Ultrasonographer - Casual - Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Starting Pay: $30.68 to $38.35 DOE

Casual, unbenefited position working variable hours from 7:00 am - 3:30pm, 8:00 am - 4:30pm, No call during the week or weekend.  Weekends are a daily, one-time check-in – if no procedures scheduled, free the rest of the day.

Provides health care services, applying ultrasonic energy to assist in diagnosis or treatment.  Performs ultrasonic imaging and related procedures in all of the following areas:  OB/GYN, abdomen, neurosonology, and/or ophthalmology.  Demonstrates anatomy for interpretation and/or intervention by, or at the request of a licensed practitioner.  Exercises professional judgement in performance of services and maintains a demeanor complementary to medical ethics.  Applies appropriate patient care and recognizes patient conditions essential for successful completion of the procedure.

• Performs diagnostic ultrasound procedures according to the ARDMS Scope of Practice for the diagnostic sonographer.
• Corroborates patient’s clinical history with procedure, assuring information is documented and available for use by a licensed practitioner.
• Prepares patient for procedures; providing instructions to obtain desired results, gain cooperation, and minimize anxiety.
• Selects and operates ultrasound equipment, and associated devices to achieve desired results.
• Positions patient and equipment to best demonstrate anatomic area of interest, respecting patient ability and comfort.
• Determines ultrasonic frequencies and appropriate transducers for the anatomic area of interest.
• Evaluates images for technical quality, assuring proper identification is recorded.
• Verifies informed consent for, and assists a licensed practitioner with interventional procedures; needle localizations, aspirations, biopsies, and amniocentesis.
• Practices aseptic techniques as necessary.
• Assumes responsibility for provision of physical and psychological needs of patients during procedures.
• In agreement with state statue(s) and/or where institutional policy permits, prepares, identifies, and/or administers contrast media and/or medications as prescribed by a licensed practitioner.
• Initiates basic life support action when necessary.
• Provides patient education.
• Assists in maintaining records, respecting confidentiality and established policy.
• Assumes responsibility for assigned area and reports equipment malfunction.
• Provides practical instruction for students and/or other health care professionals.
• Participates in the department’s quality assessment and improvement plan. May be responsible for specific quality control duties in the assigned area.
• May be responsible for the control of inventory care and control of specific ultrasound items. May purchase supplies for area of responsibility.
• Maintains knowledge of and observes Standard precautions.
• Understands and applies patient relations skills.
• Pursues appropriate continuing education.

Compendium of Learning 

• Computer Literacy and Applications: An understanding of generic terminology, keyboard operation, menu selection strategies, and logistics of program flow.
• Human Structure and Function: General anatomy, anatomical relationships, organ and system functions in order to perform accurate procedures for the defined discipline; and accurately identify the area of interest on resulting images.
• Instrumentation: An understanding of the operation of devices, transducer selection; A-mode, B-mode, T-M mode, Real Time and Doppler; hard copy image recorders, and other processing techniques.
• Medical Ethics: Legal considerations which impact upon the scope of practice, respecting an established code of ethics and risk management.
• Medical Terminology: An understanding of disease descriptions, abbreviations, symbols, terms or phrases necessary to successfully communicate with other health care professionals.
• Patient Care: Attention and concern for the physical and psychological needs of the patient. The individuals should recognize a life threatening condition and implement basic life sustaining actions.
• Positioning: Accurate placement of the body, respecting patient's comfort, ability and safety to achieve prescribed results and best demonstrate the anatomy of interest. Utilize techniques to physically manipulate and apply appropriate transducers and equipment to produce a desired image. 
• Physical Science: A knowledge of propagation properties, transducer parameters, beam profile, Doppler effect, interaction properties with human tissue, and possible biologic effect.
• Quality Control: Preventive maintenance and knowledge of equipment capabilities, calibration of and care for equipment respecting operation standards, sensitometry characteristics, and monitoring of image processing systems for accuracy and consistency.
• Scanning Procedures: Ability to select appropriate equipment and scanning techniques to optimally visualize areas of interest. 

Graduate of accredited sonography or radiography program. Certification by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or by the American  Registry or Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in radiology and licensure from the state of North Dakota is required.  Cross trained technologist will obtain certification in four years while meeting the requirements of the NDMIRT conditional license.