chapter8

Biggest difference: hospital-based vs. mobile sonographer

Hospital-based: You work in one building, stable schedule, access to staff/equipment.

Mobile sonographer: You travel to multiple facilities, carry equipment, long driving times.

is that the sonographer must be able to perform studies and properly maintain the equipment without any onsite assistance.

Read about salary to sonographers and how negotiations of salary should take place

• Research local salary ranges first.

• Never negotiate during the first interview.

• Wait until after receiving a job offer.

• Be polite, professional, and base requests on experience/skills.

PRN

“as needed” sonographer,

expected to cover vacations, call outs, and cover open shifts. The salary is usually higher because they have no benefits, including PTO. They will need to be flexible if they want to continue in this position.

List the benefits of a hospital-based sonographer

• Stable schedule

• Benefits (health insurance, retirement)

• Paid time off

• On-site doctors, nurses, radiologists

• Access to high-quality equipment

• Opportunities for specialization & promotion

Read about first impressions during a job interview

Dress. During a job interview, a 1st impression is made within the 1st 30 seconds.

Handshake.firm Grooming.

Know the most important professional communication for sonographers in the commercial world

• Clear, concise, respectful communication with clients, patients, and coworkers.

• Professional emails, reports, and customer service tone.

14.Know the amount of experience necessary for research positions

5 years of clinical experience.

List the duties of a research sonographer, to include the ones that take the most time

• Data collection and scanning research subjects (takes the most time)

• Recording and documenting measurements

• Maintaining research logs

• Following study protocols

• Working with research teams

• Assisting with writing or publishing research

List at least four people that should be in a sonographer’s professional network

• Clinical instructors

• Previous employers

• Coworkers

• Radiologists

• Professors

• Professional organization members (SDMS, AIUM)

Know the customary thing to do when starting a new job

• Arrive early

• Meet your team

• Learn the workflow

• Ask questions

• Be polite and professional

• Show willingness to learn

9. Read and know about job references

• Should be professional, not personal.

• Must know you well.

• Should be contacted before listing them.

• Usually 3 references.

10. Know how humor could be perceived when being interviewed

Humor can be used effectively in an interview when describing something positive

When humor is used in relation to a problem or challenge, it may be seen as diminishing the signiicance of the event,

11. Define chronologic resume and for whom it’s best suited

• Lists work experience from most recent to oldest.

• Best for people with consistent work history.

12. Define functional resume and for whom it’s best suited

• Focuses on skills, not job dates.

• Best for people with:

  • Limited experience

  • Gaps in employment

  • Career change

13. Define work ethic, why is this important to employers?

Work ethic = reliability, professionalism, responsibility, honesty, effort.
Employers value it because it shows you can be trusted to work independently.

15. List the job duties for a diagnostic medical sonographer

• Perform ultrasound exams

• Take patient history

• Acquire diagnostic images

• Communicate findings to radiologists

• Maintain equipment

• Provide patient care and education

• Follow protocols

16. Know the time frame that a sonographer should think about the counter offer before taking or denying a work offer

Usually 24–48 hours is standard.

17. Know the percentage of the sonographer population that work in hospital settings

68%

18. List the reasons that can get a sonographer fired

• Breaching confidentiality

• Being late or unreliable

• Not following protocols

• Unsafe practices

• Poor attitude

• Falsifying images or documentation

• Insubordination

• Harassment or unprofessional behavior

19. List the people that are credible references when applying for an ultrasound position

Managers or supervisors with whom you have workeddirectly

• Managers and supervisors with whom you have worked indirectly

• Experienced coworkers or clinical instructors who are familiar with your work

• Professional instructors and peers who are familiar with your abilitiesManagers or supervisors with whom you have worked directly

• Managers and supervisors with whom you have worked indirectly

• Experienced coworkers or clinical instructors who are familiar with your work

• Professional instructors and peers who are familiar with your abilities

20. Read up on interviewing and grooming