Interested in cardiac sonography

Published

Specializes in telemetry, cardiopulmonary stepdown, LTC. Hospice.

I've been a nurse for five years and have found that bedside nursing isn't my thing. I'm in the process of getting my BSN with the idea of getting my NP, but have lately thought about heading into a more diagnostic field like cardiac sonography.

I'm having trouble finding an accredited program near my area to study this. Some offer just medical diagnostic imaging, but I'm not finding ones with a cardiac specialty. I live in southeastern IN, about an hour outside of Cincinnati.

I'm wondering whether to go ahead and get my BSN in nursing and try to find a sonography program after that, or to just stop what I'm doing and find education in sonography now. I'm 44 years old, and have to get done with this school stuff and settle into something. I came into nursing late, but while I like to care for my patients I've just about had it with the other aspects of the job.

I love science and enjoy taking care of people one on one, so I think I would be a great fit for sonography. Wish I'd thought of it before I went into nursing! But, I guess it's good that I can help pay the bills with my nursing job while I get the sonography thing in line.

Any ideas about accredited schools in the area. It seems like there are several different accreditations, too, which is confusing. Which one will make me most marketable?

Basically, the idea of having patients lined up that I spend about an hour with doing an indepth testing procedure like sonography, and then going on to the next patient sounds pretty darned good right now. No report, a minimum of harassment from coworkers with attitudes, not nearly the pressures or documentation that nursing demands, lots of autonomy. I like the sound of that FINE.

Thanks all!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi - I am in an Echocardiography program now on the East Coast. It is a highly specialized field and there are not many accredited places. You might have to move. There is only one in New England that I know of. I also don't know of any part time programs in the country.

They are competitive to get into just like Nursing. You have to take the teas or hesi. I am older as well, and working in another field of healthcare, so this was not a complete change for me. However I will say that as school has gone on, I have felt this a very "pigeon-holed" career. I don't think there are to many options for this other than being a tech in a lab and a supervisor. Nursing is by far more versatile, but i can see where you could get burned out from either career if you don't take care of yourself, and make a change when you need to.

I think if you are both a nurse and a medical imager, that might actually be a great combo. I know both are growing careers, and maybe doing both will make you very valuable. Good luck and let me know how your progress goes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am an Advanced Clnical Sonographer with a speciality in echocardiography. I've been an echocardiographer for 15 years. I switched to nursing. My advice, finish your BSN.

I I went to Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. As noted earlier. Accredited programs are far and few between. You may have to move.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am an Advanced Clnical Sonographer with a speciality in echocardiography. I've been an echocardiographer for 15 years. I switched to nursing. My advice, finish your BSN.

I I went to Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. As noted earlier. Accredited programs are far and few between. You may have to move.

Hi kinda late but just saw this post. I'm wondering why you switched to nursing? I'm a sonography student but I am starting RN BSN in the fall.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion