The Career
The typical duties that a surgical tech can expect to perform consist of:
• Preparing the OR and cleaning up after a procedure.
• Setting up instruments and equipment.
• Testing equipment to ensure that it is working properly.
• Washing, shaving and disinfecting patients.
• Transporting patients to and from the OR.
• Keeping an eye on vitals and assisting with charts.
• Helping the surgical team in whatever capacity they can to be useful and facilitate a successful, complication-free operation.

The surgical technologist is an essential part of the OR team, providing the assistance that doctors and nurses need in order to concentrate on their job.

Employment and Career Prospects

Approximately three-quarters of all employment opportunities for surgical techs are in hospitals, though there are several other options. Those who perform their jobs well have many chances for advancement. Some of the areas where surgical techs are used include supply departments, medical sales, private offices and surgical centers. By specializing in a particular area of surgery, a surgical tech can progress to a specialist position or a first assistant, where they are able to take on a more active, hands-on role in surgery, assisting with sutures, cauterization, closing wounds and a variety of other important duties.

For every surgeon working, approximately five surgical technologist positions need to be filled. An aging population and advancements in the types of surgical procedures that are available create a high demand for surgical techs, and the job outlook predicts a growth that is higher than average. While most of these new jobs will be in hospital environments, there are still plenty of jobs becoming available in private offices, clinics and ambulatory surgical centers.

Education and Training

Following the path of a surgical tech requires skills and education that demand a certain amount of dedication. A background in the physical and life sciences is paramount, as are excellent math skills and the ability to think analytically and on one’s feet. The job requires many measurements and calculations in a fast-paced environment, as well the ability to pay very close attention to detail. This intense concentration must often be maintained through long surgeries, some of which may last up to 10 hours.

Training programs for this career generally last somewhere between 9 and 24 months. Most require a high school diploma or a GED to qualify for, and when one is finished they will be in possession of an associate’s degree, general diploma or a certification. Typical subjects studied during the course of a surgical tech’s education include microbiology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, surgical techniques and procedures, and patient care and safety. Also, a thorough knowledge of medical ethics and terminology will be required.

After basic educational training, a surgical tech would do well to further their career opportunities by acquiring a certification. One such is issued by the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist, which issues a certification following graduation from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. This certification also requires the passing of a written exam. One must re-certify every four years and continue to educate themselves in order to stay current on procedures, advancements and technologies in the surgical field.

Surgical Tech Salary Levels

A surgical tech salary is determined by a number of important factors. The more important the position that a surgical tech holds and the more responsibilities that he or she takes on, the higher their salary potential. A standard hospital salary ranges from a low average of approximately $34,000, to a median of $44,000 and upwards of $54,000 at the higher end of the scale. Aspects such as private versus public sector employment, choice of specialization and geographical location all play important roles in determining the average surgical tech salary in a given region.

The surgical technologist is a great career choice for those who wish to explore the medical field. Due to the nature of the work, techs learn quite a bit on the job, many of which can be applied to make advancements into other medical careers. This job is not for everyone, as it is a high stress position that requires a level head and the ability to deal with death when it occurs. The promise of a decent surgical tech salary and the opportunity to help people, however, can be enough to bring out the best in those seeking to follow this career path.

The Career

The career prospective for x ray technicians is looking great and only expected to grow in upcoming years. Like other medical careers, it is an in demand job that is expected to grow much more quickly than other types of jobs. In the next several years, the demand for x ray technicians is expected to grow by around 17 percent since 2008. Since there are hospitals and clinics all over the world that will continue to have patients, both old and new, the outlook for a career as an x ray technician is looking bright for the future, which is why many may choose to pursue this type of career.

Training and Education

There are different types of training and education requirements needed to be an x ray technician. While there are certification programs that can be completed in less than two years, many people choosing to pursue a career in radiography may choose to get their associate’s degree from an accredited institution. Bachelor’s degrees are also available for this type of career. When obtaining a degree, a student will learn and train in both a classroom and a clinical setting to prepare them for their future as an x ray technician, allowing them to get the skills that they need for their job. Some technicians may opt for additional training, including mammography and CT scanning, to further enhance their future career choices, as well as offer them a larger salary. When going through school and training, a future x ray technician will find out how to work all of the machinery required to take x rays, how to position to get accurate pictures, as well as learning how to keep their patient safe and calm throughout the procedure.

X Ray Technician Salary Levels

An x ray technician salary depends upon a number of factors, including the part of the country the technician will be working in, the office or hospital that they are employed by, as well as how much experience and education they have. Many people opt to get a higher degree so that they can earn a higher salary. On the lower end of the scale, the salary for an x ray technician is around $35,000. The median salary in this field is $52,000, with most technicians making annual salaries between $42,000 and $63,000. Those who work in specialty fields or have lots of experience and training can make $75,000 or more each year. Many people are interested in this career choice because it offers a stable salary.

