Day in the Life: Medical Sonographer
As a medical sonographer, you have a lot of responsibilities. You’re an important part of a medical team and the work you do can literally help to save lives. You capture images, called sonograms or ultrasounds, of internal organs and tissues. Those sonograms are used by doctors to diagnose patients and prescribe treatment or healthcare plans. A typical shift is often eight hours but in facilities—like hospitals—that operate 24/7, you may work 12-hour shifts. And there are also night and weekend shifts that need to be covered. So, you have options! Do you want to work 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 4:00 PM to midnight? Whatever shift you take as an Ultrasound Technician, you can expect to be busy. Check out what your day would be like as a Medical Sonographer if you worked the dayshift.
Early Morning Responsibilities of a Sonographer
Patients often have early morning appointments, and you need to get to work before they arrive. When you get to the office, you check email and voicemail for any messages that might mean changes to your day. You return calls, address cancellations, and schedule referrals. You also check the schedule to see how many patients you have lined up for the day and which patients will come in first.
Another important responsibility is to check the equipment. You calibrate the machines, note any issues, and stock supplies. If the medical equipment is malfunctioning, you may need to notify service technicians or postpone appointments. You also clean and sanitize the main sonography machines and any portable units you may use.
Ultrasound Technician Mid-Morning Responsibilities
When the first patient arrives, you introduce yourself, take their medical history, and walk them through the next steps. You explain the procedure and answer any questions they might have. Once they’re ready, you position the patient properly for the ultrasound and make them as comfortable as possible. You place a water-soluble gel over the area to be examined so that no air gets between the device and the patient’s skin, causing errors in the image. Then you use a transducer, which is a handheld probe, to capture the image with soundwaves. Those images are sent to a computer, where you can check them for quality. Depending on the type of images you are taking, the procedure can last 15 minutes or a couple of hours. And the number of patients you see depends on the size of your healthcare facility. After each image is successfully captured, you update the patient’s medical record and share them with physicians who can make a diagnosis.
Lunch
By midday, you’ve already seen several patients and probably have a few more lined up. Before you start the second half of the day, take a break for lunch. Give yourself some time to get off your feet, grab a bite to eat, and recharge before getting back to work. Once you’re back, check your messages and schedule again to see what’s ahead.
Early Afternoon for a Sonographer
As a medical professional you know better than anyone that emergencies can arise quickly. It’s not uncommon to be called in with your portable ultrasound machine to perform a sonogram on a patient who was in a car accident. Under the guidance of the attending physician, you might scan a specific area of the body to assess injuries and run your report. Your ultrasound can help detect internal organ damage or bleeding in the abdomen or chest.
Late Afternoon
The next set of patients will follow a similar process to your first patients. You walk them through the process, capture the images, check those images for accuracy and quality, and send them to the physician. The types of patients and ultrasounds you take can differ throughout the day. For example, you might need a sonogram of the chest for an older patient with a heart condition while the next patient might be a pregnant woman. In between patients, you clean and sanitize the equipment again, and schedule new appointments as referrals come in.
Sonographer Shift Change
At the end of the day, you might order new supplies, write up reports for the radiologist or physician, or fill out paperwork. Before you clock out, you clean the equipment one last time, check for any last-minute messages and connect with your relief. You let them know of any evening appointments and check your own schedule for the next day.
If you’re interested in a career as a medical sonographer, call Charter College today. We offer an Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography that can prepare you for entry-level work in a hospital, outpatient care center, or physician’s office. Our faculty have years of experience in the medical field and are dedicated to your success. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.