Cardiovascular technologists and technicians: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians create images and conduct tests involving the heart and lungs. The following are examples of types of cardiovascular technologists and technicians:

• Cardiovascular invasive specialists, also known as cardiac catheterization technologists or cardiovascular technologists, monitor patients heart rates and help physicians in diagnosing and treating problems with patients hearts. They assist with cardiac catheterization, which involves threading a catheter through a patients artery to the heart. They also prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and during the insertion of pacemakers and stents. Technologists prepare patients for procedures by shaving and cleansing the area into which the catheter will be inserted and by administering topical anesthesia. During the procedure, they monitor the patients blood pressure and heart rate.
• Cardiographic or electrocardiogram (EKG) technicians specialize in EKG testing. EKG machines monitor the hearts performance through electrodes attached to a patients chest, arms, and legs. The tests can be done while the patient is at rest or while the patient is physically active. For a stress test, the patient walks on a treadmill and the technician gradually increases the speed to observe the effect on the heart of increased exertion.
• Pulmonary function technologists, also known as cardiopulmonary technologists, monitor and test patients lungs and breathing. For example, they use spirometry to measure the amount of air that a patient can inhale or exhale. These technologists help physicians in diagnosing and treating problems of the pulmonary system.