The career outlook for being an x ray technician is expanding, which is why many people may choose this type of career for future stability. With proper training and education, a person can pursue a career that not only offers a high paying x ray technician salary, but that also gives them job stability in an unstable economy and allows them to work in the medical field helping sick and injured patients.

The Career

Phlebotomists are part of the growing workforce of allied health care workers who support doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. The job outlook for all allied health care workers is excellent. The U.S. health care system is growing to accommodate a generation of baby boomers who are requiring more medical attention as they grow older. Other changes in the health care system that will make medical treatment accessible to all people, regardless of income, are also triggering an increase in allied health care job opportunities across the board.

Phlebotomists play an important role in all areas of health care. Some work in the offices of doctors, others work with patients in hospitals. Because blood analysis is a fundamental part of medical treatment, some phlebotomists work in rehabilitation centers and nursing homes collecting samples that are used to monitor a patient’s treatment or progress. Phlebotomists also work for blood banks collecting, storing and maintaining a blood supply for trauma victims that require transfusions. And, as mentioned, some phlebotomists draw blood samples from people,and also from animals, being monitored for research studies.

Training and Certification

Phlebotomy training often involves earning a two-year associate degree at a community college. Many schools also offer a one-year certificate program in phlebotomy. Students learn how to perform venipuncture, a procedure that involves inserting a needle into a patient’s vein and collecting blood in special vacuum tubes. There are also special methods of collecting blood from infants and elderly patients.

Training also includes courses in anatomy, medical terminology, safety protocols and sterile hospital and lab procedures. Most programs also require some general courses on health care systems and medical ethics. Because phlebotomists work with people of all ages who have a wide range of health problems, they must also have good communication skills and have a solid understanding of patient care.

After completing their course work, most phlebotomists also take a standardized test to earn their national certification. Several different professional phlebotomy organizations and associations offer certification exams, and while not all jobs require certification, it can be an advantage in a competitive job market.

Phlebotomist Salary Levels

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, phlebotomists earn an average of $15 an hour, or $27,000 to $28,000 per year. Phlebotomists who work in hospitals usually earn more than those who work in private medical practices, and those with an associate degree tend to earn higher salaries than those who have a graduated from a certificate program.

Location can also determine a phlebotomist salary range. California, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Delaware are among the states where phlebotomists earn the highest rates of pay. San Francisco, Providence, Bridgeport, CT, Bethesda, and Bangor, ME, are some of the urban areas with the highest salaries.

Phlebotomists with several years of experience can often advance to higher-paying managerial positions, and oversee a team of phlebotomists within a hospital. Phlebotomists are also well-positioned to parley their skills and education into high-paying jobs such as medical and clinical laboratory technicians.

A phlebotomist salary is just one of many factors, including job security and opportunities for advancement, worth weighing when considering this occupation as a career.

The Career

As a dental assistant, you can expect to greet patients and answer any questions they may have. You can anticipate having to fetch or obtain patient records. You may be called on to sterilize and disinfect any instruments needed during procedures. Dental assistants also aid the primary dentist during procedures. Another duty you can anticipate having is scheduling future appointments, such as cleaning appointments, for example, which patients tend to have done every few months.

Career Prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for dental assistants is expected to grow a whopping 36 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is among the fastest for all occupations. Even given the economic challenges the nation faces, people will always require dental health care. Let’s take a look at salary expectations for dental assistants.

Dental Assistant Salary Levels

A newly minted dental assistant can expect to make roughly $11 per hour, but this can easily increase to $15 per hour after just some on-the-job experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual dental assistant salary of all dental assistants is roughly $32,000. The bottom tier of dental assistants make roughly $22,000, while the top tier of dental assistants make significantly more at roughly $47,000 per year. As is the case with any profession, geography plays a significant role in determining earning potential for dental assistants. A dental assistant in the District of Columbia can expect to make roughly $47,000 per year; $42,000 in Alaska; $41,000 in New Hampshire; and $41,000 in Minnesota. As you can see, these salary figures are far better than the national median annual salary for dental assistants.

Summary
If you are truly interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant, you will be pleased to know that job prospects are off the charts. Employment is expected to increase a whopping 36 percent in this field over the coming decade. As far as dental assistant salary expectations are concerned, a starting dental assistant can expect to make around $11 per hour, which can increase fairly quickly to $15 per hour. The bottom tier makes roughly $22,000 per year and the top tier makes roughly $47,000 per year. $47,000 per year seems to be the ceiling in terms of salary expectations you should have working as a dental assistant.

