You may be interested in a career in Ultrasound - Diagnostic Medical Sonography if you:
- Desire to work in a medical environment
- Are compassionate and motivated to help the sick and injured
- Have a strong academic background, especially in science
- Have an aptitude for effective communication
- Are able to cope with constant changes in technology and in your work environment
- Have an eye for detail, excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, and good spatial reasoning
- Have excellent hand eye coordination
- Have excellent people skills
- Understand the responsibility of your role within the diagnostic medical team
- Have good computer skills
When working in the health care profession, there are many physical and emotional demands. As a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, you must:
- Be in good physical and mental health, and be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time without resting
- Have the ability to lift 50 pounds
- Be able to push and pull, and bend and stoop routinely
- Have full use of both hands, wrists, arms and shoulders
- Have the ability to operate the scanner controls and the transducer simultaneously and effectively
- Be able to distinguish audible sounds
- Have the ability to identify colour distinctions in order to adequately view sonograms
- Demonstrate the use of safe and effective body mechanics while working with patients
- Be able to safely lift, transfer, and position patients, some of whom may be in a state of unconsciousness or who may be large and heavy and have limited or no weight bearing capabilities
- Be able to interact compassionately and effectively with the sick and injured
- Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
- Have the ability to organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence
Additionally, you may:
- Experience repetitive strain injuries
- Be exposed to extreme patient injuries
- Be required to work extended hours
- Be exposed to infectious diseases, blood and bodily fluids, toxic materials, noise, allergens, and physical and emotional stress
- Encounter aggressive and agitated patients, visitors, and staff
- Experience physical and compassion fatigue
