How to become A Cardiovascular Technologist

• Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist
• Cardiac Catheterization Technician
• Cardiac Technician
• Cardiology Technician
• Cardiopulmonary Technician
• Electrocardiogram Technician
• Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist

What do Cardiovascular Technologists do?

A Cardiovascular Technologist would typically need to:

• Assemble and operate electronic and hemodynamic equipment during diagnostic procedures and interventions
• Demonstrate catheter location by performing fluoroscopic/radiographic imaging and document the findings
• Sterilise the operating equipment and necessary areas; keep necessary supplies well-stocked; maintain hygiene in the work environment
• Explain medical procedures and tests to patients and caregivers and help ease their anxiety
• Test patients’ lung or heart function; prepare them as instructed by the physician
• Promote patient wellness and care by collaborating with medical teams and departments such as catheterisation labs
• Scan and interpret Holter monitors and analyse test results; convey the data to physicians for patient diagnosis and treatment plans

Cardiovascular Technologists may work in catheterisation labs, doctors’ offices, and hospitals and operate technological medical equipment. This career does not require travel unless it is to attend conferences.

Cardiovascular Technologists do not typically work scheduled 9 a.m to 5 p.m hours because they may need to respond to medical emergencies at other times of the day or night. They often work late nights, weekends, and overtime. However, depending on the job, some may work forty hours, five days a week.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Cardiovascular Technologists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Cardiovascular Technologists are generally employed by:

• General Medical & Surgical Hospitals
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Catheterisation Labs
• Specialty Psychiatric & Substance Abuse Hospitals
• Medical & Diagnostic Laboratories
• Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Physicians’ Offices
• Colleges, Universities & Professional Schools

Healthcare associations provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers. Affiliated Cardiovascular Technologists may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• Four or more years of education and training are required before becoming a Cardiovascular Technologist
• Irregular work schedules
• Stressful situations, such as having to inform patients of their unfortunate heart or lung conditions

To show their commitment to the long qualifying period, every applicant to a medical program needs work experience in their local hospital, doctor’s surgery, nursing home, or mental health trust. In addition, it will help them understand some of the physical and emotional demands of a career in medicine. Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their cardiovascular technology departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in a medical degree and a career in the field, which provides insights into the work and its environment. As in any career, reading as much as possible about the profession and interviewing those working in cardiovascular technology are other important ways to explore your interest.

Aspiring Cardiovascular Technologists must have an accredited diploma, or a bachelor’s or associate degree, or an undergraduate certificate in cardiovascular technology, any of which will qualify them to earn certification in the field. You may acquire a diploma offered through an on-the-job training program or earn your degree at a university or college.

An associate degree program at a community college typically takes two years to complete and comprises coursework and training supervised by an experienced technologist. Another option is to acquire an associate or bachelor’s degree in related fields, such as radiologic technology or nursing, accompanied by training on the job. Keep in mind that bachelor’s degree programs typically take four years to complete. Typically, the first two years take you through core courses, and the latter two allow you to focus on a specialisation, such as invasive cardiovascular, non-invasive cardiovascular and non-invasive vascular technology.

Licensing or certification is a requirement to practice as a Cardiovascular Technologist. To earn a license, you must pass an examination provided by registered medical organisations and complete a two-year cardiovascular technology program.

You may choose from various certification programs available, depending on your specialisation. Certification demonstrates a Cardiovascular Technologist’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Cardiovascular Technologists with consistently high performance levels may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

To become a Cardiovascular Technologist, you may have to start as a Basic Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG Tech), working your way up to Technician Telemetry Technologist. You could then become a Cardiovascular Technologist or a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in the cardiovascular field. You may eventually be promoted to the role of Supervisor of Cardiovascular Technology.

Since the job market is quite competitive, Cardiovascular Technologists who possess knowledge of customer service, medicine & dentistry, and computers & electronics become attractive candidates to potential employers.

Cardiovascular Technologists should stay up to date with new technology and research since it could benefit the medical field. Continuing professional development (CPD) is especially important in the healthcare sector as it has important implications for public wellbeing. Ideal career progression happens when Cardiovascular Technologists actively choose to expand their skill-sets and meet the requirements of their respective regulatory bodies.

An important consideration in medical education in recent years has been transforming the masses of facts and skills that doctors accumulate in their training into adaptive clinical skills that work in the real world.

The central concern of CPD is that of lifelong learning with its application to professional lives. CPD is more than just a policy or some form of bureaucratic procedure. It is not just a set of boxes to be ticked mindlessly. It is value-laden and embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Cardiovascular Technologists.

Health Requirements

Aspiring Cardiovascular Technologists must follow specific health requirements. They must submit medical forms and records before working in a clinical setting to confirm having undertaken an annual physical exam, a current tuberculosis test, mandatory vaccinations, and optional vaccinations such as the one against chickenpox or an antibody test in place of it.

Wearable devices, such as bands, watches and rings equipped with heart-monitoring capabilities, are among the new technologies to monitor the heart.

Cardiovascular Technologists help doctors and physicians ensure that our hearts and blood vessels are correctly cared for by diagnosing or treating illnesses. We have them to thank for the continued insurance and care of our hearts.

Always be prepared. Make sure to meet with the vendor representatives who come to your lab so that you are thoroughly familiar with their product. If required, write down the instructions they give you.