perform sonogram, but use frequencies and beam shapes different from those used by obstetric and abdominal sonographers.
Breast sonographers use sonography to study diseases of the breasts. Sonography aids mammography in the detection of breast cancer. Breast sonography can also track tumors, blood supply conditions, and assist inthe accurate biospy of breast tissue. Breast sonographers use high-frequency transducers, made exclusively to study breast tissue.
Viewing the screen during the scan, sonographers look for subtle visual cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones. They decide whether the images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select which ones to show to the physician.
The nature of their work can put sonographers at risk for musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, and eye strain: however, greater use of erogonmic equipment and an increasing awareness will continue to minimize such risks.
There are several avenues for entry into the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Sonographers may train in hospitals, vocational-technical institutons, colleges and universities, and the Armed Forces. Some training programs prefer applicants with a background in science or experience in other health care professions. College and universities offer 2- and 4-year programs. Course work includes classes in anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, basic physics, patient care, and medical ethics. Although not generally accredited, a few 1-year programs that may result in a certificate are also accepted as proper education by employers. These programs are typically for workers already in health care seeking to increase their marketability by training in sonography.
Sonographers specializing in one particular discipline often seek competency in others. For example, obstetric sonographers might seek training in abdominal sonography to broaden their opportunities and increast their marketability.
No state requires licensure in diagnostic medical sonography but organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certify the skills and knowledge of sonographers through credentialing, including registration. Registration with ARDMS requires passing a general physical principles and instrumentation examination, in addition to passing an exam in a specialty.
Opportunties for employment are very favorable because sonography is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures, as patients seek safer treatment methods. Sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful side effects and complications from repeated use are less likely for both the patient and the sonographer. According to Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment growth is expected to be faster than average. Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. Sonographers held about 46,000 jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs were in public or private hospitals. The rest were in offices of physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and mobile imaging services.
Many people associate sonography with obstetrics and the viewing of the fetus in the womb, but this technology has many other applications in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions throughout the body. Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female productive system), abdominal sonography (the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas), neurosonography (the brain), or breast sonography. In addition, sonographers may specialize in vascular sonography/technology or cardiac sonography also known as echocardiography.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in the imaging of the female reproductive system. Included in the discipline is examining the fetus of a pregnant woman to track the body's growth and health.
Abdominal sonographers inspect a patient's abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions primarily involving the gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and male reproductive system. Abdominal sonographers are also able to scan parts of the chest, although studies of the heart using sonography is usually done by echocardiographers (which is going to be my specialty).
Neuorsonographers focus on the nervous system, including the brain. In neonatal care, neurosonographers study and diagnose neurological and nervous system disorders in premature infants. They may also scan blood vessels to check for abnormalities indicating a stroke in infants diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. Like other sonographers, neurosonographers operate transducers to perform sonogram, but use frequencies and beam shapes different from those used by obstetric and abdominal sonographers.
Breast sonographers use sonography to study diseases of the breasts. Sonography aids mammography in the detection of breast cancer. Breast sonography can also track tumors, blood supply conditions, and assist inthe accurate biospy of breast tissue. Breast sonographers use high-frequency transducers, made exclusively to study breast tissue.
Viewing the screen during the scan, sonographers look for subtle visual cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones. They decide whether the images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select which ones to show to the physician.
The nature of their work can put sonographers at risk for musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, and eye strain: however, greater use of erogonmic equipment and an increasing awareness will continue to minimize such risks.
There are several avenues for entry into the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Sonographers may train in hospitals, vocational-technical institutons, colleges and universities, and the Armed Forces. Some training programs prefer applicants with a background in science or experience in other health care professions. College and universities offer 2- and 4-year programs. Course work includes classes in anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, basic physics, patient care, and medical ethics. Although not generally accredited, a few 1-year programs that may result in a certificate are also accepted as proper education by employers. These programs are typically for workers already in health care seeking to increase their marketability by training in sonography.
Sonographers specializing in one particular discipline often seek competency in others. For example, obstetric sonographers might seek training in abdominal sonography to broaden their opportunities and increast their marketability.
No state requires licensure in diagnostic medical sonography but organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certify the skills and knowledge of sonographers through credentialing, including registration. Registration with ARDMS requires passing a general physical principles and instrumentation examination, in addition to passing an exam in a specialty.
Opportunties for employment are very favorable because sonography is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures, as patients seek safer treatment methods. Sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful side effects and complications from repeated use are less likely for both the patient and the sonographer. According to Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment growth is expected to be faster than average. Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. Sonographers held about 46,000 jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs were in public or private hospitals. The rest were in offices of physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and mobile imaging services.
About
Hello Blog world!
So about myself and my blog. I am a college student from Chicago IL. My majors are Nursing and Diagnostic Imaging. Currently I am at CSU but I am planning on transferring to Harper College to enroll in their Cardiac Technology program. I will talk about what this program is in future posts but I should be completing my degree in less than a year. Once I complete my associate degree at Harper, I plan on enrolling into Emory University's Nursing school in Atlanta to receive my bachelor's degree. The reasons why I am leaving town will be discussed further in future posts as well.
So what is my purpose for being here on Blogger? Well for one there isn't many informative medical blogs online or that I know of. So I'm just one more of those or actually one more nursing blog. Basically, I am going to be discussing/blogging/posting about nursing, nursing and medical resources, being a nursing student, and anything else health care related. I'm also going to be blogging about my own personal experiences, interests, or whatever it is that's on my mind at the time.
So with all that said! Sit back, relax, learn, and enjoy! If you read an article or a post that is interesting please feel free to post your comments or opinions on that subject. :)
So about myself and my blog. I am a college student from Chicago IL. My majors are Nursing and Diagnostic Imaging. Currently I am at CSU but I am planning on transferring to Harper College to enroll in their Cardiac Technology program. I will talk about what this program is in future posts but I should be completing my degree in less than a year. Once I complete my associate degree at Harper, I plan on enrolling into Emory University's Nursing school in Atlanta to receive my bachelor's degree. The reasons why I am leaving town will be discussed further in future posts as well.
So what is my purpose for being here on Blogger? Well for one there isn't many informative medical blogs online or that I know of. So I'm just one more of those or actually one more nursing blog. Basically, I am going to be discussing/blogging/posting about nursing, nursing and medical resources, being a nursing student, and anything else health care related. I'm also going to be blogging about my own personal experiences, interests, or whatever it is that's on my mind at the time.
So with all that said! Sit back, relax, learn, and enjoy! If you read an article or a post that is interesting please feel free to post your comments or opinions on that subject. :)
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