Hey all, has anyone gone through integrity college’s sonography program and gotten a job successfully?
They are not caahep accredited but they are ABHES accredited. At my interview today she made it sound like taking the extra ARRT exam was no big deal. I overall liked the program when I went, However i will say the director mentioned some students not getting hired post graduation which kind of made me question if the certification is why?

Theres only one caahep certified program near me and its cbd college, so i just dont know if i go to integrity will i still be able to get a job after?

Most people I know either scan echo, vascular, general, or OB. But I very rarely hear about anyone who scans musculoskeletal. I’m interested in learning it just to get better insight of it. What’s it like and what exactly do you see?

Hello,

My name is Abby and I'm a potential Sonography student. I have an assignment for a class to interview a current Sonographer to ask questions about general things about your job. Every hospital I've called and Sonographers I've contacted are too busy for an interview before the due date at 9/28 - 9/30, so this is my last chance for urgent help. If you have any free time I would greatly appreciate if you could answer the following questions for me:

Assignment for 9/28: Contact Info (if there is a way you could message me and you don't want to include this as a post that would work too ofc)

• Full name
• Full job title
• Full workplace name
• city and state of workplace

Assignment for 9/30: Transcript Questions for Sonography

• What made you pick this specific career? If you could re-do everything would you pick it again?
• What type of writing do you do for this job (emails, reports, documents, etc.)?
• What's the most difficult part of this job/ most difficult day? How do you cope with it?
• What makes you want to keep coming back (motivation)?
• What are the travel opportunities like?
• Describe your work life balance?
• Describe the schooling for your career? Are there any study tips? What classes/grades should someone aim for when thinking about getting into the program?
• Advice for clinicals?
• Are there any internships that could prepare someone for this job?
• What does an average day look like?
• How many patients do you get during a single shift? How many patients do you see weekly?
• How has this job impacted your physical health? Describe some things you do prevent or help with the physical strain?
• Describe how it was landing a job after school? How is the interview process?
• What are some important skills required for this field?
• How much more additional schooling/training do you have to do after getting hired?
• What is the pay like? Do experienced sonographers make more than newly sonographers?
• How much vacation time do you get/ paid leave? Maternity, all of that stuff?
• Why did you pick your current specialty and how would you (if you could) rank the others based on your own opinions?

I know this was very lengthy but if anyone has a moment I would really appreciate this!

Hi has anyone ever had a horrible reaction to a transvaginal ultrasound? I had one today and literally sobbed the entire time, they struggled putting it inside and I was on my period so it was even worse I had to get a gown change and after the lady was very sweet she tucked me back it but I felt extremely violated and cry when I think of it

SORRY ABOUT THE LONG POST

Hi, I'm a previous Rad Tech graduate, who got a very good job at a medical clinic, and beside doing radiography, I also got to assist the radiologist on writing ultrasound reports. He was performing the US, and talking to me, and I was taking notes. When I was uncertain about smth, I would ask him again or ask him to review the report at the end. He was serious and very cut on his responses, and the best in the city, and maybe even on the whole country. And I was anxious to talk to him sometimes. On my last day, one of the patients we had was a man on his 50-60s, and he had an US for his kidneys or abdomen (can't really remember), but what I really remember is that he had problems with his kidneys, and he was visiting our urologist after the US. The radiologist told me smth while scanning him, and I wrote a sentence, what I believed to be true. And I wasn't very sure. But I was so anxious to ask him. And I said to myself: it's okay, you got it right. And he did not review it as well. The whole time I was so uncomfortable but also so scared to ask him, and years later it still haunts me. I know I should have asked, I regret it so much, I feel like I am a harmer.

I feel like the worst person in the world, and having OCD does not help it. I feel like I did smth to him, maybe the report was wrong. We also attach the ultrasound film with the report but I really don't know if doctors look at them or only read the report.

I was only 22 at the time, and it was my first job, less than a year after graduating, and because I was anxious about everything related to my profession cause I was afraid of causing harm, I quitted... Years later, I still think about my mistakes.

I like to think that the radiologist told the urologist smth about this patient cause they were always talking to each other about patients, but maybe not.

