If you are interested in becoming a professional Ultrasound Technologist, then you need education and most importantly, experience. Florida National University (FNU) offers a stellar Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Technology program.
This two-year degree program is aimed at teaching students to perform ultrasound procedures. After graduating, you’ll be eligible to take the national certified exam. As a certified Ultrasound Technologist, you’ll be able to conduct ultrasound procedures on the abdomen, pelvis, and small parts.
Specific subjects area for this degree include some of the following:
- Vascular Technology
- Echocardiography
- Neonatal Applications
What is an Ultrasound Technician?
Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a branch of diagnostic medical imaging that uses non-ionizing ultrasound to produce 2D and 3D images of the human body. As a Certified Ultrasound Technician, you’ll be able to conduct ultrasound procedures on the abdomen, pelvis, appendages and other small parts. Sonographers are medical professionals who conduct scans that are then interpreted by radiologists, cardiologists in cardiac ultrasonography and physicians who specialize in medical imaging modalities.
The most commonplace for diagnostic medical sonographers to work is in hospitals, while some also work in imaging clinics and physicians’ offices. DMS is used in many different fields and applications in the healthcare industry, including gynecology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and colorectal surgery, cardiovascular system, obstetrics, musculoskeletal concerns, urology, otolaryngology, pulmonology, anesthesiology, head and neck surgery, neurology, emergency medicine, neonatology, and ophthalmology. Ultrasound technicians are vital because they determine the next step to a patient’s medical treatment. The images they take are passed to physicians, which gives them the information they need to assess and diagnose the patient accurately. Though an ultrasound technician captures the images, he or she does not have the authority to interpret them to the patient. This task is designated to the radiologist, cardiologist or another specialist.
What to Expect of FNU’s Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Technology Program
Commitment and dedication.
To complete this program, students are expected to complete a total of 87 credit hours. Twenty-three credit hours of Communications, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Computers are needed to complete the general education requirements while the remaining 64 credits will concentrate on the fundamentals of diagnostic sonography. While a minimum of only 23 general education credits is required, there may be some prerequisite courses that you’ll have to take before enrolling in the English Composition and College Algebra I courses.
A Little More Information About the Core Requirements
All of the core requirements are imperative to becoming a well-trained Ultrasound Technician. The core requirements will touch on the basic education that a healthcare professional such as an Ultrasound Technologist needs to be fully informed about. Anatomy & Physiology is most important, as the technologist needs to able to identify the organs that he or she is capturing an image of. The Patient Care Procedures course proves to be of the utmost importance in ensuring that patients are properly taken care of while they are in your care. Physics in Ultrasound is also a critical subject to learn in order to understand how Physics relates to sonography. This course will provide clear concepts and analogies that will help graduates understand imaging instruments and the basics of sound waves. Another major course that is critical to becoming a professional Ultrasound Technologist is Sonography Equipment Operation. In this course, students will get extensive knowledge about 4D ultrasounds, Biosound Esaote, Chison, GE, Sonoscape, Sonosite.
Providing the Tools and Equipment for You to Succeed
FNU has state-of-art sonographer equipment that students will be able to familiarize themselves with as they learn the basic functionalities through extensive training along with the opportunity to perform diagnostic scans on volunteers in the community.
Read FNU’s article about Free Ultrasounds for the South Florida Community here.
More About FNU’s Sonographer Program
This associate’s program is specifically designed to prepare students to take the national certification exam given by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
FNU’s Sonographer program is composed to help you become one of the best Ultrasound Technologists in the industry. However, it is important to know that this program is not designed to transfer to a senior institution. So, if you’re looking to further your education in the healthcare industry, simply consult an FNU advisor to help you map out your academic path.
Where Can this Associate’s Degree Take Me Professionally?
By enrolling in FNU’s Sonographer’s program, you’ll be specifically working toward a career as an Ultrasound Technologist. Through this associate’s degree program, you’ll earn a college education in two years and be fully trained to capture sonographic images of a great number of body parts. While sonograms are often used to examine pregnancies, a certified Ultrasound Technologist will also be equipped to operate sonography equipment to capture the image of a patient’s heart, breast tissue, ligaments, tendons, joints, as well as the brain and spinal cord.
A Promising Outlook for Aspiring Sonographers
The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a positive job outlook for this growing profession at 26%. This is all thanks to the ever-advancing evolution of imaging technology. It serves as the better alternative for the doctors to get a clearer image of a patient’s inner organs to make a proper diagnosis and treatment. Sonography equipment is far less invasive. It also cost less—both wins for the healthcare industry and the patients!
With an FNU associate’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Technology, you can expect to find a rewarding career as an Ultrasound Technologist due to the projected increase of jobs.
How Much Does an Ultrasound Technologist Get Paid?
The career of an Ultrasound Technologist offers decent pay. The BLS reports the median annual wage as of May 2016 to be $69,650. Of course, this will vary depending on where you live in the country as well as which healthcare facility employs you. With this degree, you will be eligible to apply to hospitals whether there are owned by the state or private—68% of Ultrasound Technologists are reported to work in these environments. Twenty percent is reported to work in private practices and 7% work in medical and diagnostic laboratories.
FNU Prepares You!
Like our degree program, the professional commitment of an Ultrasound Technologist can have demanding work hours. In addition to the regular 9 to 5 shift, you can expect to work evenings, weekends, and possibly some holidays—unless you end up working in a medical diagnostic laboratory, and especially if you’re working in a hospital.
The job of an Ultrasound Technologist can sometimes be demanding because the healthcare profession is demanding, but FNU prepares you to not only get certified but also be comfortable in a professional healthcare setting thanks to our required 800 hours of clinical practice.
Enroll Today!
Florida National University’s Associates of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Technology will open up doors of opportunity for your career and your future. Start the registration process today and start your career as an FNU college student!
http://www.fnu.edu/Programs_Disclosure/2017/Diagnostic%20Medical%20Sonographer/51.0910-Gedt.html
