How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

How to Become a Diagnostic Medical SonographerIf youve welcomed a baby into your family (or have seen your cousins nonstop Facebook updates about her pregnancy), youre probably familiar with the basics of what a sonographer does he or she takes pictures of a fetus in utero. What you may not know is that sonographers arent just involved in the pregnancy process. They use equipment to diagnose a variety of medical conditions throughout the body, including the abdomen, chest, cardiovascular system, and the musculoskeletal system. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832388529-0) ) Diagnostic medical sonographers are essential medical professionals as the medical technology field continues to develop and give us even clearer glimpses into the furthest reaches of our bodies.The Day-to-DaySonographers work one-on-one with patients, using imaging equipment (often in concert with x-rays, MRIs, CAT scans, and nuclear medicine studies) to help diagnose and treat inte rnal medical injuries and illnesses. They are usually found in hospitals, but may also work in private clinics or other specialized healthcare settings. Diagnostic medical sonographers generally work full-time (typically 37 hours or more per week), but may have evening and weekend shifts instead of a standard Monday-Friday schedule. They are frequently on call, and should be ready to work on short notice when needed.For more on the daily life of a sonographer, check out this video So You Want to Be a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.The RequirementsDiagnostic medical sonographers should have strong backgrounds in math and science, with an associates degree or higher preferredthough some employers may hire directly from high school and provide on-the-job training. Two-year programs for sonography are commonly found at colleges and universities, and if youre interested you should seek out a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Depend ing on where you live, diagnostic medical sonographers might also need to be certifiedso definitely check your states requirements.The SkillsThe dental hygiene field calls for a number of special skills and knowledge bases, includingAttention to detailEquipment knowledge and everyday useDiagnostic/analytical skillsClinical knowledgeInterpersonal skillsCommunication skillsPatient care techniquesThe PayPer the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the zentralwert salary for diagnostic medical sonographers is $62,540, or $30.07 per hour. And according to PayScale, the field has a very strong job satisfaction rating among surveyed sonographers.The OutlookDiagnostic medical sonography is a field that will be recruiting heavily for the foreseeable future. The BLS expects that the job will grow by at least 24% by 2024, much faster than average.If you decide to go into this rewarding healthcare field, great Just dont be like this medical professional, okay?Interested? APPLY HERE