Earn your degree from NMC's cardiovascular sonography program in just two years.
Join a Sonography Program That Combines Technology and Patient Care.
A cardiovascular sonographer aids physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the cardiovascular system. Using ultrasound and other technology, sonographers will collect and evaluate images of the heart, the heart valves and related blood vessels. Cardiovascular sonographers also evaluate, analyze and record information related to blood vessel anatomy and blood flow of the vessels.
Cardiovascular sonographers work closely with patients. People who choose this career find it rewarding because they are helping others - and because they can make a good living doing it.
Cardiovascular Sonography Program Info
- This Associate of Science degree in sonography is a two year program.
- Students are able to sit for adult echocardiography and vascular technology examinations administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
- In addition to student-focused instruction and laboratory learning experiences, students gain hands-on experience through supervised clinical training at hospitals and clinics throughout the greater Omaha area.
Cardiovascular Sonographer Job Outlook & Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cardiovascular technologist jobs will have a faster than average growth rate of 44 percent from 2010 to 2020. Salary ranges vary by state. The median salary listed for the cardiovascular technologist position in 2010 was $ 64,380.
Professional Resources
To learn more about the field of echocardiography, please visit the websites below:
Program Accreditation
The Cardiovascular Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Advanced Cardiovascular Sonography.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Admissions
Application Deadline: Rolling
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Program Start Date: Fall 2013 |
Prospective students may apply anytime and are accepted from deadlines throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and students will be notified of their admission by letter or phone.
Program Admissions Criteria
Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- High school record
- ACT / SAT (if within 2 years of high school graduation)
- Fulfillment program technical standards
- Job shadowing experience recommended
- College record
- Completion of all of the following general education prerequisite courses:
- College Algebra (3)
- Physics (3)
- English Composition (3)
- Lifespan Psychology (3)
- Medical Terminology (1)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab (4)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (4)
- Technical Standards for performance
Program Application Process
To be considered for admission the following items must be submitted to the Admissions Office:
For More Information Contact:
Jean Munger
Admissions Coordinator
402-354-7207
Jean.Munger@methodistcollege.edu
Tuition & Fees
Attending Nebraska Methodist College represents a major investment in your future. For most students, attending college takes planning and sacrifice. NMC recognizes that and is committed to helping you find every avenue to finance your education. View the Tuition by Program & Degree page for a comprehensive list of all fees.
| Tuition per credit hour: $528 |
First Time Freshmen:
Financial Assistance
At NMC we offer financial aid to our students, and help you understand what financial resources are available to you. View our Financial Assistance page to learn about the Financial Assistance process, policies and options.
Scholarships
Nebraska Methodist College scholarships consist of funds generously provided by the Methodist Hospital Foundation to assist our students. View our Scholarships page to learn more.
All students are required to complete specific coursework. This list should only be used as a curriculum guide. Course listings and required curriculum are subject to change.
Included within this list is the Educated Citizen Core Curriculum. All students seeking to complete an undergraduate degree at Nebraska Methodist College must complete this set of Arts & Sciences requirements. As an educated citizen, NMC graduates are competent practitioners and respond productively to the complex dynamics of the world, utilizing a diversity of disciplines and perspectives.
Program Prerequisties
First Year - Fall Semester
There is a strong relationship between thinking clearly and expressing thoughts in formal writing and public speaking. Using the skills of logic and critical thinking, students will examine ideas, analyze and evaluate the arguments of others, and advocate for their own ideas. Students will be introduced to the NMC Portfolio process.
- Credits: 3.0
- Prerequisites: HUM 150 is to be taken in the first semester
This survey course begins with a major focus on cellular function and pathology, including inflammation, infection, immune response, metabolism, and fluid disequilibria. These concepts serve as the foundation for the course as alterations in various bodily functions are examined. Alterations in body fluid and electrolyte homeostasis; fluid acid/base balance; gastrointestinal, urinary, respiratory, cardiac, endocrine and neurological functions are emphasized. The student will be introduced to pharmacological principles of commonly used classes of medications. The various drug classifications and general characteristics of drugs within a class are examined. These characteristics include the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, side effects, adverse effects and drug interactions of common drugs within each class.
