About This Career

Conducts 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.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Diagnostic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Conducts 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.
• Explains testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
• Monitors patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
• Obtains and records patient identification, medical history, or test results.
• Monitors patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
• Attaches electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connects electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operates the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
• Prepares and positions patients for testing.
• Adjusts equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
• Checks, tests, and maintains cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
• Supervises or trains other cardiology technologists or students.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Weekend work