3 answers
alexia
Student
Dalton, Massachusetts
1
Question
Updated
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Is this the right fit for the environments I am looking for?
I am interested in being a Ultrasound Technician. I work best in an environment with teamwork, relaxed pace, and structure. Is this a good fit for me?
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3 answers
Hadil Balla
Pharmacist
7
Answers
Kuwait City, Al Asimah Governate, Kuwait
Updated
Hadil’s Answer
I think it varies depending on the institution you will work at. If you are going to work at ER or humanitarian crisis context, then you will not always be relaxed. If you worked at private clinics or institutions with less patient flow or emergency management, you will have more relaxed environment.
In terms of structure and teamwork, it is a must in any health career but it will vary depending on the institution and position so do not worry about that.
Good luck with your career!
In terms of structure and teamwork, it is a must in any health career but it will vary depending on the institution and position so do not worry about that.
Good luck with your career!
Carissa Lara ACS, RCS
Cardiac Sonographer
5
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Carissa’s Answer
That depends very much on the type of facility you work for.
Teamwork:
- Smaller hospitals, physician practices, and imaging centers might only have one to three sonographers on staff. Teamwork is always involved in any healthcare setting, but at these facilities, your team may not include anyone who knows how to do your job.
- Larger facilities will have more sonographers for you to work with and learn from.
Relaxed pace:
- Small rural hospitals are the only places with a more relaxed pace.
- Larger hospitals have many patients that need testing, and you must meet or exceed productivity goals. These hospitals have some of the sickest patients, and emergencies always happen. You must be flexible because you never know what the day will bring.
- Outpatient offices vary significantly in the way they treat their sonographers. Some want to see as many patients as possible, expect you to do exams in unrealistic time slots, and let patients arrive two hours late and still get their exams done. Others have more realistic expectations and follow best practices.
Structure:
- This one kind of depends on what you mean by structure. If you want something predictable and know how your day will look ahead of time, an outpatient facility would probably work best. They sometimes add patients to your schedule, and sometimes patients don't show up for their appointments, but there is generally less chaos there.
- In a hospital, you have set expectations that don't change, but you never really know how the day will go. For example, I know I must do at least one exam every hour. Our lead tech assigns us exams in the morning. We don't know until we walk into the department what the mix of exams we will be doing is. We all have a shared responsibility to respond to stat and add-on exams.
Teamwork:
- Smaller hospitals, physician practices, and imaging centers might only have one to three sonographers on staff. Teamwork is always involved in any healthcare setting, but at these facilities, your team may not include anyone who knows how to do your job.
- Larger facilities will have more sonographers for you to work with and learn from.
Relaxed pace:
- Small rural hospitals are the only places with a more relaxed pace.
- Larger hospitals have many patients that need testing, and you must meet or exceed productivity goals. These hospitals have some of the sickest patients, and emergencies always happen. You must be flexible because you never know what the day will bring.
- Outpatient offices vary significantly in the way they treat their sonographers. Some want to see as many patients as possible, expect you to do exams in unrealistic time slots, and let patients arrive two hours late and still get their exams done. Others have more realistic expectations and follow best practices.
Structure:
- This one kind of depends on what you mean by structure. If you want something predictable and know how your day will look ahead of time, an outpatient facility would probably work best. They sometimes add patients to your schedule, and sometimes patients don't show up for their appointments, but there is generally less chaos there.
- In a hospital, you have set expectations that don't change, but you never really know how the day will go. For example, I know I must do at least one exam every hour. Our lead tech assigns us exams in the morning. We don't know until we walk into the department what the mix of exams we will be doing is. We all have a shared responsibility to respond to stat and add-on exams.
Martin Schoen
APRN
224
Answers
Ocala, Florida
Updated
Martin’s Answer
That's a bit of a tricky question because it really depends on personal preferences. As an Ultrasound technician, you could find yourself working in a variety of places, like a hospital, a doctor's office, or even offering your services independently. The essence of teamwork in this role lies in your interactions with patients, not necessarily with other sonographers or radiology staff.
Think of it like this: when a healthcare provider orders a test, your job is to carry it out and create a report, usually with the help of a radiologist or a similar specialist. The rhythm of your work can change from day to day and it also depends on where you're practicing.
In a medical facility, patients are usually scheduled for you, and your daily routine tends to stay the same, barring any unexpected issues. If you're working independently, you have more control over your schedule. However, since your income and the practice's income depends on the number of tests you perform, more tests mean more earnings.
Remember, each test needs the time it needs - rushing isn't an option. Capturing all the details is crucial. In fact, many sonographers end up knowing more about the test than the healthcare provider who ordered it.
Think of it like this: when a healthcare provider orders a test, your job is to carry it out and create a report, usually with the help of a radiologist or a similar specialist. The rhythm of your work can change from day to day and it also depends on where you're practicing.
In a medical facility, patients are usually scheduled for you, and your daily routine tends to stay the same, barring any unexpected issues. If you're working independently, you have more control over your schedule. However, since your income and the practice's income depends on the number of tests you perform, more tests mean more earnings.
Remember, each test needs the time it needs - rushing isn't an option. Capturing all the details is crucial. In fact, many sonographers end up knowing more about the test than the healthcare provider who ordered it.