Tips for Ultrasounds

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2016

Welcome!

I know I'm making a conjecture, but I doubt any nurses on these forums have been trained in performing translady partsl ultrasound. Hence, it will be a while for your question to be answered (if ever). Good luck to you.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 12, 2016

Are you certain that TV ultrasound is within an LPN's scope? Who is training you? Does your trainer have insight? In my state only CNM, WHCP, physicians and certified ultrasound technologists can perform diagnostic sonography such as TV ultrasounds.

abbnurse · Apr 13, 2016

Are you certain that TV ultrasound is within an LPN's scope? Who is training you? Does your trainer have insight? In my state only CNM, WHCP, physicians and certified ultrasound technologists can perform diagnostic sonography such as TV ultrasounds.

Perhaps OP is performing ultrasound only for the purpose of dating a pregnancy (?) .

I worked in a clinic where nurses were often trained (by the MD's) to perform translady partsl and abdominal ultrasounds. There was a lengthy training process, and MD's were always consulted for abnormal findings .

Good luck, OP !

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 13, 2016

Perhaps OP is performing ultrasound only for the purpose of dating a pregnancy (?) .
I worked in a clinic where nurses were often trained (by the MD's) to perform translady partsl and abdominal ultrasounds. There was a lengthy training process, and MD's were always consulted for abnormal findings .
Good luck, OP !

It wouldn't matter in my state. Ultrasound technologists cannot interpret ultrasounds they must get the physician to read the images abnormal or normal and date a pregnancy.

But again whomever is training the OP should be able to answer her questions, help guide her technique, and give landmarks to locate the cervix

abbnurse · Apr 13, 2016

It wouldn't matter in my state. Ultrasound technologists cannot interpret ultrasounds they must get the physician to read the images abnormal or normal and date a pregnancy.
But again whomever is training the OP should be able to answer her questions, help guide her technique, and give landmarks to locate the cervix

Yes, hopefully the person training OP will have some answers.

Honestly, the nurses performing ultrasounds ended up consulting with the MD so often, and the training was so lengthy, I wondered why the MD's didn't just do the ultrasounds themselves..... and why the organization didn't just hire a certified ultrasound technologist.

Again , good luck, NurseDuggan.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2016

I wondered why the MD's didn't just do the ultrasounds themselves..... and why the organization didn't just hire a certified ultrasound technologist.

Since ultrasound techs earn as much money (and sometimes more) than entry-level RNs in the area where I live, perhaps physicians are attempting to save a few dollars to train an LPN to complete this task.

I suspect many physicians shy away from hiring ultrasound techs due to labor costs.

abbnurse · Apr 14, 2016

Since ultrasound techs earn as much money (and sometimes more) than entry-level RNs in the area where I live, perhaps physicians are attempting to save a few dollars to train an LPN to complete this task.
I suspect many physicians shy away from hiring ultrasound techs due to labor costs.

I think so, too. They also trained medical assistants to complete the ultrasounds, saving the organization even more money.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 22, 2016

Measuring straightforward GSDs and CRLs are well within an LPNs scope with proper training; however in most cases it still has to be "interpreted" by a provider. I do my own ultrasounds and so do almost all the other clinicians in our affiliate, but we have one or two specially trained CA s(clinic assistants, as we call them) and an RN who do them as well, in the surgical sites. One of the CAs does second tri dating scans as well.

OP, to your question- it really is something that you just have to learn in person. It was so befuddling to me when I first started doing ultrasounds, I felt like I would never be able to figure it out. You have to do it over and over and over again, until it "clicks." Hopefully you are being given some formalized didactic training as well-if not, I would seek it out (and ask for reimbursement from your employer).

I also want to add that you can do a LOT of first tri dating ultrasounds abdominally- I probably do 70% abdominal, even as early as 5+ weeks in many cases. It is much, much preferable to reserve lady partsl probes for when you can't get a good view abdominally, rather than do them routinely.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 23, 2016

Since ultrasound techs earn as much money (and sometimes more) than entry-level RNs in the area where I live, perhaps physicians are attempting to save a few dollars to train an LPN to complete this task.
I suspect many physicians shy away from hiring ultrasound techs due to labor costs.

Well if you are just doing limited office ultrasounds, it makes more sense to hire someone who can do all the other stuff a nurse can do, rather than *just* ultrasounds. Techs are able to do more comprehensive scans than a nurse who is trained on the job, but there is no reason to pay for a dedicated tech (who, as others mentioned, usually have a similar starting salary as a nurse) when you don't need their full range of skills AND you would still need a nurse anyway.

At my clinic we do dating ultrasounds, IUC checks and limited scans for post-AB issues. We send out for actual diagnostic ultrasounds. Would not be cost effective to have a dedicated sonographer in the office since we don't do prenatal care, and are an NP-run clinic and so turf more complicated patients anyway. In comparison, the last OBGYN office I worked at had a dedicated tech so they could do growth scans, BPPs, anatomy scans, GYN ultrasounds, etc. Even doppler flows and other more complex scans could be done in office, with the report sent to an off site radiologist (or MFM, depending) for interpretation.

Although I was very pleased when I diagnosed and accurately measured my patient's ovarian cysts the other day, and the "official" scan agreed with mine 100%.