Education is very important for me but I always viewed education as a tool to obtain a possibility to work in the field of special interest for me. In this regard, sonography is the field, where I would like to become a well-qualified professional. I was interested in medicine and I believe sonography is particularly prospective. In addition I feel a strong inclination to sonography. I hope this career will help me to reach my personal and professional goals. Frankly speaking, one of the main motivators, which encouraged me to choose the profession of a sonographer, was the salary. The salary of a sonographer can be as high as $40.000 annually. In addition, I do not really enjoy the idea of being exposed to any blood or any other bodily fluids and the position of a sonographer will let me work in health care and still avoid the exposure to blood and other bodily fluids. Moreover, it is really fascinating to make sonograms, when I can see how the fetus is growing up.
In actuality, I have little experience in the field of sonography because I have not worked much in this field. Nevertheless, I have a cousin, whose experience is very important for me. I learned from my cousin what sonography actually is and my cousin helped me to like this occupation. At any rate, at the moment, I believe that the position of a sonographer is not just interesting but also this position is very important because I can help people and, what is more, I can make sonograms to see yet unborn babies and track their development. My cousin told me a lot about this job and now I am really inspired to obtain my professional education in this field. I believe that the influence of my cousin was very significant in the choice of my profession but my decision to become a sonographer was a conscious choice made after difficult reflections on my future professional development.
In this regard, I am aware of numerous responsibilities of a sonographer. In fact, a good sonographer should be in contact with special equipment that directs non-invasive, high-frequency sounds waves into areas various areas of a patient’s body. In the course of sonograms, sonographers have to identify unhealthy areas and take a photograph or video to show them to the interpreting physician. In addition, a sonogrpaher provides an oral or written summary of the technical findings to the physician for medical diagnosis. A sonographer has to collaborate with physicians and other members of the health care team. A sonographer should come prepared to the specific workplace environment for a sonographer should make sonograms and interpret them that is quite different from a routine job of other health care professionals. Sonographers have to perform different functions and procedures, such as the maintenance of the equipment that is needed for sonograms and communication with patients to make them moving into the position appropriate for making a sonogram. As a rule, sonographers work 40 hours a week (Klerckson, 66).
At the same time, sonographers can work in different organizations. Therefore, they have to develop their professional skills and abilities to be able to work in the diverse environment and in different organizations. What is meant here is the fact that sonographers can make a successful career and earn salaries that reached $57,160 in May 2006, according to the Bureau of labor Statistics (Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, 1). Moreover, sonographers working in private organizations may have higher salaries than those working in public healthcare setting (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 182). Therefore, I can make a successful career as a sonographer. At any rate, I can count on a high salary and stable position as a sonographer.
However, I need to receive professional education to obtain a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) certificate or a sonography certificate. Both certificates are valid and valuable in the contemporary health care setting. However, professionals obtaining either certificate need to meet high requirements and standards established in the field of sonography. At the same time, as I obtain a certificate in the field of sonography, I will get ample career opportunities for I will be able to work in virtually any health care organization, where professional skills and abilities of a sonographer are needed. Individuals eager to obtain an MRI certificate or a sonography certificate should come prepared to ultrasound classes and training, which they have to pass successfully and to develop at least basic skills and abilities in the field of ultrasound. In fact, future sonographerrs should have in-depth knowledge not only in the field of health care but also in other fields because the work of a sonographer is closely intertwined with physics, maths, and other branches of science, which may not be directly related to medicine. Future sonographers should match the established requirements in the field of sonography. When future sonographers have their ultrasound certificate, they can carry on their education to complete their learning in the field of sonography proper. In fact, obtaining training and having adequate ultrasound education are basic requirements future sonographers should match. Most students enter the field of sonography after completing a certification program, which may last for 1-2 years (Karmermier 356).
In addition, the education of professional sonographers is not limited to the field of ultrasound alone. In this regard, future sonographers should carry on their education and training to enter the field of diagnostic medical sonography. At this point, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that the development of a solid theoretical ground alone is not enough for well-qualified sonographers. Instead, they need to have practice and training in real life situations. Sonographers may have training in hospitals, vocational-technical institutions, colleges and universities, and the Armed Forces. Some training programs accept applicants with a scientific background or have some experience in the field of health care. Some organizations can take into consideration the educational background of applicants, including their high school education, especially if applicants have proved to be particularly successful in the field of mathematics and science, as well as liberal arts. Colleges and universities offer different training programs, which may last from two to four years. The training programs end up with an associate or bachelor’s degree students obtain as they complete their training successfully. Today, two year programs are most prevalent. In the course of learning, future sonographers have to attend classes in anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, basic physics, patient care, and medical ethics (e.g.: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers).
Furthermore, individuals willing to obtain education in the field of sonography should plan their future career. At the same time, they should collect information on potential places of employment and training. For instance, students should find out organizations and locations, where they can find employment and where they can make a successful career as well as they should find locations, where they have little, if any, employment opportunities. In actuality, the most prospective locations for future sonographers are Boston, Massachusetts, Moines, Iowa, Madison, Wisconsin, Florida, California and Dakota (Ultrasound Technology Career, 2009).
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, I would like to place emphasis on the fact that I am eager to complete my education and to become a professional sonographer. I believe this occupation is very important and prospective in the contemporary health care environment. In addition, I do like this job because I feel that I have inclinations to sonography. In addition, I expect to make a successful career in sonography and to have a high level of income for salaries of sonographers are high. However, before making a successful career, I have to obtain professional education and I am ready to work and to learn hard to become a well-qualified sonographer.
Works Cited
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. 2010. Retrieved on November 18, 2011 from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm.
Kammermeier, Michael J. Sonogrpahy Introduction to Normal Structure and Function. St.Louis: Saunders, 2004, ppp. 356-59.
Klerckson, Lisa A. “Sonogrpahy High Demands.” Sonography High Demands, Apr. 2009, pp. 64-69.
“Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography,” Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.” Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 4, 2011, pp. 181-84.
“Ultrasound Technology Career.mov – YouTube.” YouTube – Broadcast Youreself. 24 Nov. 2009. Retrieved on November 18, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikNemi_xZpQ.