Ultrasound Technician Bachelor Degree Schools Hoxie AR

How to Select the Right Ultrasound Tech School near Hoxie Arkansas

Hoxie AR ultrasound technician with patientSince you have decided to obtain an ultrasound technician degree near Hoxie AR, the next step is to start the procedure of choosing a school. To begin with, you need to find the ideal program that will furnish the appropriate training to become a skilled professional. And because a number of states do require that sonographers be either certified or licensed, depending on where you will practice you may also need to be prepared to pass a licensing or certification exam. So it’s extremely important that you research each college so that you can assess and compare your options. But exactly where does one start? Most potential students will start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their homes and then by comparing tuition. Naturally cost and location need to be taken into account when arriving at a decision, but there are additional important factors also. For example, if the ultrasound technician schools are accredited or if they offer internships. These and other qualifications will be covered more in depth later in this article. But first, let’s review what a sonogram tech does and the credentials and online education options that are offered.

Sonographer Job Summary

Hoxie AR sonographer testing pregnant womanThere are more than one professional titles for ultrasound techs (technicians). They are also called sonogram techs, diagnostic medical sonographers (or just sonographers) and ultrasound technologists. No matter what their title is, they all have the same primary job function, which is to perform diagnostic ultrasound testing on patients. Although many work as generalists there are specialties within the profession, for example in cardiology and pediatrics. Most work in Hoxie AR hospitals, clinics, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers and even private practices. Common daily work functions of a sonogram technician may involve:

  • Preserving records of patient case histories and details of each procedure
  • Counseling patients by explaining the procedures and answering questions
  • Readying the ultrasound machines for use and then sterilizing and re-calibrating them
  • Transferring patients to treatment rooms and making them comfortable
  • Using equipment while minimizing patient exposure to sound waves
  • Evaluating results and identifying necessity for additional testing

Ultrasound techs must regularly gauge the performance and safety of their machines. They also are held to a high professional standard and code of conduct as medical practitioners. So as to maintain that degree of professionalism and remain up to date with medical knowledge, they are required to complete continuing education programs on an ongoing basis.

Ultrasound Tech Degrees Offered

Hoxie AR ultrasound tech testing pregnant womanSonogram tech students have the option to earn either an Associate or a Bachelor’s Degree. An Associate Degree will usually involve about 18 months to 2 years to accomplish dependent on the course load and program. A Bachelor’s Degree will take longer at as long as 4 years to finalize. Another alternative for those who have previously earned a college degree is a post graduate certificate program. If you have received a Bachelor’s Degree in any major or an Associate Degree in a related health field, you can instead choose a certificate program that will take only 12 to 18 months to finish. One thing to keep in mind is that most ultrasound technician schools do have a practical training component as a portion of their curriculum. It can often be satisfied by taking part in an internship program which numerous colleges set up with Hoxie AR hospitals and clinics. When you have graduated from any of the certificate or degree programs, you will then have to satisfy the certification or licensing requirements in Arkansas or whichever state you decide to work in.

Online Ultrasound Technician Classes

woman attending online sonography school in Hoxie ARAs earlier discussed, virtually all ultrasound tech schools have a clinical component to their programs. So although you can receive a degree or certificate online, a significant part of the training will be either carried out in an on campus lab or at a sponsored off-campus medical care provider. Practical training can typically be fulfilled by means of an internship at a local Hoxie AR hospital, outpatient clinic or private practice. However the balance of the classes and training can be accessed online in your Hoxie home. This is particularly beneficial for those students that keep working while earning their degrees. In addition online schools are frequently more affordable than on-campus options. Costs for commuting and study materials may be decreased also. But just as with every sonographer college you are reviewing, verify that the online program you choose is accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting agencies is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Accreditation is particularly significant for licensing, certification and finding employment (more on accreditation later). So if you are disciplined enough to attend classes away from the classroom in the convenience of your own home, then an online school may be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Ultrasound Tech Programs

Questions to ask Hoxie AR ultrasound tech schoolsOnce you have decided on which certificate or degree that you would like to earn, you can initiate the process of evaluating and comparing ultrasound tech colleges. You may first want to choose whether you will access classes online or commute to a school campus in the Hoxie AR area. Obviously location will be important if you decide on the latter, and the cost of tuition no doubt will be an initial qualification also. But there are other factors that you should also take into account, for example if the schools are accredited and if they offer internship programs. Therefore in order to perform your due diligence so that you can make your final selection, following are several questions that you need ask each sonography school before deciding.

Are the Sonogram Technician Colleges Accredited? Most sonogram technician schools have earned some form of accreditation, whether regional or national. Even so, it’s still imperative to make sure that the school and program are accredited. One of the most highly respected accrediting organizations in the field of sonography is the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). Schools earning accreditation from the JRC-DMS have undergone a detailed evaluation of their instructors and course materials. If the program is online it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which focuses on distance or online education. All accrediting agencies should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Besides ensuring a quality education, accreditation will also help in acquiring financial aid and student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Accreditation can also be a pre-requisite for certification and licensing as required. And a number of Hoxie AR health facilities will only hire graduates of an accredited program for entry-level openings.

Are Internships Provided? Find out if the ultrasound tech schools you are interested in have partnerships with Hoxie AR hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent manner to obtain hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a way to fulfill the practical training requirement for the majority of programs. As a secondary benefit, they may help students and graduates develop professional connections in the Hoxie health care community and help with job placement.

Is Job Placement Assistance offered? You will undoubtedly wish to hit the ground running after graduation, but finding that initial job in a new field can be challenging without help. Ask if the sonographer programs you are reviewing have job placement programs and what their success rates are. Rapid and high placement rates are a good sign that the schools have sizable networks and good relationships with Arkansas healthcare employers. It also corroborates that their students are well regarded and sought after.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Hoxie AR residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the sonogram tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the ultrasound tech  college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Hoxie AR area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Enrolling in an Ultrasound Tech Program near Hoxie AR?

If you are considering a Sonography Tech School near Hoxie Arkansas, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new school campus.

Hoxie, Arkansas

Prior to 1955, Hoxie maintained a dual system of education for younger students, one for white students and another one for blacks. Rather than maintain two high schools, white high school students were educated locally, while black high school students were bused to a black school in Jonesboro.[3] On June 25, 1955, in response to the recent Brown v. Board of Education ruling, Hoxie's superintendent, Kunkel Edward Vance, spearheaded plans to integrate the schools, and he received the unanimous support of Hoxie's school board. On July 11, 1955, Hoxie schools recommenced and allowed African American students to attend. In order to do "what was morally right in the sight of God" and to "uphold the law of the land",[3] Vance insisted that all facilities, including restrooms and cafeterias, be integrated.[4]

Although there were many nervous parents, the schools opening on July 11 went smoothly. The teachers and children got along fine, but unlike the two other school districts in Arkansas (Charleston and Fayetteville) that implemented partial integration, Hoxie attracted national attention. A team of photographers from Life Magazine was on hand to document the event.[3] After the publication of the Life article, segregationists from outside the area converged on Hoxie in an unsuccessful attempt to reverse the school board decision. Handbills were printed making wild assertions including allegations of a plot between negroes, Communists, and Jews, and advocating for the death of "Race Mixers". A group of local citizens, led by soybean farmer Herbert Brewer, confronted the school board in an unproductive meeting. After the meeting, Brewer organized a White Citizen's Council, which called for students, both black and white to boycott the schools. Approximately one third of the white students refused to attend the schools beginning on August 4, 1955.

A lawyer, Amis Guthridge, the leader of White America, inc., attempted to draw more outside influence into the fray, inflamimg passions with statements such as calling school integration a "plan that was founded in Moscow in 1924 to mongrelize the white race in America" and claimed that "white Methodist women" wanted integration so they could get negro men into their bedroom.[5] Johnson, Guthridge and others fanned the flames, and were joined by Orval Faubus in trying to invoke fears of miscegenation in white husbands and parents. In one rally, Faubus shouted "they do not want equality, you know they don't want equality"..."They want what you've got, they want your women!"[3]

The Hoxie School Board filed suit against the segregationist leaders from Hoxie and elsewhere in the state and charged them with trespassing on school property, threatening picket lines, organizing boycotts, and intimidating school officials. In November 1955, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas Thomas C. Trimble ruled that pro-segregationists had "planned and conspired" to prevent integration in Hoxie. In December 1955, he issued a permanent injunction and restraining order against the segregationists. Their appeal in the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals was opposed by United States Attorney General Herbert Brownell and the U.S. Department of Justice. This marked the first intervention by the attorney general in support of any school district attempting to comply with the Brown decision. On October 25, 1956, the court ruled in favor of the Hoxie School Board.

Find the Right Ultrasound Technician Bachelor Degree Schools Hoxie AR

Choosing the ideal ultrasound tech degree or certificate program is a vital first step to entering a fulfilling new profession furnishing diagnostic services to patients. Sonographer colleges require that you have earned a high school diploma or equivalent. Apart from meeting academic standards, you should be in at least reasonably good physical health, capable of standing for prolonged periods and able to routinely lift weights of 50 pounds or more, as is it frequently necessary to position patients and move heavy machinery. Other preferred skills include technical aptitude, the ability to remain levelheaded when faced with an anxious or angry patient and the ability to communicate in a clear and compassionate manner. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Ultrasound Technician Bachelor Degree Schools.  However, as we have discussed in this post, there are multiple questions that you should ask each college you are reviewing. This is true whether you enroll in an online program or travel to the college campus to attend classes. And by asking the proper questions so that you can evaluate each college, you can narrow down your choices until you are left with the ideal program for your education. And with the right training, dedication and motivation to succeed, you can achieve your objective to practice as an ultrasound technologist in Hoxie AR.

Other Ultrasound Locations in Arkansas

  • OB GYN Ultrasound Tech Schools Decatur AR
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography Training West Memphis AR
  • Medical Sonography Degree Online Berryville AR
  • Ultrasound Technician Course Pocahontas AR
  • Colleges That Offer Ultrasound Technician Brockwell AR
  • Medical Sonographer School Mansfield AR
  • Ultrasound Technician Degree Morrilton AR
  • Ultrasound Degree Programs Grady AR
  • Ultrasound Tech Training Program Hazen AR
  • Ultrasound Technician College Degree Imboden AR
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 0