Career Outlook for an EKG Tech
I had a few people ask me several questions about my job and if there were any other jobs I would recommend. Well here is a quick summary of a career I looked into and almost chose to go into instead of an x ray technician…
When trying to choose a career in the medical field some key aspects to keep in mind are that of salary, schooling, job description and demand. Due to the high demand of qualified medical technicians, along with excellent pay, benefits and exciting work environment choosing a technical career in the medical field has proven over the years to provide great job security. An excellent choice would be that of pursuing a career as an EKG Technician.
First of all what does EKG stand for? EKG technician is short for electrocardiographic technician. And EKG technician administers cardiovascular tests on a patient by using electrical impulses that are transmitted by a patient’s heart. And EKG test involves the technician putting electrodes on different parts of a patient’s body such as the chest, arms and legs to obtain a print out for a physician to read in order to analyze and diagnose issues such as irregular heartbeat. As a rule these tests are very common and are often done before many kinds of surgery as a routine checkup with any patient who is advanced in age or has a history of cardiovascular problems.
Another part of an EKG technicians career involves you in administering a treadmill test in which a patient is connected to an EKG monitor and the results recorded as a walk on the treadmill. Some EKG technicians have advanced training and are able to perform Holter monitor and stress testing. Holter monitoring involves attaching electrodes to a patient’s chest and attaching a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. After 24 hours the tape from the monitor is removed and placed in a scanner. The technician then checks the quality of the tape and prints out the information for a physician who uses these results to determine heart rhythm abnormalities, pacemaker problems, and other heart problems.
EKG technicians spent a lot of time walking and standing. Also, heavy lifting may be involved to move equipment or transfer patients. Some cardiovascular technologist and technicians may have the potential for radiation exposure. Because of strict adherence to radiation safety guidelines such as wearing heavy protective aprons while conducting certain procedures, exposure is kept to a minimum. EKG technicians generally work a five day, 40 hour week that may include weekends. They also may be on call during the night and on weekends. About 18% worked part-time in 2008.
If you pursue an EKG technician career you would typically need an Associates degree for entry level employment from one of the many ekg technician schools. Keep in mind that most employers also require a professional credential. Technicians can also receive on-the-job training by an EKG supervisor or a cardiologist. On the job ekg technician training for EKG Techs usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks. Most employers prefer to train people already in the healthcare field such as nursing aides. For technicians who perform Holter monitoring on-the-job training may last around 18 to 24 months. A one-year certification program also exists for basic EKGs, Holter monitoring, and stress testing and can be an alternative to on-the-job training. As a rule, the majority of EKG technicians complete a two-year junior or community college program resulting in an associate degree even though a four year program is available. The first year is dedicated to core courses and is followed by a year of specialized instruction in either invasive cardiovascular, non-invasive cardiovascular, or noninvasive vascular technology.
EKG technicians must be reliable, have mechanical aptitude, and be able to follow detailed instructions. An asset is a pleasant, relaxed manner for putting patients at ease. They must be articulate as they must communicate technically with physicians and also explain procedures simply to patients.
For technologists and technicians with multiple professional credentials, trained to perform a wide range of procedures, employment is expected to grow much faster than the average. Also those willing to relocate or work irregular hours also will have better job opportunities.
In May of 2008 the median annual ekg technigian salary for technologist and technicians were $47,010. The middle 50% earned between $32,800 and $61,580. The lowest 10% earned less than $25,510 and the highest 10% earned more than $74,760.
