What jobs can I get? How much can I get paid?
Degrees and certificates in the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program may lead to the following jobs or careers:
Cardiovascular Technologist/Technician
$15.99
Entry Hourly Wage
Please
review current job openings and contact your advisor to review your options. All data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence
What Does an Invasive Cardiovascular Technologist Do?
Invasive cardiovascular technologists work in cardiac catheterization labs. They assist cardiologists and vascular surgeons in invasive procedures such as implanting pacemakers and stents to relieve heart blockages, and may open blockages for patients on dialysis.
Cardiovascular technologists assist doctors with cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube, or catheter, is threaded through a patient’s artery from the groin to the heart. The procedure can determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle and help to diagnose other problems.
Other routinely performed procedures are coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (where stents, balloons, plaque removal devices, and other treatments to restore blood flow are deployed), right heart catheterization (where blood flow measurements are made), electrophysiology (where irregular heartbeats are studied and treated) and pacemaker implantations.
Work Environment
The typical hospital work environment of a cardiovascular technologist includes:
- Walking and standing while wearing a lead apron
- Heavy lifting to move equipment or transfer patients
- Possibly stressful working conditions in close contact with seriously ill patients
- Potential for radiation exposure, kept to a minimum by strict adherence to safety guidelines
- Standard five-day, 40-hour workweeks as a norm, usually excluding nights and weekends
Skill Sets
To be successful on the job, it helps to:
- Be good with fine motor skills
- Be able to follow detailed instructions
- Be able to communicate technically with medical personnel and also explain procedures simply to patients
Why is This a Good Career Bet?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health-related occupations will add the most new jobs to the economy — nearly one-third of the total increase — through 2024.
CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, projects job growth for cardiovascular technologists at 43% over the next decade. It also lists cardiovascular technologists technician as ninth in its 39
fastest-growing occupations.