The Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator is a 2 year grant funded position that works with the Adult Echo Educator, Sonographer Technical Supervisor and Program Manager to ensure student professional development that provides education, leadership, and accountability for clinical teaching experiences for student echocardiographers. The role includes development and empowerment of students to promote desired outcomes with attention to image quality, efficiency, and STAR Service.

Echocardiography integrates scientific knowledge, technical skills, patient interaction, and compassionate care resulting in diagnostic information. The sonographer recognizes patient conditions essential for successful completion of a procedure.

The practice of echocardiography is performed by a technologist who is responsible for the administration of high frequency sound waves and other diagnostic techniques for medical purposes. As such, the Cardiac Sonographer Student Preceptor ensures ultrasonography procedures and related techniques, are performed with the students to producing images at the request of and for interpretation by a licensed independent practitioner.

The Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator must demonstrate an understanding of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, and medical terminology. The Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator recognizes patient conditions essential for successful completion of the procedure and exercises independent professional and ethical judgment.

The Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator thinks critically and uses independent, professional, and ethical judgment in all aspects of work engagement in continuing education to enhance patient care, public education, knowledge, and technical competence ass expected in this role.

Essential Job Statements

Performance Expectation: Develops / Implements / Student Experience 

Assists in developing and maintaining VCUHS student orientation process to aid in training of new student learners in the echo environment. Works one on one with the student as they learn to perform echocardiography procedures and related techniques. Evaluates learners’ development needs, performs weekly documentation of performance, and modifies plan as needed. Provides constructive feedback to aid in professional growth.   

Performance Expectation: Facilitates Clinical Education/Training for Students with Echocardiographer Programs    

Assists in providing feedback to Adult Echo Educator and/or Adult Supervisor for continuing development of the VCUHS echocardiographer student orientation process. Performs evaluation and feedback as indicated by the student’s educational program to ensure course objectives and professional goals are being met. Escalates concerns to the Adult Echo Educator or designee, as appropriate.  

Performance Expectation: Providing Guidance to Others    

Assures adequate education and orientation and development of students. Coaches and mentors student on their clinical and professional development.  

Performance Expectation: Operations & Staffing Coordination    

Efficiently utilizes existing reporting lines and channels of communication to identify steps to promote optimal patient outcomes and advocacy. Consistently participates in activities to support clinical training improvement. Reports incidents or concerns and proposes action when appropriate. Participates in departmental activities to recruit new staff.   

Performance Expectation: Teamwork 

Facilitates communication and fosters team spirit and positive morale. Promotes positive image of team members through effective communication and individual support. Facilitates problem solving and conflict resolution among students and staff.     

Performance Expectation: Productivity & Performance Improvement

Identifies systems needed to provide optimal clinical training experiences. Participates in development and implementation of students and new hires learning experiences and clinical expectations Ensures that training experiences are relevant and align with the required curriculum from the clinical training programs in which students are enrolled.   

Performance Expectation: Provides Safe Patient Care    

Able to assist in the inpatient or outpatient clinic setting to meet patient care requirements as needed. Demonstrate understanding of the routine needs of the patient based on the echocardiographic diagnosis. Provide care that is consistent with care plans and medical orders and complies with hospital, nursing, and unit policies. Report any incident posing harm or threat of harm to patients at the time of discovery. After assessing all pertinent information, appropriately identifies specific patient and technical problems and provide intervention as required. Demonstrate ability to use evidence-based practice consistently to support patient care. Able to modify patient echocardiographic study preferences. Routinely able to solve patient problems and demonstrate initiative to assist others in solving such issues. Assist in developing safety guidelines for specific environments/patient care as needed. Anticipate changes in patient’s status and provides feedback to team related to the safe and effective care of the patient. Advocate for patient/family by presenting concerns to appropriate persons for resolution.  

Performance Expectation: Continuing Education & Professional Development    

Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator must complete a minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing education during each annual evaluation cycle. Failure to achieve the required number of contact hours will result in the employee being ineligible to receive an overall performance rating above "Fully Meets”.  Cardiac Sonographer Preceptor must seek opportunities to learn new skills and set goals for self-improvement. Seeks appropriate resources and guidance to make necessary adjustments.

The scope of practice for the Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator includes:  

Performing diagnostic ultrasound procedure or examination upon the order of, or for diagnostic interpretation by a licensed independent practitioner (LIP). Determining ultrasonic frequencies and appropriate transducers for the anatomic area of interest. Maintaining records, respecting confidentiality, and established policy. Applying the principles of patient safety during all aspects of procedures, including assisting, and transporting patients. Receiving, relaying, and documenting verbal, written, and electronic imaging orders in the patient’s medical record. Corroborating patient’s clinical history with the ordered procedure while ensuring information is documented and available for use by a licensed independent practitioner (LIP). Verifying informed consent, if necessary. Assumes responsibility for patient needs before, during, and after procedures. With the student prepares patients for procedures. Applying principles of ALARA to minimize exposure to patient, self, and others.  

The Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator may perform venipuncture per procedural protocol based on imaging order from a licensed independent practitioner as applicable. Starting and maintaining intravenous access per procedural protocol based on an imaging order for a LIP as applicable.  Identifying, preparing, and /or administering imaging enhancing agents generally associated with diagnostic imaging procedures as prescribed by a LIP as applicable.  

Evaluating images for technical quality, ensuring proper identification is recorded. Identifying and escalating emergency situations and managing until appropriate LIP, EMS, MERT, RRT, or Code Team arrives to assume control. Providing patient education related to imaging procedure. Educating, mentoring, and general oversight of students and other learners in the environment. Participating and/or performing ongoing quality assurance activities. 

Independent action(s) required:    

Evaluates student clinical rotation candidates and tailors their orientation program to their needs.   

Works with Adult Echo Educator or designee, and echo program coordinators, faculty on schedules for training for student clinical trainees.    

Independent action(s) required: Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator independently performs or assist the licensed independent practitioner in the completion of ultrasound imaging exams. Cardiac Sonographer/Technologists independently complete imaging exams based on physicians written order, department protocols, and institutional safety standards. Cardiac Sonographer Student Educator represent the goals, values, and vision of VCU Health System. Ensures adherence to regulatory standards, health system and department policies, procedures, processes, and guidelines applicable to role. Resolves basic service delivery issues.  

Supervisory responsibilities (if applicable): N/A 

Additional position requirements: Individual shift rotation and schedules will be established with your specific manager or supervisor. Schedules, including requirements of shift rotations and hours of work may be adjusted as necessary to meet staffing needs of the health system. Weekend and other after-hours coverage may be required based on workload demand and staffing needs of the health system.  

Patient Population 

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.    

Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures. 

Adults (18-64 years). 

Geriatrics (65 years and older) 

Employment Qualifications 

Required Education: 

Graduation from an allied health education programs specific to sonography meeting educational requirements for certification from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography [RDCS (AE and/or PE)], or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (RCS or RCCS);  

OR 

Graduation from an CAAHEP or CMA Accredited Program in cardiac sonography, or Graduation from a minimum of a 2-year JRC Accredited Program in Cardiac Sonography that is recognized by the ARRT or Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, JRC-DMS,  

OR 

Graduation from a bachelor’s degree program and hold at least one certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography RDCS (AE) or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (RCS or RCCS); 

Preferred Education: 

Bachelor's Degree in cardiac sonography. 

Licensure/Certification Required: 

Licensure, Certification, or Registration Requirements for Hire: Certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography [RDCS (AE and/or PE)], or CCI certification in cardiac sonography. 

Licensure, Certification, or Registration Requirements for continued employment: Current Certification by RDCS (ARDMS) or RCS (CCI) Basic Life Support (BLS for Healthcare Providers) 

Licensure/Certification Preferred: 

Minimum Qualifications 

Years and Type of Required Experience 

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: 

Cultural Responsiveness 

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: 

Experience PREFERRED:

3-5 years of previous work experience as a Cardiac Sonographer/Technologist.

Previous work experience in an academic medical center environment.

Prior experience in precepting, teaching or development of educational programming.  

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements   

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Bending  

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing  

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards    

Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform shift work, Maneuver weight of patients, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision, Acuity - far, Acuity - near   

Hazards: Use of Latex Gloves
 

Mental/Sensory – Emotional     

Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking 

Emotional: Fast-paced environment, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change 

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.