The average salary of registered polysomnographic technologists in the United States is $51,523 but may range from $52,199 to $64,488. Their salary depends on the following criteria:
- Education
- Certifications
- Additional skills
- Number of years spent in this profession
- Place of work
What is polysomnography?
Polysomnography (PSG) or sleep study is a test used to diagnose various sleep disorders. It records your brain waves, the oxygen level in the blood, heart rate, muscle movements, eye movements, and breathing during the study. In this sleep study, you may have to stay at a sleep center or sleep lab overnight. PSG monitors your sleep stages and cycles to identify the exact cause of sleep problems.
PSG is usually prescribed to diagnose diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and sleep terrors.
What does a polysomnographic technologist do?
A polysomnographic technologist is a specialist who works closely with a physician to assist in the diagnosis of sleep-related problems and support patients. They train or supervise trainees and technicians who assist in performing sleep studies. The various functions of polysomnographic technologists include:
- Taking care of the specialized sleep monitoring equipment and keeping it calibrated
- Explaining the procedures to patients before and after the study and answering questions
- Taking patient consent before the study
- Taking patient history before the procedure
- Connecting sensors on patients before the study and removing them afterward
- Evaluating more than 70 sleep-wake disorders
- Recording the patients’ brain activity, heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels
- Making observation notes about patients as they sleep
- Collating data from reports and preparing a sleep study analysis
- Analyzing and scoring the sleep study and sending it to the doctor who specializes in Sleep Medicine; the doctor further interprets the data and suggests a treatment
- Counseling the patients to use respiratory and sleep devices to aid in sleep disorder breathing
How do you become a polysomnographic technologist?
To become a polysomnographic technologist, you must have:
- a degree in polysomnography (PSG) technology.
- hands-on experience in skills such as placing electrodes, arranging the measuring tools on the patient, monitoring the patients, and sleep study.
- certification to become a board-registered polysomnographic technologist.
You can also gain equivalent proficiency in another healthcare-related occupation and then cross-train in PSG.
The coursework directly related to the program curriculum includes:
- Physiology of sleep medicine
- Anatomy of the human body
- Sleep study instrumentation
- Sleep disorders and PSG
- Infant and pediatric PSG
- Two clinical practice opportunities or internship
What qualifications do you require to become a polysomnographic technologist?
To undergo training for polysomnographic technologists, you should have training in various other subjects:
- Computer science
- Physical and life sciences
- Chemistry
- Anatomy and physiology
- Mathematics including algebra, trigonometry, and statistics
Some of the desired skills required to become a polysomnographic technologist include:
- Speech and interpersonal communications
- Enjoy working with people
- Willing to do night shifts
- Ability to differentiate the key points
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See Slideshowhttps://www.genesee.edu/academics/programs/Health/Sleep/
Top How Much Do Polysomnographic Technologists Make? Related Articles
Rib Pain or Costochondritis?
Do you have sternum pain or rib pain? What is costochondritis? Learn about costochondritis symptoms such as chest wall pain and inflammation. Explore costochondritis treatment options.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Costochondritis and Tietze Syndrome
Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the sternum. Tietze syndrome affects the same region of the chest and causes inflammation, tenderness, and swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications, rest, physical therapy, and cortisone injections are suitable methods of treatment for both costochondritis and Tietze syndrome.
Hepatitis C Cure (Symptoms, Transmission, Treatments, and Cost)
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. There are a variety of toxins, diseases, illicit drugs, medications, bacterial and viral infections, and heavy alcohol use can case inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) is one type of hepatitis. According to the CDC, in 2014 there were an estimated 30,500 cases of acute hepatitis C infections in the US. An estimated 2.7-3.9 million people in the US have chronic hepatitis C. The virus is spread from person-to-person via blood-to-blood contact.
Symptoms of HCV infection include joint pain, jaundice, dark urine, nausea, fatigue, fever, loss of appetites, clay colored stool. Hepatitis C can be cured with medications in most people. There is no vaccine against the hepatitis C virus.
How Much Does a Neck Lift Cost in 2020?
Though these factors decide the cost of the surgery, your choice should not be based on the financial aspects alone. You should rather give importance to the surgeon’s experience and your rapport and comfort level with them.
Most Expensive Medical Conditions
What are the most expensive medical conditions? Learn about heart conditions, brain disorders, back pain and many more expensive health conditions. Discover the tips that can prevent serious medical problems and protect your financial well-being.