Are EKG Technicians flatlining as a profession?

March 14, 2011 8:15 AM

Are you now, or have you ever been, an EKG Technician? If the answer, please tell me about your education, how you got a job, and what helped you succeed in the position.

I am looking at enrolling in a 50 hour EKG Technician Certification program next fall at a community college outside of Chicago. It meets Monday and Wednesday nights, and it doesn't appear to have any clinical hours, but it prepares students to take the ASPT-EKG exam and other national certification exams.

Here are my questions:

1) Is this a good idea for someone looking to get into the healthcare field? The lack of clinical hours during the program gives me pause.

2) How is the job market for EKG Technicians in Chicago? I looked at job sites for hospital systems around the area, and it seems like hospitals are searching for CNA's who can do EKG's. Should I just become a CNA instead?

3) If I move forward with the EKG course, what courses should I take this summer? Medical terminology? A&P? Biology for people going into health professions? It's been more than 10 years since I took a science course - how should I prepare?

Thanks so much!

posted by princesspathos to Education (3 answers total)

At the hospital where I work, I suspect we have no EKG technicians. EKG's on the floors are performed by CNAs and nurses, while most of the tech work for stress tests generally requires training in echocardiography or nuclear medicine as well. That said, according to wikipedia there are 45,000 EKG techs currently in the U.S. and I do see some job listings in my area. I think you would have to see what the job market is like around your neck of the woods to decide, but if you have the means/time, adding the CNA would probably get you a whole lot more job options.

I would not suggest taking a course to prepare for this sort of thing. The training will be largely practical, and what you get out of a formal science course will add little to the process. If you want the biology, it might be wiser for you to pickup an introductory book and cardiovascular physiology.
posted by drpynchon at 8:56 AM on March 14, 2011

I have never been an EKG tech, but I'm currently a paramedic student/ER tech who sticks electrodes on people all the time. I've been an EMT for six years. Eventually I want to become either a flight medic/nurse or a doctor.

1) That really depends on your reasons for wanting to 'get into the healthcare field'. Can you elaborate any so that we can give you more specific advice?

2) Can't help you with Chicago-specific information, but a lot of large hospitals in my neck of the woods (Philly) usually have EKG techs who are EMTs, CNAs, or LPNs already.

3) If there are any prerequisites or corequisites, focus on those. Otherwise, I disagree with drpynchon. A&P is always a fantastic thing to have under your belt (and will be required if you take any further classes in the health field). To prepare for any kind of science course, just make sure you have time to do a lot of reading. Get the syllabus and textbooks ahead of time if you can.
posted by skyl1n3 at 9:09 AM on March 14, 2011

I'm an practicing RN and a non-practicing paramedic. Never been an EKG Tech and I have no idea what the job market is like for them.

The way that I learned EKG's was from working as a ER Tech and taking my medic class. As an ER Tech I placed many people on telemetry (the real time monitoring of someone's heart) and did tons of 12 leads (taking a snap shot of the electrical activity of the heart from 12 different angles). I think working in the ED is a great way to learn EKG's. If that interests you, you should look into becoming an EMT- about 120 hrs. ER's often will higher EMT's as Techs. You'll learn tons while working in the ED- about EKG's and lots of other stuff. And you'll learn wether or not you really want to get into the healthcare field. Good luck!
posted by brevator at 6:57 PM on March 15, 2011