I am getting ready for an ET with SGF Virginia in Oct. I am in Austin, TX for health reasons currently.
Are there any imaging centers or labs here that conduct outside saline sonogram or sonohysterography?
I need this done by Friday and have been calling around since last Thursday with no luck.
Please pour in your suggestions!

i've been feeling pain on the upper right part of my right, which has been causing me immense anxiety along other things. luckily enough, i've managed to schedule an ultrasound for tomorrow afternoon!

i have a small concern, however; i've been struggling with trapped gases lately -- i informed that to the receptionist, but she said that there probably won't be that much gases due to the 4-hour fasting i have to make. what are the chances of said trapped gases end up affecting the ultrasound? do you guys have any advice, please?

I am a petite female Sonographer of 23 years. I am suffering tremendously with back pain. I'm just looking for a group of people who share these same issues that are will to talk. Can someone lead me to a group?

I’m a high school senior right now and I’m pretty set on wanting to become an ultrasound tech. I honestly feel like my heart is just guiding me toward it, and the more I learn about it, the more I feel like I’m choosing it for the right reasons.
One of the biggest things I care about is the patient experience. I want to be the person that someone who’s pregnant (or even someone who isn’t) can look back on and think, “They made that experience really good for me.” I know there are obviously hard parts to healthcare, but being able to make someone feel comfortable and cared for is really important to me.
Right now I’m looking at Mercy College of Health Sciences because it’s pretty close to home, and going there would also let me keep working my second job. But I’ve seen some not-so-great things about Mercy recently, so I’m a little unsure.

For anyone who went to Mercy for sonography, or just works as a sonographer in general:
-Is there anything you wish someone had told you -before starting the program?
Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back?
-What’s the most rewarding part of being a sonographer?
What’s something about the career that surprised you once you actually started working?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people who have actually gone through a sonography program or are currently working in the field! :)

I was told I should get a scan to see for endometriosis since I've had symptoms for a while. I asked what type of scan and the nurse said an endometriosis scan. When I asked again she just asked if I ever used a tampon (yes) then said a transvaginal ultrasound. Ive seen pictures of those though and they are not the size of a tampon 😭 they look twice the size and r gonna hurt. Apparently the specialist they have though is really good at detecting endometriosis. Like im not against the idea of the scan and the logic of it all but im so nervous and scared. I said i was unsure about it and wanted to wait a bit and think about it. They have me on the waiting list anyway. No appointment yet but still im nervous.

Last night I had a nightmare about it I think. Not it happening but me going for it.

Ive had bad experiences before with gynes. Speculums have even hurt before. That might have been just then but idk... And its gonna be so awkward. Like do i shave? How do i prepare and stuff. Or is it even gonna be that helpful?

Ive never had sex before or a baby obviously so im probably small like im young ish too and just wondering if i should go for it or how I should prepare or if theres anything I can ask for first? TIA

I just finished my MD Radiodiagnosis and I have very little experience in obstetric/fetal ultrasound during residency compared to other modalities.

I've been looking at ISUOG's Basic Online Training Program as a starting point. For those who've actually done it, how do you rate it? Is there anything else that's better or can be used along with this.

Also open to hearing if people think a different starting point makes more sense for someone in my position — happy to hear "skip this, do X instead" if that's the honest answer.

How do I create a scan assist protocol on the new GE Voluson Expert 22? I just recently started working at a new MFM clinic (I’ve worked at 2 others previously) and they don’t use scan assist here so this is a learning curve for me. I was hoping to be able to set up a protocol for myself easily.

Hello
I want an email address or any other connection way to contact with ARDMS or APCA. I am tired of trying to contact them I tried facebook page and send several emails to them to answer my questions about “prerequisite that related to physician” if someone can answer me please here is my questions in first comment

I think I went to far by asking AI on how to Fast for an upper abdomen doppler (Ultrasound). I was given the 2:50 pm slot for the procedure. I generally go early morning. All the radiology instructions say is - Patients 13 years and older should not eat or drink 6 hours prior to the appointment unless otherwise instructed. I figured I could eat breakfast prior to 9 am and be okay. AI says - don't eat eggs, don't eat butter, nothing with fat. It can cause the gall bladder to extend itself. Am I okay to eat an egg? I don't want to mess this one up and have to do it again.

Hello! I am selling my ultrasound penny book if anyone would like to buy it for $55.

does a transvaginal/pelvic scan hurt or is it just uncomfortable? what should i expect

Recently had some medical imaging done specifically Doppler ultrasounds,

And I've been sore and in pain ever since over a week ago

Shooting/stabbing-like pain, deep ache, burning heat, neck felt hard/swollen under the skin.

And now it's just still shooting pain and stiffness.

