Ultrasound in Nursing

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 11, 2008

You will have to check into each state's requirements for the required courses/exams that must be completed in order for one to be a licensed sonographer.

As I'm affiliated w/hospital nursing (and Radiology), I know our sonographers are all Rad. Technologists first, then go on to specialized study in ultrasound.

After that they take exams for the RDMS (registered diagnostic medical sonographer). There are distinctions, too, between those trained to do abdominal ultrasound and, for example, cardiac or neonatal/neuro.

I really don't know if someone (nurse or otherwise) who is trained, for example, to do sonograms in a doctor's office, can challenge the exam(s) or can practice in a limited way, under the direction of that physician.

Again, I suggest you check the regulations of wherever you reside.

jer_sd · Apr 11, 2008

Currently there is no state the lecenses ultrasound, meaning anyone can do the scan. In order to be paid for the scan some insurance pannels require that the sonographer be certified in the area of the scan. Some state boards have issued advisories about ultrasound and nursing scope of practice (2 or 3 I think). TO have accreditation by ACR, Initial accreditation all sonographers must be certified, for renewal there is a window period to allow staff to obtain certification. Most hospitals prefer to hire credentialed sonographers for liability and reinbursement reasons.

AWHON has guidlines for RN using limited third trimester OB ultrasound and there are courses designed for that available. There are also CE courses on ultrasound guided PICC line placement for nurses around. So the use of ultrasound is evolving into the RN scope of practice.

Certification is available through 3 organizations. www.ardms.org main credetials recognized. Vascular, echo, abdomen, neuro, OB-gyn ect. www.cci-online.org has vascular and echo certifications. www.arrt.org has general ultrasound and vascular. Nurses can learn on the job and qualify to be certified by CCI and ARDMS to become credentialed sonographers. ARRT the nurse must be certified in rad tech, radition therapy, or nuclear medicine first or attend an accredited program.

Hope this helps,

Jeremy

Good day to all. I am a recent nursing graduate and I have a question.
Are nurses allowed to handle ultrasound? I mean, can a nurse hold an ultrasound probe and scan the patient, i.e. abdominal Utz, and take printout and have it interpreted by the radiologist?
Is this the role of a nurse radiologist assigned to Ultrasound section?
Or being a sonologist, one must be a licensed Radiation Technologist first before one will be allowed to hold the probe?
If that would be the case, that does mean I have to study Radiation technology and take their exams too before I can be a sonologist?
Or is there a special licensing body that a nurse can just take an exam to be allowed to practice as a nurse sonologist?
Does this goes true to all the states or there are special requirements between one state to another to be nurse sonologist?
Thank you.

MeCebuano · Apr 12, 2008

Thank you sir jeremy. I will look into sites. Thanks again.

Currently there is no state the lecenses ultrasound, meaning anyone can do the scan. In order to be paid for the scan some insurance pannels require that the sonographer be certified in the area of the scan. Some state boards have issued advisories about ultrasound and nursing scope of practice (2 or 3 I think). TO have accreditation by ACR, Initial accreditation all sonographers must be certified, for renewal there is a window period to allow staff to obtain certification. Most hospitals prefer to hire credentialed sonographers for liability and reinbursement reasons.
AWHON has guidlines for RN using limited third trimester OB ultrasound and there are courses designed for that available. There are also CE courses on ultrasound guided PICC line placement for nurses around. So the use of ultrasound is evolving into the RN scope of practice.
Certification is available through 3 organizations. www.ardms.org main credetials recognized. Vascular, echo, abdomen, neuro, OB-gyn ect. www.cci-online.org has vascular and echo certifications. www.arrt.org has general ultrasound and vascular. Nurses can learn on the job and qualify to be certified by CCI and ARDMS to become credentialed sonographers. ARRT the nurse must be certified in rad tech, radition therapy, or nuclear medicine first or attend an accredited program.
Hope this helps,
Jeremy

MeCebuano · Apr 12, 2008

Thanks for the info Dianah. If I may ask again is it advisable to a sonographer or should u advise me instead to stay in those safer practice field in RN radiology as leglities that might incur is high?

