Nebraska Methodist College's Cardiovascular Sonography Program Adds Bachelor Degree Option

Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) has announced a Bachelor of Science degree in diagnostic medical sonography that now has a cardiovascular sonography concentration. Classes began in August 2019, and the first students will graduate in spring 2022 with their bachelor’s degrees.

Previously, NMC offered only an Associate of Science degree for cardiovascular sonography, as an associate degree is required to practice as a sonographer. This program has seen great success with a 100% pass rate for 2019 and a 100% job placement rate for graduates. 

As the role of a sonographer has evolved, NMC decided to offer a bachelor’s degree option to keep up with the educational demands of several institutions. A bachelor’s degree will also advance students’ careers in this field and open more doors.

“A cardiovascular sonographer’s role is vital to the cardiologists and the vascular doctors for treatment of the patient. Having a higher education demonstrates that a sonographer is well-educated in their support role to the physicians,” Becca Bouckaert, MPA, RDCS, RVT, program director for the Cardiovascular Sonography program at NMC, said. “This role has evolved over the years, and more and more sites are requesting sonographers with a higher education. At NMC, we want to offer a variety of tracks to accommodate every student.”

The four-year Bachelor of Science degree consists of a hybrid format of on-campus and online instruction. The first two years are spent in classes on campus. The third year offers online coursework and clinical training. The final year is all online.

NMC’s Cardiovascular Sonography program provides student-focused instruction and laboratory learning experiences along with experience gained through clinical training at hospitals and clinics locally and throughout the United States.

This program doesn’t require prerequisites, making it perfect for students applying from high school. Classes vital to the field like physics, algebra and anatomy and physiology will be taken during the first year before students get into ultrasound-specific courses. Having a strong base in math and science is extremely important to be successful in this program.

NMC offers a combined vascular and cardiac degree, meaning that students will become registered in both, making them more desirable in the job market. 

“A majority, if not all, hospitals and clinics in the Midwest and beyond are looking for sonographers registered in both cardiac and vascular. Many will not hire a sonographer without dual registry. It puts the student a step ahead of a sonographer that only has one registry,” Bouckaert said.

Students in NMC’s Cardiovascular Sonography program are able to sit for adult echocardiography and vascular technology examinations administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) prior to graduation.

After successful completion of the exams, the individual will be a registered vascular technologist (RVT) and registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer (RDCS).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 19 percent growth for diagnostic medical sonographers (including cardiovascular sonographers, cardiovascular technologists/technicians and vascular technologists) between 2018 and 2028, a much faster rate of job growth than the average for all other occupations. The national median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers was $67,080 in May 2018.

The BLS equates this need for cardiovascular sonographers to the aging population, noting: “As the large baby-boom population ages, the need to diagnose medical conditions – such as blood clots and heart disease – will likely increase. Imaging technology is a tool used in making these diagnoses.”

Applications to enter the program in 2020 are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. To learn more about the program, interested students can schedule a personalized one-on-one visit.

The Cardiovascular Sonography program has earned accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. For information about the accreditation, please visit www.caahep.org.

For more on NMC’s Cardiovascular Sonography program, click here.