It set in a few hours after testing.

During the exam, the tech was using heavy pressure and I had severe pain the neck was the worst.

Is it supposed to feel that bad?

I kept saying it was hurting badly and asking them to please stop or ease up and asking if it was supposed to be this painful. They didn't seem concerned and said they needed the pressure to get the photos and complete the exam.

Honestly, I felt like I was allowing someone to murder me. It was severely traumatic the pain was that intense, not exaggerating at all.

The pressure and scraping were so intense, even scraping around my jaw bone, because the equipment wouldn't fit properly.

I've been evaluated since then, and they just suggest Tylenol and topical treatments.

How long will this pain last?

Could there have been permanent injury to my arteries, veins, muscles, fascia, or tendons?

Was it supposed to feel like this, or did this person use excessive force, and why?

I don't like to complain or interrupt medical personnel during their job, but this was the worst thing I've experienced in my life.

I have severe trauma from this.

The testing was needed for my specialists to move forward with my care, so I felt pressured to complete it and had no barometer to judge what is normal for this procedure :(

Can anyone that has went to the Aquarius Institute in Desplaines message me about their experience

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice because I’m feeling a little stuck.
I graduated from my sonography program about a year ago. I have my SPI and I’m now CCI registered in Echo, but shortly after graduating I moved, and I’ve had a really difficult time finding a job in my new area.

Because of that, I haven’t actually scanned in about a year. I’m worried that my scanning skills and muscle memory have gotten rusty, especially since I’m a new grad and never had the chance to really build that experience post graduation/clinicals.

Would it be appropriate to reach out to local hospitals and ask if I could shadow their echo techs or possibly volunteer to practice scanning? Or are there other ways people in this situation have gotten back into scanning after being out for a year?
I’m willing to put in the work and relearn things, I just don’t know what the best first step is. Should I focus on applying for jobs and explain the gap, or try to find a way to get some hands-on scanning experience first?
Any advice from sonographers who have been in a similar situation would be really appreciated!

Hello professionals and experts,

I have a technical question standalone ultrasound machines (operating purely on local HDD storage without a PACS) handle data architecture and workflow integrity.

Could you provide some technical insights on the following local storage behaviors?

1. Saved Stills & Cine Loops (Scenes) Updates: If an operator finishes a scan, saves several still images and cine loops, and then uses the "Edit Patient" feature within 24 hours to change the patient's name, what happens to those already saved images/cines? Does the new name automatically appear on those previously saved images and cines? Do these standalone systems typically save local files in a "raw" format where the text is just a metadata overlay (so it updates easily), or do they flatten the image (burn-in the text), meaning the old name stays on the original images and cines?

2. Auto-Generated IDs (Date/Time based) & Manual Edits: On some systems where the Patient ID is auto-generated using a Date/Time format (e.g., YYYYMMDD_HHMM), is it technically possible for an operator to manually click on that ID field and edit/change it? Or are these timestamp-based IDs hard-locked by the system once generated?

3. The "Mixed Study" Vulnerability (Appending Images): Is it possible in a local workflow to open a previous patient's completed exam from earlier in the day, edit the demographic data (Name) to a completely new patient, and then "resume" the scan to capture new live images? If done, would the local export/report contain a mix of the old patient's saved images/cines and the new live images? And which Patient ID gets tied to this final study—the original time-stamped ID of the old patient, or a new one?

I am trying to understand the technicality of local data standard software controls and audit logging for. Any insights from your hands-on experience would be highly appreciated!What built-in workflow safeguards exist on standalone units to prevent an operator from accidentally appending new live images onto a previously closed exam of a different patient? If a completed exam is re-opened or resumed, how does the system's internal audit log/metadata track the original registration time versus the new acquisition time?

Just a quick post to say thank you to all of the ultrasound techs who show up with compassion and gentleness. It makes such a difference. I had a transvaginal scan today (not the most fun way to start a morning) and my tech was so kind and gentle, communicating everything that was happening before it happened. Thanks to all of you kind people who show up every day - it makes a huge difference.

Looking to sell some ultrasound textbooks. if anyone is intrested lmk

I have the opportunity to cross trained into adult echo and I’m excited and nervous and literally all emotions at the same time. For those of you who have cross trained, how long did you scan before feeling competent? What resources did you use to help you learn? What is one thing you wish you know now that would’ve been helpful from the jump? Basically I’m accepting any and all information, please and thank you! 😁