Career Investigation

Sonographers enjoy the best of both worlds in the medical profession: they work one-on-one with patients to help them achieve total health but they also avoid having to use invasive procedures to accomplish their goals. Having been drawn to the field of ultrasound for many years, I have elected to pursue a career path as a sonographer within a general nursing practice. One of the main reasons I hope to become a sonographer is my appreciation for diagnostics and how important early detection is for discovering maladies before they become more serious problems. Another reason why ultrasound technicians enjoy a good working environment is because they are a part of a broader medical team and are constantly learning and growing.

Sonographers usually attend Comprehensive Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs for between one to four years, depending on the school ("So You Want to Be a Sonographer"). However, the program must be recognized and approved by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). The ARDMS is the body responsible for the registration of professional sonographers and there are no individual state requirements for licensing ("Medical Sonographer Career and Job Information"). To register, sonographers must pass a series of tests proving mastery of ultrasound procedures.

At the same time, sonographers can also receive special training from a variety of different venues including specialized programs ancillary to nursing coursework. The most common means of achieving the required certification is via a two-year Associates degree program ("Medical Sonographer Career and Job Information"). Coursework in specialized sonography programs includes ethical issues in health care as well as instruction in anatomy and physiology. Moreover, sonographers must prove they are able to life, push and pull heavy equipment and should be in general good health ("So You Want to Be a Sonographer").

Works Cited

Medical Sonographer Career and Job Information." Career Overview. Retrieved Feb 6, 2008 at http://www.careeroverview.com/medical-sonographer-career.html

So You Want to be a Sonographer..." Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Retrieved Feb 6, 2008 at http://www.sdms.org/career/career.asp