You will have to check into each state's requirements for the required courses/exams that must be completed in order for one to be a licensed sonographer.
As I'm affiliated w/hospital nursing (and Radiology), I know our sonographers are all Rad. Technologists first, then go on to specialized study in ultrasound.
After that they take exams for the RDMS (registered diagnostic medical sonographer). There are distinctions, too, between those trained to do abdominal ultrasound and, for example, cardiac or neonatal/neuro.
I really don't know if someone (nurse or otherwise) who is trained, for example, to do sonograms in a doctor's office, can challenge the exam(s) or can practice in a limited way, under the direction of that physician.
Again, I suggest you check the regulations of wherever you reside.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 12, 2008

I honestly don't know how to answer your question, as I don't know what would be the legal liability of a sonographer in a physician's office.

Or of the liability/risk of an RN who practices as a sonographer.

I'm sorry! :)

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

ultrasound sonographers are licensed. there are 3 ways to become a sonographer:

1. get a radiology degree and apply to sonography school (1 year)

2. have a license as a nurse, paramedic, emt and apply

3. have a bs in any field, grade point average 3.5 or higher and

apply.

my husband is currently in this process. he has a bs in management and a 4.0 gpa. he was told first preference is given to those with a bs in any field with a high gpa, then a rad, then a nurse, emt or paramedic.

in tennesse a nurse better not get caught doing an ultrasound! :nono:

MeCebuano · Apr 12, 2008

Its okay dianah, thanks for being honest. I appreciate that.

I honestly don't know how to answer your question, as I don't know what would be the legal liability of a sonographer in a physician's office.
Or of the liability/risk of an RN who practices as a sonographer.
I'm sorry! :)

MeCebuano · Apr 12, 2008

in my case what advise would you give me. i am a doctor in the philippines. a radiologist. but before i studied medicine, i was already a nurse although i dint took exams needed to work there in the us like nlcex. cgfns and ielts during that time. now i am planning to work there as a nurse since it pays better and its a safer place to raise a family as compared here in my country where the crime rate is high. i am now in the process of taking those necessary test while waiting for the retrogression to be lifted. my question is, do i still need to take a degree in radiology or would my residency training and diplomate certificate would suffice those us sonographer requirements? a challenge test perhaps? thanks for your help dutchgirlrn.

ultrasound sonographers are licensed. there are 3 ways to become a sonographer:
1. get a radiology degree and apply to sonography school (1 year)
2. have a license as a nurse, paramedic, emt and apply
3. have a bs in any field, grade point average 3.5 or higher and
apply.
my husband is currently in this process. he has a bs in management and a 4.0 gpa. he was told first preference is given to those with a bs in any field with a high gpa, then a rad, then a nurse, emt or paramedic.
in tennesse a nurse better not get caught doing an ultrasound!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

my question is, do i still need to take a degree in radiology or would my residency training and diplomate certificate suffice those us sonographer requirements? a challenge test perhaps? thanks for your help dutchgirlrn.

i'm sorry mecebuano i truly do not know.

i would think if you are a radiologist in the philippines there would be an exam you would be eligible to take to acquire your medical license here. i have no clue about how that works but many foregin trained doctors practice successfully in the us.

your pay as a nurse here would be a drop in a bucket compared to the salary of a radiologist.

our scans are read at night by radiologists in israel. behold the power of the internet!

jer_sd · Apr 12, 2008

ardms has a pathway for mds and mds from other countries to become certified. I would look into that pathway. If you are practicing as a sonographer you will be held to thoes standards. If you also represent yourself as a nurse thoes standards wil aply as well. For example i am a vascular sonographer and NP in a radiology group. when i proform an ultrasound exam it is held to the standard of practice for an ultrasound tech. When i interpret the scan i am held to the same standards as a physician. I know 3 physicians from other countries working as sonographers.

MeCebuano · Apr 17, 2008

Thank you sir. Its lightening to hear that there is a pathway for my case. Thanks again.

ardms has a pathway for mds and mds from other countries to become certified. I would look into that pathway. If you are practicing as a sonographer you will be held to thoes standards. If you also represent yourself as a nurse thoes standards wil aply as well. For example i am a vascular sonographer and NP in a radiology group. when i proform an ultrasound exam it is held to the standard of practice for an ultrasound tech. When i interpret the scan i am held to the same standards as a physician. I know 3 physicians from other countries working as sonographers.