Career as a Cardiovascular Technologist by Institute For Career Research

Author:Institute For Career Research [Institute for Career Research]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Institute For Career Research
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Professionals Speak

We do annual medication tests every year to make sure that everybody stays current with calculations and dosing and all that kind of stuff. And there are a few other requirements as well, like CPR and ACLS, which is advanced cardiovascular life support.

I usually work from 8:00 until 4:00. On a typical day, I'll arrive at the cath lab and then take a look and see what cases are scheduled and if there is anything out of the ordinary that needs to be done for a particular case. I then touch base with the team leaders that work in each room. Part of my job is the orientation of new employees so I also need to touch base with new employees that we're training. I'll see how they're progressing and maybe do progress reports on them.

Usually, by that time I've already been approached by vendors who are looking to help us with service on our new products, or by physicians who are asking for something. So I'm basically a resource person as well.

Another part of my job that I truly enjoy is bringing in people that have no clue as to what we do and spending the day with them explaining things. It can be a very rewarding feeling when folks come in and are in awe of the job that we do and the magnitude of what we do for our patients.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in health science. After graduating, I looked into the cardiovascular technology school at this hospital. I took a tour of the department and liked what I saw. At the time, the program required 18 months to complete, and when you started you picked a specialty. I chose invasive cardiology, which is what led me to the cath lab.

I think what appealed to me about the cath lab was that it looked like a very high-paced, exciting atmosphere. As a new person looking at everything going on you certainly don't see the stress level and all that - that comes with experience. Watching the excitement of new technology and a team of three working together with a cardiologist was exciting and appealing. What I liked most was that I was going to go through this program and actually train to do the job that I'd actually be doing. Sometimes in college I felt I was learning stuff that would be hard to apply in real life.

I went straight to a job in the cath lab when I graduated. I then applied myself and worked my way up the ladder. I worked as a staff technologist and learned the field. I then became a team leader and was in charge of a specific lab and the personnel in that lab. And then when the education position became available I applied for it and got it. And now I'm on a management level for the entire invasive department.

I think what I like best about this field is the ever-changing technology. There are always new devices, new drugs and new equipment.

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