How to Find the Best Ultrasound Technician College near Lowry Virginia
Now that you have decided to pursue an ultrasound technician degree near Lowry VA, it’s time to start the process of picking a college. To begin with, you need to find the ideal program that will provide the appropriate training to become a skilled professional. And because a number of states do require that ultrasound techs be either certified or licensed, depending on where you will practice you may also need to be prepared to pass a certification or licensing examination. So it’s extremely important that you investigate each school so that you can assess and compare your options. But just where does one begin? A number of students will start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residences and then by comparing tuition. Certainly cost and location need to be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are other critical factors as well. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools have earned accreditation or if they sponsor internship programs. These and other qualifications will be covered more in depth later in this post. But to start with, let’s discuss what an ultrasound tech does and the degrees and online education programs that are offered.
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Ultrasound Technician Job Summary
There are more than one professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also referred to as sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. No matter what their title is, they all have the same basic job function, which is to implement diagnostic ultrasound techniques on patients. Even though a number of techs practice as generalists there are specializations within the field, for instance in cardiology and pediatrics. Most practice in Lowry VA hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Standard daily work duties of a sonogram tech may consist of:
- Maintaining records of patient case histories and specifics of each procedure
- Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
- Prepping the ultrasound machines for usage and then sterilizing and recalibrating them
- Moving patients to treatment rooms and ensuring their comfort
- Operating equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
- Evaluating results and identifying need for further testing
Sonographers must routinely evaluate the safety and performance of their machines. They also are held to a high ethical standard and code of conduct as health practitioners. In order to maintain that degree of professionalism and stay up to date with medical knowledge, they are mandated to enroll in continuing education programs on an ongoing basis.
Sonogram Technician Degree Programs Offered
Ultrasound tech students have the opportunity to earn either an Associate Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will typically require about 18 months to 2 years to complete dependent on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will require more time at as long as four years to complete. Another option for individuals who have already obtained a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a relevant medical field, you can enroll in a certificate program that will require only 12 to 18 months to complete. Something to bear in mind is that the majority of sonographer schools do have a clinical training element as part of their course of study. It can often be fulfilled by entering into an internship program which numerous schools organize with Lowry VA clinics and hospitals. When you have graduated from one of the degree or certificate programs, you will then have to comply with the certification or licensing requirements in Virginia or whichever state you decide to work in.
Ultrasound Technician Online Programs
As previously mentioned, almost all ultrasound technician schools have a practical component to their programs. So although you can receive a degree or certificate online, a significant part of the training will be either conducted in an on campus laboratory or at an authorized off-campus medical care provider. Practical training can usually be satisfied through an internship at a local Lowry VA outpatient clinic, hospital or family practice. But the remainder of the classes and training can be accessed online in your Lowry home. This is particularly convenient for those students that continue working while getting their degrees. In addition online schools are often less costly than traditional alternatives. Costs for commuting and study materials may be lessened as well. But similarly as with every ultrasound tech school you are reviewing, verify that the online school you enroll in is accredited. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is particularly important for licensing, certification and job placement (more on accreditation later). So if you are dedicated enough to learn outside of the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online school could be the right choice for you.
Points to Ask Sonography Programs
When you have decided on which degree or certificate that you would like to obtain, you can start the process of evaluating and comparing ultrasound technician schools. You may first want to decide whether you would rather access classes online or commute to a college campus in the Lowry VA area. Clearly location will be critical if you select the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an important qualifier as well. But there are other variables that you must also take into account, for example if the programs are accredited and if they offer internship programs. So in order to carry out your due diligence so that you can make your ultimate selection, below are several questions that you may want to ask each ultrasound tech school before deciding.
Are the Sonogram Tech Programs Accredited? The majority of ultrasound tech schools have received some type of accreditation, whether national or regional. Nevertheless, it’s still important to make sure that the program and school are accredited. Among the most highly respected accrediting organizations in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Programs receiving accreditation from the JRC-DMS have undergone an extensive review of their instructors and educational materials. If the school is online it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on online or distance education. All accrediting organizations should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. In addition to guaranteeing a quality education, accreditation will also help in getting financial assistance and student loans, which are many times not available for non-accredited schools. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And numerous Lowry VA employers will only hire graduates of an accredited school for entry level jobs.
Are Internships Sponsored? Inquire if the ultrasound tech schools you are interested in have associations with Lowry VA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a terrific means to get hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a means to fulfill the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they can help students and graduates establish professional connections in the Lowry health care community and help with obtaining employment.
Is Job Placement Assistance provided? You will probably want to secure employment quickly after graduation, but getting that first job in a new field can be difficult without assistance. Find out if the ultrasound tech schools you are considering have job assistance programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good indication that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Virginia healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their graduates are highly regarded and in demand.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Lowry VA residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the sonogram technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the sonographer program you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Lowry VA area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Sonography Degree Programs Lowry Virginia
Selecting the right sonographer degree or certificate program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying new profession delivering diagnostic services to patients. Ultrasound technician programs require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. Apart from meeting academic requirements, you must be in at least fairly good physical health, capable of standing for extended durations with the ability to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it often necessary to adjust patients and maneuver heavy machines. Other beneficial talents include technical proficiency, the ability to stay collected when faced with an angry or anxious patient and the ability to converse in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Sonography Degree Programs and wanting more information on Sonography Schools. However, as we have covered in this post, there are a number of questions that you need to ask each school you are reviewing. This is the case whether you select an online program or commute to the school campus to attend classes. And by asking the appropriate questions so that you can evaluate each program, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives until you are left with the ideal school for your education. And with the right training, dedication and determination to succeed, you can achieve your objective to work as an ultrasound technologist in Lowry VA.
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Thomas P. Lowry
Thomas Power Lowry (born 1932) is an American author and retired physician. A psychiatrist by training, he turned in the 1990s to writing historical non-fiction about the American Civil War.[1] His reputation was damaged in 2011 when he made – and subsequently recanted – a written confession that he had tampered with a document signed by President Abraham Lincoln held in the U.S. National Archives.[2][3]
Lowry was born in Northern California, the son of a naval officer.[4] He graduated as an M.D. from Stanford University in 1957,[5] later practicing as a psychiatrist and marriage counsellor. In the 1970s he and then-wife Thea Snyder Lowry (1932–2002) served on the staff of the Masters and Johnson Clinic in St. Louis as part of the research team investigating sexual dynamics and relationships.[6][7] During this period Lowry published what he would later describe as "several very dull medical books."[8] Nonetheless, his 1976 work on the human clitoris was positively reviewed in the Journal of Sex Research.[9] He was later a clinical associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco.[10]
After retiring from a four-decade career in medicine, Lowry – assisted by a new wife, Beverly – shifted in the 1990s to writing non-fiction historical works. He has authored or co-authored more than 20 books in this field, the majority dealing with the American Civil War period. Much of the Lowrys' research was carried out at the U.S. National Archives in Washington, D.C., where, over the course of a decade, the Lowrys compiled a large index of thousands of previously uncatalogued Civil War documents.[11][12] Lowry's first and best-known book on this subject, The Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell (1994), received a favorable review in the New York Times as "the first study of sexual behavior associated with the Civil War,"[13] and was praised in Esquire as "amusing and fascinating."[14] Two subsequent works on Civil War courts-martial, Tarnished Eagles (1998) and Tarnished Scalpels (2000; co-authored with Jack D. Welsh), were well-reviewed in Civil War Times and Kirkus Reviews, respectively.[15][16] Lowry has occasionally published on other historic events such as the Battle of Taranto and the sinking of the Titanic.[17][18] His 2004 book on the Lewis and Clark Expedition earned him an award from the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.[19]
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