Pursuing a career as ultrasound tech is a wise decision because the field of medical sonography is considered to be one of the fastest growing in terms of employment. Today, there is a high demand for the services of the ultrasound technicians that is why there is also a large number of students deciding to pursue sonographer careers.
Nursing is an equally demanded career when compared to ultrasound professionals. The employment for Licensed Practical Nurses is predicted to grow by 21% between 2008 and 2018 and employment for registered nurses would also grow 22% between 2008 and 2018. The employment growth of the nursing field is obviously faster than the growth of the sonography field and many other medical fields. Ultrasound tech employment is expected to grow by 19% between 2008 and 2016.
Different Career Paths
Just like the field of sonography, the field of nursing have three major educational paths such as the bachelor’s degree and the associate degree programs. For the field of nursing their diploma from an approved nursing program is equivalent to the one-year certificate program for ultrasound sonography.
License for ultrasound tech is optional and can be acquired from American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography ARDMS or Cardiovascular Credentialing International CCI while license for a nurse is mandatory in order for them to work in their specific fields.
Ultrasound tech and nurses have basically the same work places but with different functions. Nurses work in hospitals, doctor’s clinics, health care facilities while the sonographers if not employed in hospitals and physician’s clinics are mostly seen on diagnostic offices.
Different Job Responsibilities And Duties
Nurses perform duties such as recording patients’ medical histories, signs and symptoms of the diseases they complain of, perform simple diagnostic tests, operate medical machines, administer medicines and treatment to patients in confined in hospitals and assist patient in follow-up and rehabilitation. The duties of an ultrasound tech are to capture clear images of the different soft tissues of the patient’s inside organs as well as the unburned baby, to interact with patients, to record medical history, to monitor different signs, and to utilize and manage diagnostic medical instruments especially the ultrasound machine.
Different Specializations
Nurses can specialize in different fields. Pre-operative nurses are assigned in operating rooms to assist surgeons. Ambulatory care nurses are responsible in providing first aid treatment/preventive care for the patients who are injured. Diabetes management nurses are responsible in assisting patients with diabetes. Dermatology nurses are responsible in assisting patients with skin disorders. Geriatric nurses are assisting elderly patients. Pediatric oncology nurses are assigned to assist cancer children and adolescents.
Ultrasound technicians have a different specialization as well. Abdominal sonographers are responsible in the diagnosis of abdomen related diseases. Vascular sonographers work with the diseases relating blood flow and function of the valves. Echocardiographers are responsible in heart related diseases. Sonographer specialized in ob/gyn are assigned in diagnosis of female reproductive system diseases. Ophthalmologic sonographers are assigned in the eyes diseases diagnosis.
Ultrasound technicians and nurses have different job outlook so it is not possible to quantify which profession has the best job outlook. The careers for ultrasound tech and nurses are both in demand and are both growing fast. Both fields of Medicine can offer promising and stable jobs for the graduates of both degrees.
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