Cardiovascular Tech

Being a cardiovascular tech is dealing with the heart or the cardiovascular system.

The cardiovascular system has three parts: the heart, the lungs, and the blood vessels. The heart pumps blood, the lungs supply oxygen to blood, and blood vessels provide paths for blood to travel everywhere within the body. The three parts work together to form a cycle that is constantly repeating.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments. Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in three areas of practice—invasive cardiology, echocardiography, and vascular technology. Cardiovascular technicians who specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, and Holter monitors are known as cardiographic, or EKG technicians.

Cardiovascular technologists assist physicians with cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube, or catheter, is wound through a patient’s blood vessel from a spot on the patient’s leg into the heart. Technologists also may prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and the implantation of pacemakers.

Cardiovascular technologists who specialize in echocardiography or vascular technology often run noninvasive tests using ultrasound instrumentation, such as Doppler ultrasound. They also explain the procedure to patients, record any additional medical history the patient relates, select appropriate equipment settings, and change the patient’s position as necessary. Those who assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting the circulation are known as vascular technologists or vascular sonographers. Technologists who use ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers, or echocardiographers. Technologists may administer medication to physically active patients to assess their heart function. Cardiac sonographers may also assist physicians who perform transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.

Technologists and technicians generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week that may include weekends. Those in catheterization labs tend to work longer hours and may work evenings. They also may be on call during the night and on weekends.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians held about 43,000 jobs in 2002. About 3 out 4 jobs were in hospitals, primarily in cardiology departments. The remaining jobs were mostly in offices of physicians, including cardiologists; or in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers.

Although a few cardiovascular technologists, vascular technologists, and cardiac sonographers are currently trained on the job, most receive training in 2- to 4-year programs. Cardiovascular technologists, vascular technologists, and cardiac sonographers normally complete a 2-year junior or community college program.

Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. However, fewer EKG technicians will be needed, as hospitals train nursing aides and others to perform basic EKG procedures.

Median annual earnings of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were $36,430 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,730 and $46,570. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $56,080. Median annual earnings of cardiovascular technologists and technicians in 2002 were $36,420 in offices of physicians and $35,800 in general medical and surgical hospitals.