CAREER OUTLOOK

The career outlook for the dialysis technician is quite strong and there is a high demand for people with dialysis technician training. That demand is expected to increase even more in the near future. As a large body of the population ages, the field is projected to grow exponentially. In fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics makes the prediction that in the next 8 years, the field will grow by 16%. The security of a growing career track is likely to open up quality education and training opportunities for those interested in pursuing the career of a dialysis technician.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

To begin training as a dialysis technician you must first either have a high school diploma or GED. There are some companies that offer on the job training, or many community colleges offer courses of study lasting from 6 to 12 weeks. A combination of classwork and clinical training will prepare the student for the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) exam. In these classes, the student will learn about the effects of renal failure and the objectives of hemodialysis. Some hospitals offer classes and on the job training as well.

DIALYSIS TECHNICIAN SALARY RANGE

The dialysis technician salary can range from $24,000 to $41,000 with a median salary of about $32,500. Benefits are usually part of the dialysis technician’s compensation as well, and with many of the jobs paid by the hour, there is even greater earning potential with overtime and holiday pay. Experience and training will contribute to the earning potential of the technician.

Becoming a dialysis technician could be a rewarding career path for someone looking for a secure job that utilizes their people skills and reinforces their desire to make a difference in the lives of others. The dialysis technician salary will likely increase as the demand for technicians continues to escalate.

Career Prospects

Despite the fact that many medical offices are changing over to electronic medical records, medical transcriptionists are still needed. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is projected to grow by 11 percent by 2018. Especially with the growing population of the elderly, medical transcription continues to be a strong field.

Training and Education

To become a medical transcriptionist, you don’t need to complete a full college program. However, you will need some education. Programs for medical transcriptionists exist both online and through technical schools. In many cases, you can finish your training in under two years, sometimes as little as one. During these programs, you will learn medical terms, common transcription formats and other important elements needed to become a quality transcriptionist.

Once you receive your certification in medical transcription, you can increase the odds of getting a good job in the field by earning additional certifications. When you are just starting out, you can take the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) exam to become a registered medical transcriptionist. If you have some experience, you can take a different AHDI exam to become a certified medical transcriptionist. These certifications can help you get a job.

Medical Transcriptionist Salary

As a beginner, your medical transcriptionist salary won’t be as high as someone who has been in the field for many years. With medical transcription, however, you are often paid based on your output rather than on an hourly basis like many other jobs. Therefore, while your pay per word likely won’t change much as you become more experienced, your average per hour will increase based on your speed. When you begin, you begin, you can expect to make about $10.76 per hour. The average salary for a medical transcriptionist ranges from $13.02 and $18.55, with the top transcriptionists earning around $21.81 per hour.

Becoming a quality transcriptionist so you can make top medical transcriptionist salary takes time and education, but can be worth it due to the projected job growth potential.

Job Description

EKG tech/technician is an abbreviation for electrocardiograph technician. Whenever there are medical issues such as suspected heart problems, an EKG technician administers the necessary cardiovascular tests ordered by the doctor/s. The most basic test involves the technician affixing electrodes on different parts of a patient’s body to obtain a printout used to analyze and diagnose heart related issues.

The job of an EKG tech can be both rewarding and stressful at times. Working with patients who are suffering from serious, life threatening cardiovascular problems takes its toll. Most EKG technicians work a standard 40 hour week depending on the workplace setting. Much of this time is spent standing or walking so you should be in good physical condition if you are considering a career as an EKG tech.

Career Outlook

The most recent statistics released by the US Board of Labor Statistics indicate that the decade of 2008-2018 will experience growth of approximately 24% in the employment rate of EKG technicians and all other cardiovascular technicians/technologists. This is a result of an aging population prone to heart disease and other cardiovascular issues requiring more EKGs. Thus, the career outlook for EKG technicians is positive.

Required Education and Training

To enroll in school to become an EKG technician, you must have a high school diploma or a GED and a training certificate. To become certified as a technician, you will need to complete at least a year of school as well as additional training. Most technical schools and community colleges offer EKG training courses. Additional training is usually completed on the job under the supervision of cardiologist or EKG supervisor and takes between 4 to 6 weeks.

In order to maintain your certification, you must participate in continuing education. EKG technicians are expected to understand the latest technology while being reliable, possessing mechanical aptitude, and meshing well with the team. You should be articulate and able to explain complicated procedures in terms that the average patient can understand.

EKG Technician Salary

EKG technician salary varies widely according to both training and location. As an EKG technician, you can expect to earn between $28,100 and $74,000 per year with the average EKG technician salary being between $32,748 and $39,304. Keep in mind that the more advanced training an EKG technician possesses, the more he/she will earn. Other factors influencing wages include location and work environment (i.e. hospital, doctor’s office, etc.)

