Careers in Uterine Sonography

Career opportunities for uterine sonographers are on the rise and will continue to be through 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor statistics. While this is good news for anyone wishing to enter this field, it is a career that requires a high level of personal commitment. Although the pay is good, the job itself can be both physically demanding and emotionally draining, and it is vital to know what may be expected of you before making your decision.

Significance

• Uterine sonographers, also known as ultrasound technicians, play a pivotal role in the health care field by locating and identifying a medical conditions a patient may be suffering from. A uterine sonographer may obtain either an associate's or bachelor's degree, and may choose to take a competency exam given through the American Registry of Diagnostic Sonographers. Many doctors and facilities are more apt to hire a sonographer who holds an ARDMS registration because it demonstrates a higher level of competency. The average salary for a uterine sonographer is between $40,000 and $60,000 anually, depending on the facility where they are employed. Due to the rapid changes taking place in the world of technology, and the effects that has on the development of ultrasound machines and procedures, uterine sonographers may also be expected to participate in ongoing educational trainings.

Function

• Uterine sonographers are expected to be capable of lifting and assisting patients onto exam tables and into exam positions, standing at least 80 percent of the time they are working, being able to communicate well with doctors and coworkers, and pushing or pulling the machinery they use. They may perform ultrasounds on as many as 25 patients in an 8-hour work day, and will prepare their patients for the test by reviewing their medical chart. They may be looking for cysts, polyps and abnormal vaginal bleeding, or perform fetal ultrasounds to determine the gestational age of the fetus. Sonographers must possess the ability to distinguish between the images and shades on their screen in order to provide the doctor with the highest quality images required for proper diagnosis. Sonographers then report their findings, along with the images, to the doctor either orally or in a written report.

Types

• Uterine sonographers can work in virtually any type of facility. This includes hospitals, outpatient clinics and private practices. There are differences between these settings, and choosing the right work environment depends on the your personal situation and preferences. Hospitals are better suited for those who may not have many family obligations and who like a fast-paced work environment. If a person prefers a set schedule, outpatient clinics and private practices may be the better option.

Features

• When a trained sonographer chooses to work for a hospital, they must be prepared to work evenings, weekends and holidays, and are also expected to be on call in case of emergency. They are also expected to be at work during times of inclement weather, even by sleeping at the hospital if the roads are treacherous, and are exposed frequently to patients who are severely ill. Those who work in an outpatient clinic or private practice generally work a 9-to-5 schedule, Monday through Friday, as patients are only scheduled during the day. Many patients will generally be in better health, reducing the risk of communicable diseases for the sonographer, and if inclement weather poses a health risk for the employees, appointments are generally rescheduled and the staff either sent home or told not to come in for their own safety.

Considerations

• Before choosing a career as a sonographer, it is important to realize that there may be situations that are emotionally difficult to handle. A sonographer attempting to find a fetal heartbeat, only to discover that the fetus does not have one, for example, must be able to control his emotions in front of the parents. He must also have the ability in such circumstances to move on to the next patient without letting the prior exam affect his ability to properly perform the job. If a sonographer locates a tumor which may be life threatening, she must also keep a poker face in front of the patient, releasing her findings only to the doctor who ordered the exam. While sonographers are trained to detect uterine cancer or fetal abnormalities, they are not trained to make the final diagnosis.