Cardiac Sonographer Educator

About the Role

The Cardiac Sonographer Educator leads, develops, and implements a comprehensive educational program designed to improve clinical competence and foster professional development for clinical staff, fellows, and students. This role promotes clinical and professional development resulting in improved quality of care for patients and families. The scope of responsibility encompasses clinical practice and professional development, functioning as a clinical lab expert while performing pediatric echocardiograms.

Responsibilities

• Leads, develops, and implements structured training plans for new staff and trainees.
• Facilitates goal-setting meetings with each trainee prior to each training cycle.
• Provides detailed training to other sonographer preceptors, including weekly training huddles for each trainee’s preceptor team.
• Delivers one-on-one training sessions with trainees, including didactic review of pathology and repairs, as well as technical and interpretive imaging skills.
• Provides formalized feedback to students at the end of each training cycle, as well as ongoing feedback for outside sonographers and new hires.
• Serves as part of the leadership team to facilitate collaboration of clinical operations related to education.
• Participates and supports education initiatives at the system level to improve quality of care for patients and families.
• Plans and implements regular meetings and programs that provide educational and professional development opportunities for staff in collaboration with the echo lead.
• Demonstrates expert clinical knowledge by providing direct patient care delivery and functions as a resource in family-centered interdisciplinary care.
• Operates all equipment to perform diagnostic echocardiograms in accordance with lab standards while meeting daily volume expectations.
• Collaborates with technical and medical directors to strategize ongoing quality improvement through educational opportunities.
• Stays current with the latest echo and medical education research and technology.
• Participates in educational and leadership opportunities to enhance professional growth and clinical expertise.
• Uses journals, associations, and conferences to maintain procedures that adhere to regulatory compliance and accreditation standards.
• Builds positive working relationships with other departments, surrounding hospitals, and universities to expand future partnership opportunities.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Certificate from completion of an accredited Cardiac Ultrasound program.
• Registry in echocardiography, either American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
• Registry in Pediatric Echocardiography (PE).
• CPR Training required upon hire.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of an accredited Cardiac Ultrasound program required.
• 3-5 years’ experience in pediatric echocardiography with knowledge of inpatient settings (including CVOR, PICU, NICU) and outpatient facilities required.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of echocardiography imaging techniques and protocols, including transthoracic and transesophageal imaging.
• Proficiency in advanced forms of echocardiographic imaging in the pediatric and adult population.
• Analytical skills necessary to effectively detect pathologies based on knowledge of physiological cause and effect of diseases and clinical procedures.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients/families, administrative/clinical personnel, and physicians.
• Ability to display a positive attitude and willingness to assist when communicating with leadership, providers, and staff.

Working Conditions

Clinical patient care environment with minimal exposure to hazards such as excess noise, dust, or extremes in temperature. Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, body fluids, and other conditions common to the healthcare environment. Moderate adverse working conditions due to the need to perform certain patient care activities.