Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

What the job really is

Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-2031
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
• Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
• Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
• Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
• Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
• Prepare and position patients for testing.
• Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
• Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
• Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
• Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.
• Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standard norms to identify abnormalities.
• Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.

Tools and technology

JavaScript, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, 3, 4, and 5 stopcock manifolds, Activated clotting time ACT lab equipment, Angiojets, Arterial line stop-cocks, Automated external defibrillators AED, Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator AICD implants

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
• Neurodiagnostic Technologists
• Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
• Radiation Therapists
• Respiratory Therapists
• Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.