Sonography Associate Degrees

"It's a boy!" is no longer the long-awaited announcement doctors give to a mother who just gave birth. Instead, this is the news parents deliver to their family months before their baby is even born. Birth is its own miracle, but the field of medical technology has developed many miracles of its own that transform the way we monitor gestation. Not only are parents able to learn the gender of the baby long before it takes its first breath, but the multitude of advantages that grow out of this incredible technology will take your breath away.

Sonography and ultrasound technology is at the forefront of prenatal healthcare. If you have a passion for the medical field, for new moms, and for lots of medical applications, then you are the perfect person for earning an Associate's Degree in sonography and ultrasound technology. This field involves much more than spying on concealed infants; it is a critical field that harnesses many amazing technologies for the benefit of many different patients. Find the school requirements for career training below.

Sonography and ultrasound are commonly associated with fetuses and their pregnant mothers; however, there is a wide range of applications for this incredible technology. This type of medical technology is used to assess and diagnose a range of medical conditions. Essentially, as their names suggest, this equipment directs sound waves into patients' bodies to literally look inside them. It is the sonographers and ultrasound technicians who are responsible for operating this equipment, and working with the doctors and patients most connected to the images revealed. The sonography will press the equipment known as an ultrasound transducer against a patient's skin, and that device will bounce sound waves back to the machine that processes and displays them.

Sonography Schools

Since this technology enables doctors to literally look inside of a patient's body, there are a number of practical applications. Sonographers tend to specialize in certain anatomical areas. There are abdominal sonographers, breast sonographers, musculoskeletal sonographers, neurosonographers, obstetric/gynecological sonographers, and many others. Each particular specialty has their areas and responsibilities unique to their patients' needs. Typically, they are preparing patients for procedures, adjusting equipment, operating equipment, analyzing images, providing feedback to doctors and patients, and recording their findings through documented notes and pictures. In working with doctors, patients, and equipment, they are able to supply much needed information. Although sonographers are not directly responsible for diagnosing patients or recommending procedures, the information they provide to physicians helps immeasurably with the medical problem-solving process.

Jobs for sonographers and ultrasound technicians are commonly located in outpatient care centers, physicians' offices, hospitals, and medical and diagnostic labs. Most employ opportunities offer steady hours, but sonographers are often needed in medical emergencies as well. Also, job opportunities are expected to rise in coming years as much of America's baby boomer generation retires and ages. While looking at fetuses will always remain popular, sonographers will more commonly be required to take help take a closer look at tumors, blood clots, and other age-related ailments. Regardless of where they work and with whom they are working, sonographers and ultrasound technicians are known for being detail-oriented individuals with reliable hand-eye coordination and superior interpersonal skills.

Although many expectant mothers prefer to wait until delivery to discover if they have a boy or girl, many others can't wait to hear what gender their newest arrival will be from their ultrasound technician. Many others in all states of life are equally dependent on sonographers to take a close examination and tell them the news they need to hear. Doctors and patients alike rely on strong, effective sonographers to provide them with images and assist in diagnosis. With an Associate's Degree in sonographer and ultrasound technology, you will learn all about how to operate this exciting, illuminating equipment. Now is the time to take a close look into your life and your career goals and make the move that will help you achieve what you've always desired.

What You’ll Learn During your Degree

- Act in the best interest of the patient
- Understand fully the equipment being used
- Be able to record data
- Education patients

- Associate’s Degree in Sonography – Courses Required
- Vascular Ultrasound
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Vascular Technology
- Genetics and Pathology

Getting the most out of your externship

When it comes time to take an externship be sure to get the most out of your training. The college you attend will usually set up all the externships for you. This gives you a chance to get the hands-on training and clinical practice you need for your career. It is often a great place to get a job if done correctly. The employer that you are taking your externship with usually hires graduates for entry level work. Since they already have a good relationship with the school you attended it can be a great place for them to get information about you and the training you received. Don’t just treat the place as an externship, treat it as a real job.

Salary Expectations

Recent survey shows over 70% have an Associate’s degree, income is $64,578. In popular states like California and Texas salaries can reach over $89,000 as demand is high.

Sonography Resources
ARDMS - http://www.ardms.org/
Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography