Occupation Details
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$47,650.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$66,280.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$86,030.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
3,760
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
4,340
+58 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
343
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- 3, 4, and 5 stopcock manifolds
- Activated clotting time ACT lab equipment
- Angiojets
- Arterial line stop-cocks
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator AICD implants
- Balloon catheters
- Bird's nest inferior vena caval filters
- Blood collection syringes
- Blood gas analyzers
- Brachial artery needles
- Brockenbrough needles
- C-clamps
- Cardio-page writers
- Cardiovascular catheter sheaths
- Caval filters
- Central venous catheters
- Chemical sterilizers
- Coagulation testing equipment
- Computerized lung analyzers
- Contrast power injectors
- Coronary stents
- Defense digital imaging network-picture archiving and communications systems DIN-PACS
- Defibrillators
- Desktop computers
- Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM system equipment
- Distal embolic protection devices
- Dual chamber pacemakers
- Electrocardiography EKG electrodes
- Electrocardiography EKG tape reading scanners
Technology
- Database software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Hypertext preprocessor PHP
- Information systems integration software
- Internet or intranet image distribution software
- JavaScript
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- Practice management software PMS
- Pyxis MedStation software
- Smart Digital Holter Monitor
- Structured data entry software
- Web browser software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- communicate technical information
- make presentations on health or medical issues
- prepare patient reports
- explain testing procedures to patient
- make decisions
- analyze medical data
- observe patient condition
- use emergency medical procedures
- use hazardous materials information
- follow infectious materials procedures
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- follow dental or medical office procedures
- follow patient care procedures
- follow patient observation procedures
- use quality assurance techniques
- use sanitation practices in health care settings
- use knowledge of medical terminology
- follow clinical radiation safety procedures
- use clinical sterilizing technique
- use medical diagnostic equipment
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- collect clinical data
- record medical history or data
- inventory medical supplies or instruments
- administer injections
- administer medications or treatments
- prepare patients for tests, therapy, or treatments
- take vital signs
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
- Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities.
- Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, or cerebral circulation.
- Assist surgeons with vascular procedures, such as preparing balloons and stents.
- Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
- Assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac or peripheral vascular treatments, such as implanting pacemakers or assisting with balloon angioplasties to treat blood vessel blockages.
- Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
- Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system.
- Assess cardiac physiology and calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
- Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
- Observe gauges, recorder, and video screens of data analysis system during imaging of cardiovascular system.
- Prepare and position patients for testing.
- Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
- Inject contrast medium into patients' blood vessels.
- Transcribe, type, and distribute reports of diagnostic procedures for interpretation by physician.
- Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
- Enter factors, such as amount and quality of radiation beam, and filming sequence, into computer.
- Conduct tests of pulmonary system, using spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.
- Activate fluoroscope and camera to produce images used to guide catheter through cardiovascular system.
- Set up 24-hour Holter and event monitors, scan and interpret tapes, and report results to physicians.
- Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
- Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments or ordering supplies or equipment.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Cardiopulmonary and EEG Technicians
Visit this link for information on this career in the military.
Learn MoreCardiovascular technologists and technicians
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More