Help! Need more ultrasound training.

was wondering if anyone can give me advice on additional training in ultrasound. My clinical experiences were not that great and I interviewed for job and was told I need more practice. I approached my school and they cannot help me. I asked to be placed in another clinical and they told me "no." I was told to call up hospitals and ask if I could volunteer, but I'm sure they will not let me touch patients because of malpractice issues, as I've been told.. I cannot seem to find a job in ultrasound with or without on the job training even though I am ARDMS registered. I appreciate any advice! Thanks!

The best thing for you to do is call the volunteer departments of your local hospitals. Explain the situation to them and then ask them to find out if you could volunteer in the ultrasound lab just to observe. The lab might say all you can do is observe, but if you get friendly with the supervisor and techs after a while you will probably be able to get scan time in.

Iam truely surprised, you should report them to the BBB. The school I attend allows us to go back to open lab and get help for the lab instructor, we are allowed to any time classes are not in. You should look at your contract to see if you have anything to stand on, if not think about finding friends that still attend the school, maybe they would be willing to give you some of their lab time.

shocked in Hesperia, California said: Iam truely surprised, you should report them to the BBB. The school I attend allows us to go back to open lab and get help for the lab instructor, we are allowed to any time classes are not in. You should look at your contract to see if you have anything to stand on, if not think about finding friends that still attend the school, maybe they would be willing to give you some of their lab time.

Yeah, my family and friends wondered how they can let me graduate without not knowing how to scan, but I guess a lot of students have this problem. I am just so disappointed in how cold the faculty was to me. Its as if they don't care anymore and only are interested in getting new students in, getting current students out, and keeping former students out. Thanks for your help.

I am in somewhat the same place.I am RDMS and,for One I'm having no luck with a job and every time I call the school "KU" FL.NO ONE calles back,and I'v asked to use the LAB after hrs.And as soon as you get in there they wont you to leave so that they can go home early.

Again, I recommend calling the local hospitals and going through the volunteer department. Some of the labs say they cannot allow you to scan and you can only observe, but I have known people that volunteered and eventually got scanning time. Plus being in the hospital gives you a heads up on available jobs. The schools really cannot help, as they have current students using their labs and going to clinicals. You also will not see the variety of cases necessary to obtain a job by just practicing at the school. There many graduates that have had to go the route of practicing after they graduate. Not everyone picks up scanning quickly. To the above posters who are RDMS you are at an advantage! Many new grads and techs with experience are not RDMS, and I know in the NYC area some hospitals will let even an experienced tech go if they do not achieve the registry.

Bobbie O in Jersey City, New Jersey said: Yeah, my family and friends wondered how they can let me graduate without not knowing how to scan, but I guess a lot of students have this problem. I am just so disappointed in how cold the faculty was to me. Its as if they don't care anymore and only are interested in getting new students in, getting current students out, and keeping former students out. Thanks for your help.

Hi there,

Just curious, but what school did you go to?

Erica U in Orange, New Jersey said: Hi there,

Just curious, but what school did you go to?

pci college ca

Joyce in New York, New York said: The best thing for you to do is call the volunteer departments of your local hospitals. Explain the situation to them and then ask them to find out if you could volunteer in the ultrasound lab just to observe. The lab might say all you can do is observe, but if you get friendly with the supervisor and techs after a while you will probably be able to get scan time in.

I already tried that and hospitals wont let you because of insurance issues.
been there done that.

Raiffe in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: I am in somewhat the same place.I am RDMS and,for One I'm having no luck with a job and every time I call the school "KU" FL.NO ONE calles back,and I'v asked to use the LAB after hrs.And as soon as you get in there they wont you to leave so that they can go home early.

I THINK THE WAY ARDMS IS SORTED OUT DOES NOT GIVE JUSTICE TO THE SYSTEM OF HOW THINGS WORK.
SO THEY WAY I SEE IT YOU CANT SCAN ALL THAT WELL BUT YOU CAN SIT FOR ARDMS AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HAND IS YOU CAN SCAN BUT DONT HAVE 12 MONTHS EXPERIENCE AND CANNOT SIT FOR ARDMS.
SOMEHOW THIS JUST ISNT RIGHT.!!!!!!

HAD I KNOWN THIS MESS I WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE.

shocked in Hesperia, California said: Iam truely surprised, you should report them to the BBB. The school I attend allows us to go back to open lab and get help for the lab instructor, we are allowed to any time classes are not in. You should look at your contract to see if you have anything to stand on, if not think about finding friends that still attend the school, maybe they would be willing to give you some of their lab time.

What school did you attend?

justice in Long Beach, California said: pci college ca

Did you like this school? Did they offer externship sites and job placement? How much did it cost?

Bobbie O in Jersey City, New Jersey said: Yeah, my family and friends wondered how they can let me graduate without not knowing how to scan, but I guess a lot of students have this problem. I am just so disappointed in how cold the faculty was to me. Its as if they don't care anymore and only are interested in getting new students in, getting current students out, and keeping former students out. Thanks for your help.

i see your in JC was that school micro tech by any chance?

I also need scan time! I went to school in 2005, but have only worked in 3D/4D "fun" ob, and that was before my daughter was born~she is already 2. I want to sit for the boards, but I need scan time while I study. I teach, so I have the summers off and I am willing to relocate for the summer.

I would appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks

You could try courses to help refresh ultrasound scanning principals.
Examples:
www.atiultrasound.com/index.html
www.kmaultrasound.com/abdom.htm
cous.arimaclinic.com/Welcome
www.mtmi.net/courses/BrUS.php
www.toronto-ultrasound.com/programs.html
www.4sonora.com/ultrasound/ucourse.asp

I do not recommend any of the private schools,they make a ton of promises but never come through.Put yourself on a waiting list at the local colleges,they will get the proper clinical learning sites.Too many schools and students being let out without jobs after spending all that money.As for training,knock on some doors at imaging centers and make sure they know you will be very helpful and not get in the way....I know any student I've had I have to warm up to,great personality plays a big role.

Justice, I am a new instructor at PCI College, ca. Contact me llnguyen2001@yahoo.com see if i can help you

I feel your pain! I graduated in 2009, felt I had sub-par clinicals so I voulenteered to scan at a bigger hospital for as long as I was allowed before graduation, which I did but since then, havnt been able to get a job. I am STILL hopeful, even though I feel like being out of actively scanning daily has not been good. I am scanning now for no pay at a facility that gets maybe 4 scans a day, and only some days. I am SO ready for an opportunity to scan all the time!!!

Raiffe in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: I am in somewhat the same place.I am RDMS and,for One I'm having no luck with a job and every time I call the school "KU" FL.NO ONE calles back,and I'v asked to use the LAB after hrs.And as soon as you get in there they wont you to leave so that they can go home early.

do they allow outside us tech to use there lab

I have a similar issue. I graduated in 2011 and didn't have that great of clinical experience(some of my clinical sites were better than others). I did however find a job but ultimately lost it because they felt I needed more time to practice scanning. It's just so disheartening:( I paid so much money for a sub-par education and can't do anything with it. I need to find a job that will be willing to work with me and have me scanning daily but I don't think such a job exists.