- Credits: 4.0
- Prerequisites: SCI 200
This course will focus on introducing the student to the field of diagnostic medical sonography. It will include medical terminology with application to sonography. Course work will include information concerning documentation sonography, sonographic images, basic patient care techniques, infection control and universal precautions, emergency conditions, body mechanics/ergonomics, history taking and lab values. General sonographic physics principles, terminology, and clinical applications related to basic cardiovascular principles that are essential to the understanding of cardiovascular function and evaluation. Topics include anatomy of the heart, basic embryology, cardiac physiology, EKG theory, principles of cardiac hemodynamics and cardiac evaluation. Students will also be introduced to fundamental principles of vascular hemodynamics, cerebrovascular anatomy and physiology, and carotid duplex imaging. Students will begin to learn scanning techniques in the laboratory on real-time ultrasound equipment. The student will be required to complete a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCLS).
- Credits: 5.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 102, SCI 116, SCI 225 and 226 (with labs), SCI 215, COM 101, SCI 110
This laboratory course will be used to enhance and reinforce material taught didactically in DMS 118. Students will learn scanning techniques in the laboratory on real-time ultrasound equipment. Correlation of theory to practice will be measured through attendance, scanning assignments and competency exams over the protocol of the above mentioned sonographic anatomy taught in DMS 118.
- Credits: 2.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 102, SCI 116, SCI 225 and 226 (with labs), SCI 215, COM 101, SCI 110
First Year - Spring Semester
At least one of the two electives must be in the Arts or Human Connection.
This course provides an introduction to the basics of cross-sectional anatomy of the head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvic anatomy with emphasis on structures visualized in diagnostic medical sonography, computerized technology (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine. The anatomy will be evaluated in multiple planes. The cadaver lab will be used to emphasize the relationships between anatomic structures.
This course addresses a broad range of topics related to professional ethics and law including application of ethical principles, professionalization of medical imaging disciplines, theories and models related to incidence and prevention of medical mistakes and state and federal laws that affect medical imaging.
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: Instructor permission required for those not enrolled in the Sonography Program
Students are assigned to the clinical setting to begin performing sonographic procedures, practice basic patient care skills including patient mobility and practice fundamental operation of the ultrasound machine. Correlation of theory to practice is measured through attendance, clinical logs, and rotation evaluations.
- Credits: 2.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 118L
Students explore deeper principles of adult echocardiography including performance of Doppler evaluation of the heart and evaluation of valvular pathology. Vascular concepts include: extracranial and intracranial arterial systems, lower extremity venous systems and lower extremity arterial evaluation. The laboratory is used to enhance and reinforce material taught didactically. The essential components of the case presentation are introduced. Students present cases in an open forum for discussion and evaluation. Information presented includes patient history, sonographic findings, and patient follow-up. The examinations are also critiqued for technique, artifacts, and demonstration of anatomy and pathology. Students are evaluated based on their in-class written and oral presentations, and overall participation. Students also participate in journal club exercise.
- Credits: 5.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118
Principles of sound propagation and tissue interaction are addressed. These include reflection, refraction, absorption and attenuation, the piezoelectric effect, transducer characteristics, focusing and resolution.
- Credits: 2.0
- Prerequisites: SCI 110, DMS 108/118
Second Year - Summer Semester
This is a continuation of Cardiovascular Clinical Practicum I. Under direct supervision, students gain hands-on experience in the clinical setting. Students provide basic patient care and perform limited examinations demonstrating fundamental principles in instrumentation and cardiac scanning. In addition, students begin to perform examinations including carotid duplex and ankle/brachial indices in the vascular lab.
- Credits: 4.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 126
This course expands on the cardiac pathologic conditions including prosthetic valve evaluation, infective endocarditis, and cardiomyopathies. Comparative imaging, pathophysiology, sonographic appearance and Doppler echocardiography are integrated into the lectures. Vascular concentrations will include upper extremity venous and arterial exams and graft assessment and abdominal Doppler evaluation. Pathologies of thrombus and arterial plaque and signs and symptoms of arterial and venous pathology are addressed. The laboratory setting is used to enhance and reinforce material taught didactically. Students will also present interesting cases in a small group setting. Patient's medical history, pertinent lab values, medical procedures, and sonographic images comprise a complete case review to be followed by an open discussion. In addition, the essential elements of technical report writing are taught.
