How to Find Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools

<P>Diagnostic medical sonography schools offer programs that prepare you to use special imaging machines and sound waves to create an image of the structures and function of the parts of the body.  Often this is called by more familiar terms like a sonogram or ultrasound and is most commonly thought of with fetal development and growth.  These are the tests that use gel to allow the ultrasound wand to glide over the part of the body where the scan will take place. Courses of study for medical sonography range from one year to four years.  A certificate program, an associates degree and a bachelor degree are all possible for entering the profession.  The one year certificate program is designed for a person who has some medical training or has worked in the allied health professions before beginning this course of study.  The two year program requires a background in science and algebra from the high school level and a diploma or equivalent.  Once you complete your training you can begin your search for diagnostic medical sonography jobs.</P> <P>If you have completed an accredited program from any one of the diagnostic medical sonography schools, then you should be in a good position to find a job.  With just about sixty thousand medical sonography positions in the United States right now, it appears to be a strong job market. What kind of salary can you expect? An average diagnostic medical sonographer salary is nearly sixty-five thousand dollars per year.  The good news about this profession is that the growth rate for jobs in the next decade is projected to be higher than other careers.  The demand is soon going to be higher for qualified workers.</P> <P>Diagnostic medical sonography jobs can be located in hospitals, clinics and in some imaging centers.  Some may even work in outpatient care centers or in medical and diagnostic laboratories. While there are no special physical requirements, there may be times when you might have to lift or turn a disabled person to get them into the perfect position for the scan.  The imaging takes usually takes place in a dimly lit room and you work with a computer monitor and sometimes complex machinery. You may be on your feet for an entire shift, as well, so being able to stand for longer periods of time.  In addition, you should have some good people skills since you are the person that will be interacting with the patients in both happy times, like in the case of a fetal sonogram and also stressful times when there is perhaps a question of a tumor or other malfunction within their body.  Having compassion is a benefit for this profession.  Explaining the process and also assisting the patient in getting into position may also require some patience and even a sense of humor.</P> <P>Diagnostic medical sonography schoolsoffer training and clinical experience for students who are interested in becoming medical sonographers.  From an associates degree to a bachelor degree, there are some options as to what type of program you choose to attend.  While the median diagnostic medical sonographer salaryis sixty-five thousand, there could be entry into the field at a lower rate and the hope of a higher salary with more experience.  With a better than average rate of growth expected in the profession in this decade, diagnostic medical sonography appears to be one career path that is worth a second look. Providing diagnostic images and even preliminary findings for the doctors makes this job an important one to have to diagnose illnesses and to perhaps celebrate a new life.</P>