Conclusion

If you are actively searching for a new career or changing careers, it is well worth considering a position as an EKG technician. The field is experiencing exponential growth and job prospects are much better than average.

Radiology techs prepare patients for examinations, maintain operating equipment and update patient records. Many radiologic techs specialize in specific areas of radiography. They may specialize in computed tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) or mammography. Prospective radiology techs should expect to work a typical 40 hour a week schedule for full-time positions and spend a considerable amount of time standing on their feet. Most radiology techs work full-time for one employer, while others may work part-time hours for different employers.

Career prospects are favorable for radiology techs that are skilled in more than one radiography specialization. Many employers seek out individuals for these positions with the ability to perform a variety of services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that radiology techs with CT and MR credentials are expected to be in demand over the next decade. The actual radiology tech salary may vary depending on the employer, location of employment and the job responsibilities.

Most states require radiology techs to be licensed before beginning work in the profession. The licensing requirements are formulated by each state’s health board. There are three different methods to acquire training as a radiology tech, including obtaining a certificate, associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. Associate’s degree radiology programs are usually completed within a two year timeframe, and graduates of the program obtain an Associate of Applied Science degree or a related degree with an emphasis in radiology. Certificate programs also prepare graduates for entry level positions and typically last 21 to 24 months. Many bachelor’s degree programs prepare the radiology tech graduates for advanced job positions, such as Lead Radiologic Technician, Radiology Trainer or Radiology Program Director.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median annual salary for radiologic technologists was $52,210; the lowest salary was $35,100; and the highest salary in 2008 for radiologic technologists was $74,970. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for radiology technician jobs range between $24,548 and $89,358.

Prospective radiology techs should acquire training in more than one specialization to increase their chances of obtaining employment as well as maintain effective qualifications to obtain a job in the industry. A highly qualified individual in the profession should expect to obtain a competitive radiology tech salary.

When evaluating a patient, a respiratory therapist may test lung capacity, interpret stress-test results, or analyze sputum samples to check for a bronchial infection. An RT’s teaching role may include showing a patient recovering from surgery how to blow a ball in a hand-held breathing device to prevent pneumonia. RTs also show patients how to use inhalers and nebulizers to administer inhaled medication.

There are several direct treatment methods that respiratory therapists may employ, depending upon the situation. Some patients require medication, usually administered through inhalation. In emergency situations, an RT may be paged to intubate a patient who cannot breathe or perform CPR on someone whose heart has stopped. RTs may administer oxygen in the intensive care unit, either for adults, children or premature infants.

Career prospects

Demand for respiratory therapists is growing much faster than average. The U.S. Bureau of Labor has predicted the field will increase 21 percent from 2008 to 2018. The role of the RT may soon be growing as well. Legislation has been introduced to allow RTs with special certification as asthma specialists to provide follow-up office visits after a patient has been diagnosed by a physician.

Training and Education

Respiratory therapists must have a minimum of an associate’s degree in respiratory therapy to obtain an entry-level job. A bachelor’s or master’s degree may be required to advance to a supervisory position. Except in Alaska and Hawaii, an RT will need a license from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) to practice. Most employers also require RTs to maintain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Respiratory Therapist Salary Ranges

A typical respiratory therapist salary for an entry-level position is approximately $29,000 to $51,000 per year, depending upon location. Mid-career RTs with five to nine years of experience make $35,000 to $76,000 per year, while those with 20 or more years of experience earn $41,000 to $77,000 annually.

Between the excellent employment prospects and respiratory therapist salary, there has never been a better time to consider this field as a career.

Job Opportunities
Jobs for registered nurses are opening up across the country and are expected to increase over the next few years. Nearly 600,000 jobs are expected to open up in the upcoming years, the most of any occupation. Because of the high number of people retiring, there is high demand for anyone in the medical field in order to help older generations with age related medical issues.

Education
There are several paths you can take to become a registered nurse including pursuing an associates or a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes anywhere from 2-5 years depending on the program. In order to obtain an associates, you will usually want to go to a technical college, whereas if you want to get a bachelor’s in nursing, which can help you further your career, you will want to attend a university. You can also take a degree program through a hospital, which usually takes around 3 years. In order to get your license, students need to take a national exam; once you pass the exam, you may begin working.

Registered Nurse Salary Levels
In 2008, the registered nurse salary ranged between $42,000 to $92,000 a year, with a median annual salary around $62,000 a year. Those working in employment services generally make a higher salary; however, most registered nurses work in physicians’ offices and make around $60,000 a year.

A Rewarding Career
Becoming a nurse is an extremely rewarding career and is very practical, allowing you to further your career at any time. Going into the medical field is a great idea for anyone and a registered nurse salary can easily support a family, and with as little school as you need to obtain a license, it’s easy to become an RN.