- Credits: 6.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 238
Building on material taught in DMS 214, this course continues with the principles Doppler and hemodynamics. In addition to classroom lecture and discussion, students will participate in practical exercises involving setting up and performing Doppler examinations
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: SCI 110, DMS 108/118, DMS 214
Second Year - Fall Semester
This course explores the ways in which human beings make and remake the meaning of their social world through the production of culture. It employs sociological methods to explore the construction of the dominant, white subculture in the United States. The same methodologies are employed to examine the construction of subcultures in the United States, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.
This course continues the discussion on cardiomyopathies, introduces evaluation of hypertensive heart disease and coronary artery disease and congenital heart disease in the adult patient. The vascular portion of this course focuses on pathology and advanced imaging procedures (transcranial). Abdominal vascular imaging to include renal artery stenosis, the aorta and its branches and other abdominal applications are addressed. The laboratory setting is used to enhance and reinforce material taught didactically. This course puts more emphasis on technical report writing and film critique.
- Credits: 5.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 238, DMS 258, DMS 261
This is a continuation of Cardiovascular Clinical Practicum I and II, in which students‘ experiences are broadened to include more advanced cardiac imaging techniques using two dimensional imaging, M-mode and spectral Doppler analysis. In the vascular lab, students begin to perform advanced vascular imaging procedures including deep venous examinations and intravenous graft assessments. Patient care skills are further developed through direct patient contact.
- Credits: 6.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 126, DMS 256
Building on material taught in DMS 214 and DMS 216, this course continues with the principles of pulse-echo imaging, image storage and display, image features and artifacts, quality assurance and bioeffects.
- Credits: 2.0
- Prerequisites: SCI 110, DMS 108/118,DMS 214, DMS 216
Second Year - Spring Semester
Access to healthcare is greatly affected by one's command of language. Students in this course engage in the exploration of language and culture then apply these concepts to the healthcare environment through service-learning and community engagement. Students develop practical communication skills that enable effective cross-cultural work with health professionals and clients with backgrounds different from their own.
This is a continuation of Cardiovascular Clinical Practicum I, II, and III. Building on skills developed in the previous two semesters, students perform advanced cardiac procedures such as stress-echocardiograms and transesophageal imaging and demonstrate technical proficiency in non-invasive vascular studies. Professional judgment, patient care and critical thinking skills are further developed.
- Credits: 6.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 126, DMS 256, DMS 259
Students will be responsible for writing a Case Report according to the JDMS guidelines and presenting it in digital format in front of peers (students, program staff, and clinical instructors).
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: DMS 118, DMS 239, DMS 258, DMS 261
This course is designed to help prepare students for the ARDMS board examinations in Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI), Abdomen and OB/GYN. Methods include the use of computer assisted instruction (CAIs), case review, simulated registry examinations and class discussion. Students also work with an application skill specialist on effective test-taking techniques for exams on the computer. Students will also be required to take the SPI examination as part of this course prior to graduation in May. This course will assist students in the transition from student sonographer to professional sonographer, including ARDMS registry exam preparation. Additional topics such as resume writing, interview and negotiation skills, understanding benefits and different avenues of the sonography career ladder are also discussed.
This course is designed to prepare associate degree students for the required portfolio presentation they deliver in their final semester. Students will apply the reflective process to the goals of the Educated Citizen Core Curriculum in online assignments and in an in-person presentation. A complete portfolio, successful completion of the course, and successful presentation are required as the culminating assignment before graduation.
Faculty
Our faculty are highly experienced and credentialed in their own fields, giving you constant real-world insight you can use. While any instructor can recite from a textbook, ours go a step further and draw from vast personal experience. Instructors here care as deeply about their students as they do the subject matter and it shows.
- Adjunct Faculty
- MS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT
- Clinical Coordinator
- AAS, RDCS, RVT
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