WHY ARE SO MANY SONOGRAPHERS EAGER TO LEAVE DIRECT PATIENT CARE ?
By Bill Dempsey
April 10, 2023
Recently here at PSI, we ran a post on LinkedIn inviting Sonographers to reach out to learn more about a Clinical Applications role as a next step in their Ultrasound careers. We were shocked by the response! Aside from meeting a number of really great people working in Ultrasound, I was also intrigued by the reasons I was hearing as to the level of interest in this type of position.
Many Sonographers told me that they were “burnt out” working in direct patient care. With increased utilization of Ultrasound as a modality, along with staffing shortages nationwide, the demands have only continued to increase on those scanning every day. Lost lunches, staying late, and constant “add-ons”, are only too familiar to so many Sonographers.
This problem has clearly been exacerbated by the pandemic. Some Sonographers, especially those in the later years of their career or who were working part-time, exited from the field when the pandemic hit, not seeing the risk of bringing Covid home to their families worth it. In addition to this, a number of Ultrasound program Directors whom I have spoken with have told me that their enrollment numbers are down.
All that being said, there is no doubt that this trend will correct itself. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for Sonographers will only continue to grow. While the average projected growth rate for all professions is 8%, the growth rate for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is faster at 10%. Due to the laws of supply and demand, the fact that Ultrasound is an exciting and fulfilling profession and one that pays well, the ROI on what someone spends for an Ultrasound education is a no brainer.
Another reason for the increased interest in Clinical Applications is due to an inherent potential liability in the profession. In acquiring images, Sonographers have to press the transducer (the “wand” they pass over the patient) in order to better visualize the tissue and organs that they are imaging. Doing this for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, over the course of several years, puts stress on different areas of a Sonographer’s body. Shoulders, elbows, and wrists are only a few of the areas affected by “repetitive stress injury.” For some, this can be career-ending. Many Sonographers see working in Clinical Applications as a way to continue their Ultrasound career without the high risk of repetitive stress injuries.
If you are a manager and experiencing shortages in your Ultrasound department, some of what I have presented here may very well be contributing to staffing shortages that you are experiencing. At PSI, we recruit nationwide for Sonographers in all specialties and have developed a network of Sonographers who are looking to take the next step in their Ultrasound career.
If you would like to discuss how PSI can be of help to your organization, please contact us today.