Is finding a job as an EKg technician hard?
Yes, finding a job where the only thing you do is perform EKGs is going to be difficult. Usually, you have Patient Care Techs in the Cardiac and Critical Care units doing the EKGs (since it takes minimal time and skills to learn proper lead placement and how to turn on and run the EKG machine), or the RNs in that unit do them. Most hospitals would likely hire you as a Patient Care Tech in a Critical Care area and simply train you on the basic patient care skills and phlebotomy, since you already would know how to do a 12-lead. Also, most Cardiac Monitor Techs do EKGs, but only if there is more than one CM Tech in the monitor room, since the monitors obviously cannot be left unattended. Becoming a CM Tech is definitely more difficult than being an EKG Tech since you actually learn all the rhythms and are responsible for interpreting them and reporting what's going on to each patient's primary RN and occasionally the Cardiologist or Internist that is patient's primary physician. If the "EKG Technician Course" you have taken teaches you arrhythmias on a rhythm strip (and I'm talking about 1st, 2nd, 3rd degree blocks, junctional, atrial, ventricular, etc), then you have pretty much been trained as a Cardiac Monitor Tech and can apply for those positions (they will make you take a test before hiring you or if you are the "right candidate", some hospitals will provide you with training (often sending you through an In-house" arrhythmia class that the new Cardiac RNs take) Finally, in the Cardiologist's office, it's the Medical Assistant that's doing the 12-lead, since they also perform other physician office-specific skills. Again, a cardiology practice might be willing to train an EKG tech with basic Medical Assisting skills. So, to sum that up.....see what the requirements at your local hospitals and cardiology practices are for Patient Care Techs, Cardiac Monitor/Telemetry Techs, and Medical Assistants. Best wishes in your career goals!!
Is EKG tech school worth it?
There is an EKG tech class for me I am thinking of taking. Its pretty cheap, around $1100 with twenty 3 1/2 hour classes. I am trying to do something somewhat fast/cheap because I am moving in a little less than a year so i figure i could do this, hopefully get a job where I am at for a few months once i finish the class, and then when I move ill have a little experience in a field and hopefully get a decent job where i'm moving. I saw that it takes 2 yrs to be a cardiovascular tech which id maybe do down the line once im set when i move, but as i said for now im kind of looking for something to hopefully get some kind of school/job for thr short term until i can focus on a more lengthy program. I see mixed reviews online about ekg techs. The salary looks decent but i see alot of people saying hospitals are starting to use CNAs and nurses for ekgs and dont hire just regular ekg techs. I dont want to waste time and money on ekg if theres something similiar in time/money i could take that might be better. Thoughts? Id love to hear from actual ekg techs about salary and how it was finding a job
What are the advantages of studying business administration?
Very few if any, in my opinion. I have a Bachelor’s in business administration with a marketing concentration and a Bachelor’s in nursing. I could’ve done without the business degree entirely. I had other motivations at the time, I won’t go into all of that. To the point, I already had an analytical mind, a general concept of supply and demand, and a professional demeanor from being an only child and also starting to work at the age of 16. It is far more fruitful to settle on a specific trade of some sort. Otherwise, a graduate with a degree in business is tasked with selling him or herself to the marketplace and in interviews with out any good answer to the question, “What is your specific skill? Why should I hire you as opposed to anyone else with a degree in business administration? Do you have anything particular that you do and can bring to this particular company?” In other words, HVAC, in my opinion is a wiser choice. Examples I know about personally include EKG technicians and phlebotomists in a hospital, both of which are often trained entirely once hired with absolutely zero experience. Or, one can pursue a very quick course and certification in either before applying into the position if there seems to be competition for the hiring into either of those types of positions. Both can get you into a position where you can spend your time to work the ranks to managements, human resources, even transition into sales and marketing ( each of those is a concentration under the general umbrella of business administration ). However, finance is an exception. I think that it does make sense to concentrate on finance (another concentration under the general business administration umbrella), IF you can see yourself in a position where you are dealing with payroll, in financial management, you may want to become a CFO, even if you eventually want to become a CEO or COO, a finance background is helpful.
What do you about EKG technician jobs?
The problem with taking an EKG Tech course at ITT is the expense!! As far as jobs.......it's rare that a facility has simply an "EKG Tech" position these days that requires you to only perform 12-leads on patients; most hospitals train their Patient Care Techs that work in Emergency, Cardiac, or ICU to perform the EKGs, since those are the areas that do the most 12 leads and when they need them done, they need them done right then and there and waiting for a tech to come from another area of the hospital to hook up a patient is not feasible. So, either the techs or the RNs do them. In my hospital network, they have techs in the ICUs that carry a pager and then take one of their units machines to other, non-critical areas of the hospital when an EKG is needed. Another hospital nearby uses their Cardiac Monitor Techs to do the 12 leads, since they usually have several working at one time. (A Cardiac Monitor Tech interprets cardiac rhythm strips and lets the MD or RN taking care of the patient know what the rhythm is. Most monitor techs are trained "in house" in the hospital, often going through the same cardiac rhythm classes as new cardiac or ICU nurses). Bottom line...make sure you know the job market in your area prior to signing up for any EKG class. Also, make sure that the PA program you are wanting to apply to considers EKG Tech sufficient patient care experience. Many programs like to see that experience "in a decision-making" capacity, and for that, the minimum you'd be able to get by with would be an EMT. (That's why we discourage people from taking a CNA course when it comes to PA school admission...you're up against applicants that have been Respiratory Therapists, Paramedics, RNs, etc). The job of EKG Tech alone is hard to find. Usually it's coupled with a Patient Care Tech job in the ICUs or Telemetry/Cardiac Monitor Techs in a facility that has several techs on per shift.
I need some help with my PA career path?
Let me just editorialize. First, there are only a few PA schools in CA: Western College for the Health Sciences (Pomona) and USC in southern CA (any others are not very good). In northern CA there is Davis among some others (there are about 10 schools all together, and capanet.org is the CA PA academy web site). Next, the requirements any list are only the minimal ones, so yes, taking MORE classes than required is a smart move. In fact, take many more-take things like advanced physiology, micro, hematology, immunology, genetics, embryology, etc. Why? Because you are learning to practice medicine in a very short time in PA school (something people seem to forget), and medicine is complicated and difficult, and malpractice is huge. This dovetails with the "experience" part too--do NOT short change yourself in a rush to get in. Its like a med student wanting to only do residency. You really need ALL the background you can--it will only make you ultimately a better PA. The more your have a handle on things before you get there is like adding to your training to be a PA-so don't think that all that is just a waste-think of it as part of the training. If you have to take one of your pre-regs over, so be it. I took physiology several times (over time) actually to learn about newer developments and to build my expertise. Any clinical experience that does not need a certificate as the minimum will not be clinical experience and not worth your time even doing it. I knew someone who was a surg tech and PA school felt that that wasn't even good enough for experience. Look closely at all the schools you are interested in-at all their requirements (something you should have done at the start-the experience requirement should not have been a surprise). Some good pre-PA careers: clinical lab scientist/ respiratory therapist/ paramedic (maybe EMT)/ radiography/ nursing/ cath lab tech/ possibly scrub tech-surg tech. Not so good ones: CNA, MA,, phlebotomist, ECG tech etc. You want to get in, so take some time and do it right.