Chapter 4: Professional Environment, Leadership, and Career Establishment PDF

Chapter 4: Professional Environment, Leadership, and Career Establishment Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter Objectives Explore the professional environment of the sonographer, including academic accreditation, certification organization...

Chapter 4: Professional Environment, Leadership, and Career Establishment Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter Objectives Explore the professional environment of the sonographer, including academic accreditation, certification organizations, and professional membership societies. Determine the value of leadership, and appreciate that we are all leaders in some way. Assess various job opportunities for sonographers. Work toward career goals and career establishment. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Introduction There are many opportunities for you to make your mark on the sonography profession. Strive for leaving a legacy of excellence behind for future generations. Sonographers must continually enhance their knowledge. – The healthcare field is always evolving. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Professional Environment Once you have graduated, a world of opportunity awaits you. You have the option to join many professional organizations. These have several benefits: – Maintaining competence – Preparing to adjust to the ever-changing healthcare environment and an evolving career The professional environment includes academic accreditation, national certification, and laboratory accreditation. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Academic Accreditation This assesses the quality of institutions, programs, and services. Being accredited demonstrates a program’s desire to maintain high standards and to graduate exceptional entry-level sonographers. National accreditation is granted through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The review process is exceedingly rigorous. – It involves review of materials and personal visits to the institution. – As a student, you may be asked questions during an accreditation site visit. Accreditation can be obtained for either 5 or 10 years. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Professional Organizations These organizations provide a means by which you can receive: – The latest information about your occupation – An opportunity to make a personal impact on the profession There are state-, regional-, and national-level societies. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) is a nationwide organizations. – Members are at all levels of association with the profession. – Benefits include a national meeting where CME credits can be obtained. Other national organizations include the Society of Vascular Ultrasound and the American Society of Echocardiography. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins National Certification The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography offers certification for all sonography specialties: – Registered diagnostic medical sonographer – Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer – Registered vascular technologist Certification carries across state borders. Candidates must pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation examination and any specialty examinations. Testing may be conducted while you are in school, but graduation from your program is required to receive credentials. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins National Certification (ARDMS) Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins National Certification (cont.) Cardiac and vascular specialists may seek credentials from the Cardiovascular Credentialing International. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists also offers credentialing exams for sonographers. Your state may require you to obtain state licensure in addition to national certification. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Maintaining Certification This is accomplished through obtaining continuing medical education (CME) credits. The ARDMS requires sonographers to obtain 30 ARDMS- accepted credits within a 3-year period following initial certification. CMEs can be obtained through: – Attending meetings – Successfully passing additional certification exams – Publishing original academic papers Credentials are valid for 10 years. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Laboratory Accreditation For vascular testing, this is obtained through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. For echocardiography, accreditation is granted through the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission of Echocardiography. The American College of Radiology is also involved with accreditation of ultrasound practices. Accreditation processes are rigorous. Accreditation provides a standard of practice that enhances patient care and ensures uniformity in examinations. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Leadership Roles in Sonography You are a leader any time you seek to influence the thinking, behavior, or development of another person. In healthcare, well-informed leaders recognize the patient’s role as a customer requiring satisfaction with your service. – Healthcare delivery and Medicare reimbursement rates are strongly associated with patient satisfaction surveys. Leadership is the ability to influence others to accomplish a specific goal. A sonographer demonstrating ethical and appropriate patient care is a leader: – The sonographer influences the patient in a positive manner. – The sonographer is making a personal choice about how and to what extent he or she will use his or her influence. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Leadership Roles in Sonography (cont.) Patient servant is a basic function of all us who work in healthcare. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Essentials of Servantship in Healthcare Smile Ensure patient dignity Respond to patient needs appropriately Value the uniqueness of the patient (e.g., age, race, gender, emotional state) Advocate patient rights and safety Never demonstrate disrespect toward the patient Thank the patient Serve the patient with compassion Help others serve the patient Identify patient mistreatment and demand improvement Portray professionalism Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Leadership Styles and Followership To be an effective leader, evaluate different leadership styles and learn to use them. Autocratic leadership style involves giving orders to others. – The work gets done, but this can dampen creativity and motivation. A transactional leader guides followers to achieve goals through a system of rewards and punishment. Transformational leaders guide teams and offer inspiration. – They encourage respectful relationships and inspire devotion. – They have a defined vision, take risks, effectively communicate, and have high emotional intelligence. – They provide rewards for good behavior and hard work. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Leadership Styles and Followership (cont.) Servant leadership involves working collaboratively with employees to make the best decisions possible. – The leader places the needs of others before his or her own. – The leader helps those served to grow as individuals, reach autonomy, and produce to their full potential. Great leaders tend to be in touch with their own emotions and identify others’ emotional needs. If a leader is not trusted, the leader will not be effective. Leaders with high EI cherish 360-degree feedback. – The leader evaluates the employee, and the employee evaluates the leader. – This creates confidence and respect. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Satterlee’s Rules for Followership 1. Support your immediate leaders in organizational changes as it is most likely not in their control when unpopular decisions or policies are implemented. 2. Only argue with your leaders when it is necessary and always in private. 3. Use initiative and make your own decisions, but be sure to explain your reasons to your leaders when clarification is needed. 4. If you are asked to take a leadership role, take it. 5. Always tell the truth. A leader cannot lead without honesty from the follower. 6. Be ready for conflict, and anticipate necessary changes. 7. When you have a good idea, share it, but you should also be prepared to be the one to take the lead on it. 8. Openly share the successes of others to leaders, and do not dwell on problems over which you have no control. 9. If you see a problem, show initiative and fix it yourself. 10.Always do your best, and put in more than an honest day’s work. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Followership Styles Resourceful—Will only do enough to keep their job. Individualistic—Will speak up but is often not taken seriously because they have been identified as a constant complainer. Implementer—Will do whatever the leader asks of them regardless of consequences and does not challenge the leader. Partner—Will assume full responsibility for their actions and the leader’s behavior and acts accordingly. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Staff Sonographer This is the first role for most sonography graduates. They work on the front lines, serving patients and performing sonographic examinations on a daily basis. They may be employed in hospital settings, medical offices, and clinics. Some may be required to take call at night, on the weekends, or both. They may also be involved in research studies. The staff sonographer has essential core responsibilities but still has the capacity to influence the profession in a positive manner through professional development. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Professional Development Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Advanced Practice Sonographer This is a position the SDMS has been working to create since 1996, a midlevel position also called the ultrasound practitioner. They would perform and interpret ultrasound procedures in primary or specialty care settings. A similar position, the advanced cardiovascular sonographer, is a proposal of the ASE task force. The ultrasound radiologist assistant works between the interpreting physician and the sonographer to refine reports and train residents. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Management in Sonography A sonography manager or director plans, controls, directs, and organizes the day-to-day functions of the department. They make rotation schedules, order supplies, work with upper management, attend management meetings, and work with the scheduling department and interpreting physicians to systematize exams and procedures. Management and leadership are not the same thing, but a manager can be an effective leader. – Such a person would have a better opportunity to progress toward upper management. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Sonography Educators They can be involved in training generations of sonographers in the classroom and clinical environments. Prior clinical experience is usually mandatory. You must be certified in the area in which you teach. Sonography educators should have a thirst for knowledge, a love of sonography, and passion to make a positive difference in the profession. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Other Opportunities Travel sonographers are employed by temporary staffing agencies and may be required to travel nationally or internationally. Ultrasound consultants assist organizations in the process of ultrasound accreditation processes and may help guide changes in practices and trainings. Sales and application specialists are employed by manufacturers and usually must have a number of years of clinical experience, multiple credentials, and extensive training on machines and equipment. A sonographer entrepreneur owns part or all of a business related to sales or training. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Career Establishment Searching and Applying for Jobs – You may have to travel or take a job to gain experience for your dream job. – Search the Internet for online job search sites and organizations’ human resource pages. – Your educational institution may also have resources. – Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a job. Form good relationships with clinical sonographers and managers. Resume Writing and Social Networking – Adapt your resume to the specific position you are seeking. – Free online assessment tools can grade your resume. – Seek personal and online networking to find people who want to hire you. – Be cautious of what you share on the Internet. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Career Establishment (cont.) Interview Tips – Know your resume. – Prepare for common interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself.” Focus your mind by adding chronology to your answer. – Complete the process of inventorying your personal strengths and weaknesses. An unwillingness to admit to weaknesses may be interpreted as an unwillingness to learn and improve. Try identifying a weakness that you can ultimately describe as a strength. – Always seem interested, sit intently, and take your time answering questions. – After your interview, send a thank you note. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Summary Though your priority in school is to become clinically competent, you should work toward developing professional relationships with sonographers and managers in the clinical facilities in which you study. The sonography profession is replete with organizations that allow one to grow as a professional. Once you have established a career in sonography, you will recognize the need to expand your education, a service that professional organizations readily provide. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins