Due to the high demand of medical technicians, the career outlook of an EKG Technician is expected to grow much faster than originally thought. Choosing the career field of an EKG Tech can be one of great benefit as it offers excellent pay, great benefits and an exciting work environment. Technicians and technologist trained in this field with multiple professional credentials that are also able to perform a wide range of procedures, have the best prospects for a long successful career as an EKG technician.
EKG Technician Training
Amazingly, unlike many other medical positions, an Ekg Tech does not require a bachelor’s degree. If you desire, you can take courses at a community college or a career training school or technical school which are offered around the country. This is generally a 2-year community college program which generates an associate degree.
The first year the student will learn core medical courses which is followed by a year of specialized training in either invasive cardiovascular, noninvasive cardiovascular or noninvasive vascular technology. Some clinics only require job candidates to have a high school diploma or GED and a training certificate, which you can obtain by completing a year of schooling and additional training. Plus you must display an interest and expected potential in health sciences.
You can also receive on the job training from a cardiologist or EKG tech supervisor. This training can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks Some individuals choose to enroll in an academic program to receive their basic training and increase their chances of joining a health care team. However, certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s programs are available, lasting from one to four years on average, teaching students to use equipment, communicate by using medical terminology and understand the importance of patient safety and medical ethics.
In able to maintain your certification and to keep your job, a continuing education is usually required. EKG Technicians and cardiovascular technologist must be reliable, have mechanical aptitude and be able to follow orders and most importantly – work in a team. They must also be able to keep the patients mind at ease while explaining complicated procedures and be able to articulate technically with physicians.
Some popular EKG technician training schools are as follows:
1. University of Arizona
1401 E. University
Tucson, Az. 85721
Ph. # 520-621-2211
2. San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA. 92182
Ph.# 619-594-5200
3. University Of Georgia
Athens, GA. 30603 Ph.# 706-542-3000
4. University Of North Texas
Chestnut Avenue
Denton, Tx. 76203
P. # 940-565-2000
5. Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
Ph. # 515-294-5836 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 515-294-5836 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 515-294-5836 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
EKG Job Description
There are different areas that as an EKG technician you can specialize in such as vascular technology, non-invasive including echocardiography, or invasive cardiology.
EKG technicians assist doctors with tasks that involve caring for injuries and illnesses related to the cardiovascular system. They are primarily responsible for preparing the patient for surgery, monitoring the patient with EKG equipment and reporting the patient’s condition to the doctor. When a patient is undergoing heart surgery, the cardiovascular technician is responsible for cleaning and numbing the area and inserting a catheter as well as being responsible for using EKG equipment to monitor the patient’s heart rate and breathing rate and reporting he patient’s condition to the doctor before, during and after surgery.
When administering noninvasive tests, a cardiovascular technician may need to use ultrasound equipment to record images of the patient’s heart and cardiovascular system and create a reel for the doctor to review and also they may be responsible for observing the images and reporting any problematic areas to the doctor.
The principal job of an EKG Tech is to operate an EKG machine to detect and record the electronic impulses transmitted by the heart during and between heartbeats.The technician begins the testing procedure by relaxing the patient and attaching 3 to 12 electrodes to the patients chest, arms and legs.
The technician operates the EKG machine which records wave tracings on a roll of paper. After the test is done, then the tech may mark sections of the report for the physician to review. EKG technicians generally work in hospitals and clinics. They may be involved with scheduling appointments, taking notes after performing a diagnosis, updating patient’s medical files and cleaning equipment.
EKG Tech Job Salary
There are several variables to consider as to what you can expect to earn as an EKG Technician. For instance, your schooling, location, job demand and experience will all be a determning factor. With one year of ekg technician schools and completing your training and earning your basic EKG certificate you can expect to earn between $22,000 and $30,000. If you opted for the 2-4 year program resulting in an associate degree, you can expect to earn between $32,800 and $62,000.
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