Cardiovascular Technicians
Health Science > Diagnostic ServicesProjected Growth: Faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Medium Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests. Includes vascular technologists.
Common job titles of Cardiovascular Technicians include:
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Experience and Education
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
62.9% said they needed a Associate's Degree.
12.85% said they needed a Post-Secondary Certificate.
Tasks
Prepare and position patients for testing.
Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
Assess cardiac physiology and calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.
Perform general administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments or ordering supplies or equipment.
Transcribe, type, and distribute reports of diagnostic procedures for interpretation by physician.
Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities.
Observe gauges, recorder, and video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system.
Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, or cerebral circulation.
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system.
Set up 24-hour Holter and event monitors, scan and interpret tapes, and report results to physicians.
Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
Assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac or peripheral vascular treatments, such as implanting pacemakers or assisting with balloon angioplasties to treat blood vessel blockages.
Inject contrast medium into patients' blood vessels.
Enter factors, such as amount and quality of radiation beam, and filming sequence, into computer.
Assist surgeons with vascular procedures, such as preparing balloons and stents.
Activate fluoroscope and camera to produce images used to guide catheter through cardiovascular system.
Conduct tests of pulmonary system, using spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.
Tools
X ray machines
Wave wires
Ventricular demand pacemakers
Venipuncture needles
Vena caval filters
Vector-cardiographs
Ultracentrifuges
All ToolsTransseptal sheaths
Transluminal extraction catheters
Tourniquets
Thermodilution cardiac output computers
Thermal printers
Therapeutic treadmill exercisers
Tablet computers
Swan Ganz artery catheters
Suture devices
Surgical trays/tables
Sterile blood lancets
Spirometers
Silicone lead end caps
Scan converters
Rotoblators
Rheolytic thrombectomy systems
Radiofrequency ablation catheters
Radi pressure wires
Pressure tubing
Pressure injectors
Portable electrocardiography EKG machines
Plethysmography machines
Physiological monitoring and analysis systems
Personal computers
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty PTCA equipment
Pacing generators
Pacemakers
Pacemaker analyzers
Oxygen therapy systems
Oximeters
Over-the-needle intravenous IV catheters
Notebook computers
Nitric oxide administration equipment
NIH catheters
Myocardial biopsy forceps
Miller catheters
Microscopes
Mercury sphygmomanometers
Medrad injectors
Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS
Mechanical thrombolytic devices
Mechanical stethoscopes
Light meters
Light and sound machines
Lead collars
Lead aprons
Lasers
Laser printers
Laboratory microscopes
Intravenous IV tubing
Intravenous IV syringes
Intravenous IV locks
Intra-aortic balloon pumps IABP
Indeflators
Image storage systems
Image capturing and transmission systems
Holter monitors
Hemodynamic monitors
Heart probes
Heart catheters
Guidewires
Grollmann catheters
Glucometers
Fluoroscopes
Film processing equipment
Evacuated blood collection tubes
Electronic stethoscopes
Electronic blood pressure units
Electrocardiography EKG units
Electrocardiography EKG tape reading scanners
Electrocardiography EKG electrodes
Dual chamber pacemakers
Distal embolic protection devices
Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM system equipment
Desktop computers
Defibrillators
Defense digital imaging network-picture archiving and communications systems DIN-PACS
Coronary stents
Contrast power injectors
Computerized lung analyzers
Coagulation testing equipment
Chemical sterilizers
Central venous catheters
Caval filters
Cardiovascular catheter sheaths
Cardio-page writers
C-clamps
Brockenbrough needles
Brachial artery needles
Blood gas analyzers
Blood collection syringes
Bird’s nest inferior vena caval filters
Balloon catheters
Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator AICD implants
Automated external defibrillators AED
Arterial line stop-cocks
Angiojets
Activated clotting time ACT lab equipment
3, 4, and 5 stopcock manifolds
Technologies
JavaScript
MEDITECH software
Diagnostic image review software
Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM-compatible image acquisition and integration software products
Electronic medical record EMR software
Hypertext preprocessor PHP
Information systems integration software
All TechnologiesInternet or intranet image distribution software
Pyxis MedStation software
Smart Digital Holter Monitor
Structured data entry software
Skills
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Abilities
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression