Becoming an ultrasound technician is a good decision and provides many different opportunities even within the field of ultrasound technology itself. Aside from the fact that the field of ultrasound technology eliminates the need for you to be exposed to different body fluids and carcinogens, you will find there are many specialties within the field itself. The field is constantly growing, so you don’t have to worry as much about staying employed as you do in other fields.
Description of an Ultrasound Technician
Most people are somewhat familiar with the job of the ultrasound technician, but to generalize, the ultrasound technician or sonographer works with sonic waves. The sonic waves have the ability to read what is happening in your body so doctors can diagnose anything that is out of the normal. There are several different specializations that a sonographer can choose each with its own purpose and diagnostic abilities.
Choosing the Field of Sonography
There are several specialties that are open to those who choose to become an ultrasound technician:
- Echocardiography uses sound waves to create a picture of the heart in order for a cardiologist to analyze and diagnose any problems.
- Vascular technology involves the study of the arteries and vessels that surround the heart.
- Neurosonography is a study of the nervous system and brain.
- Abdominal sonography allows the ultrasound technician to create pictures of the solid organs of the abdomen in order to discover anything that may be causing health issues.
- Breast sonography is currently a replacement for mammograms for detecting breast cancer in its early stages. It is believed to be more accurate than the traditional mammogram.
- OBGYN sonography allows the technician to see the movements of a baby before it is even born. This will allow the technologist to see any abnormalities with the fetus or the mother.
Why Choose the Field of Sonography?
While the different options that are open in the field of sonography provide good reasons to become an ultrasound technician, there are 5 major reasons that may be more appealing to someone who is considering this field of medical specialization:
- Training is easily available to anyone who is interested.
- Ultrasound is a clean procedure that does not exposure technicians to blood or any other bodily fluids.
- The work is rewarding.
- Technicians can earn a healthy income that can sometimes start as high as $40,000 annually for those right out of school.
- There is no exposure to radiation. Sonography relies on sound waves to take pictures of the parts of the body that require analysis and diagnosis.
