What does a cardiac sonographer do?
A cardiac sonographer specializes in operating imaging technologies to help physicians assess and determine the cardiac conditions of patients. Aside from coordinating with physicians, a cardiac sonographer also interacts with patients, providing them assistance throughout the process, and discussing the extent of procedures. Typically, a cardiac sonographer's responsibilities revolve around coordinating with hospital staff to gather patient information, sharing test results to physicians promptly, and even managing the scheduling of patients, all in adherence to the hospital's policies and regulations.
Cardiac sonographer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cardiac sonographer resumes:
- Manage and operate the daily operations and supervision of the radiology ultrasound departments.
- Perform diagnostic testing including echocardiograms, stress echocardiograms, bubble studies, carotid dopplers and venous dopplers.
- detect blood clots (deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the major veins of the legs or arms.
- Experience with m-mode , 2D, Doppler calculations.
- Create detail preliminary reports via a PACS system.
- Provide data collection, and entering for the QA.
- Write and implement echo protocols, worksheets, and calculations.
- Assist nurses and physicians on the code team with CPR.
- Derive data from and enter data into patient's chart and PACS system
- Ensure proper ICD-9 billing codes are used and make corrections when need.
- Prepare electrocardiogram monitoring system and treadmill with patient's information for stress tests.
- Perform carotid, aorta, upper and lower extremity venous and arterial Doppler studies w/ABI.
- Perform multiple types of studies, including non-invasive vascular, venous, ob-gyn and abdominal exams.
- Administer EKG tests with the ability to recognize abnormal cardiac rhythms and provide data to mobile physician.
- Perform echo, stress echo, monitor stress echo EKG, carotids, lower arterial, and upper extremities
Cardiac sonographer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Cardiac Sonographers are proficient in Patients, Registry, and RDCS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Hand-eye coordination, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Cardiac Sonographers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 15%
Maximized patient satisfaction by customizing exam room to ensure patient comfort; consistently requested by returning patients to provide follow-up care.
- Registry, 8%
Completed didactic course work in vascular sonography and Sonography Principles and Instrumentation boards through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
- RDCS, 7%
Received my RDCS in 2006.
- ARDMS, 7%
Passed ARDMS registries for Vascular Physics, Vascular Technology, and Breast.
- Echocardiogram, 7%
Obtain clinical measurements; obtain electrical activity measurement of the heart with an echocardiogram.
- Patient Care, 7%
Credited for utilizing Lean Management techniques to standardize protocols implemented throughout department to improve patient care and prepare for accreditation.
Common skills that a cardiac sonographer uses to do their job include "patients," "registry," and "rdcs." You can find details on the most important cardiac sonographer responsibilities below.
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a cardiac sonographer to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must follow precise instructions to obtain the images needed to diagnose and treat patients." Additionally, a cardiac sonographer resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "oriented and trained cardiology fellows in instrument technique and procedures. "
Hand-eye coordination. Another essential skill to perform cardiac sonographer duties is hand-eye coordination. Cardiac sonographers responsibilities require that "to get quality images, diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must accurately move equipment on the patient’s body in response to what they see on the screen." Cardiac sonographers also use hand-eye coordination in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assist in coordination of scheduling patients and sending test reports. "
Physical stamina. A big part of what cardiac sonographers do relies on "physical stamina." You can see how essential it is to cardiac sonographer responsibilities because "diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians stand for long periods and must be able to lift and move patients who need assistance." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical cardiac sonographer tasks: "performed 2d echocardiogram, stress echo's both physical and pharmacological and bubble studies. "
Technical skills. Another common skill required for cardiac sonographer responsibilities is "technical skills." This skill comes up in the duties of cardiac sonographers all the time, as "diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians must understand how to operate complex machinery and computerized instruments." An excerpt from a real cardiac sonographer resume shows how this skill is central to what a cardiac sonographer does: "help instruct fellow employees with knobology and technical aspects of ultrasound machines. "
The three companies that hire the most cardiac sonographers are:
- DispatchHealth248 cardiac sonographers jobs
- Interim HealthCare104 cardiac sonographers jobs
- Rochester Regional Health93 cardiac sonographers jobs
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Compare different cardiac sonographers
Cardiac sonographer vs. X-ray technician
The job of X-ray technicians, or X-ray technologists, is to detect medical issues that may need urgent medical treatment using cutting-edge imaging methods. The pictures they generate aid physicians in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses with better accuracy. They use a wide range of imaging technologies such as the traditional X-ray machines, computerized axial tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. X-ray technicians may also perform some office work that includes preparing work schedules, managing radiologic departments, and setting up physicians' stations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a cardiac sonographer are more likely to require skills like "registry," "rdcs," "ardms," and "echocardiogram." On the other hand, a job as an x-ray technician requires skills like "arrt," "radiologic technologist," "cpr," and "customer service." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
X-ray technicians tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $55,344. In contrast, cardiac sonographers make the biggest average salary, $79,528, in the health care industry.The education levels that x-ray technicians earn slightly differ from cardiac sonographers. In particular, x-ray technicians are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a cardiac sonographer. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cardiac sonographer vs. Extern-ultrasound technologist
An ultrasound technologist is responsible for assisting medical professionals in operating high-end equipment to diagnose patients' illnesses and monitor health conditions. Ultrasound technologists regularly inspect the efficiency and reliability of the machine and report inconsistencies and defects for immediate repair or replacement. They record scan results and endorse the patient to appropriate medical staff for required medication and further observation. An ultrasound technologist must have excellent knowledge and extensive experience in the medical industry to provide quality care for the patients and address their needs and concerns.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that cardiac sonographer responsibilities requires skills like "registry," "rdcs," "ardms," and "bls." But an extern-ultrasound technologist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "ob," "thyroid," "gyn," and "ultrasound exams."
In general, extern-ultrasound technologists achieve similar levels of education than cardiac sonographers. They're 1.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cardiac sonographer vs. Ultrasound technologist
Radio repairers are responsible for performing and supervising maintenance for the sustainment level of radio transmitters, receivers, and other types of communication security equipment. This may be done in the field or in an office setting. Good dexterity, sufficient strength, and a healthy background in mechanical skills and diagnostic equipment will be a must for this career.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, cardiac sonographers are more likely to have skills like "registry," "rdcs," "bls," and "cardiac ultrasound." But a ultrasound technologist is more likely to have skills like "ultrasound procedures," "vascular ultrasound," "radiology," and "ultrasound exams."
Ultrasound technologists earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $90,559. Cardiac sonographers earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $79,528.ultrasound technologists typically earn similar educational levels compared to cardiac sonographers. Specifically, they're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cardiac sonographer vs. Radiologic technologist assistant
Types of cardiac sonographer
Updated January 8, 2025
