Career Center

Nemours is seeking a Pediatric Echo Sonographer Sr (Cardiology), CASUAL/PRN, to join our Nemours Children's Health team in Orlando, Florida.

Located in Orlando, Fla., Nemours Children's Hospital is the newest addition to the Nemours integrated healthcare system. Our 130-bed pediatric hospital also features the area's only 24-hour Emergency Department designed just for kids as well as outpatient pediatric clinics including several specialties previously unavailable in the region. A hospital designed by families for families, Nemours Children's Hospital blends the healing power of nature with the latest in healthcare innovation to deliver world-class care to the children of Central Florida and beyond. In keeping with our goal of bringing Nemours care into the communities we serve, we also provide specialty outpatient care in several clinics located throughout the region.

To provide high quality echocardiograms for interpretation and diagnosis by a Pediatric Cardiologist. To act as a mentor and resource for medical students, residents, fellows and sonographers in performing high quality pediatric echocardiograms as well as assisting them in developing other clinical and administrative skills necessary to their roles. Actively participate in Performance Improvement Projects.

Perform Pediatric Echocardiography on patients in age from newborns to adults and fetal echocardiography. Act as a mentor for students, staff and fellows in fulfilling their roles within the Echocardiography Department.

Must be flexible and provide coverage at NCH Orlando and various satellite locations.

How work is completed:

A. Operate all equipment to perform diagnostic echocardiograms. Use correct parameters based on patient age and diagnosis. This may include but is not limited to 2D, 3D, Doppler and color Doppler, sedated TTE and assist the cardiologist or senior fellow with TEE studies.

B. Demonstrates proficient skills in at least one advanced form of echocardiographic imaging in the pediatric population. This may include but is not limited to:

• 1. 3D imaging with advanced knowledge on 3D acquisition and post-processing
• 2. Advanced strain imaging and acquisition
• 3. Fetal imaging.

C. Efficiently and effectively perform echo pre-work by searching for relevant information related to prior echo, catheterizations and surgery to identify goals for current study.

D. Communicate efficiently and effectively with ordering and/or interpreting physician - prior to exams on inpatient studies and as needed for outpatient studies to define study goals.

E. Measure all M-mode, 2D, 3D, Doppler, and color Doppler flow patterns. Calculate measurements, formulas, and ratios. Enter calculations and measurements into patient report in Syngo.

F. Analyze images and correctly annotate in Syngo system.

G. Act as a mentor and resource for students, sonographers and fellows in clinical situations.

H. Assist in administrative duties within the department as requested. This may include but is not limited to assisting with scheduling, research and quality performance, data acquisition and collection and clinical demonstrations.

I. Participate in research studies as requested.

J. Must demonstrate consistent proficiency in competencies for this position.

K. Independently take call after hours and on weekends and holidays if applicable

L .Serves as super user to resolve barriers related to EPIC, Radiant, Syngo and PACS systems and works collaboratively with the NCH Echo Lab Manager.

M. Consistently arrives on shift prior to shift begin time ready and able to work.

N. Demonstrates professional conduct at all times in behavior and appearance.

O. Travels to satellite locations as needed.

P. Must meet the criteria from below to qualify and continue in the position.

• At least 3 years of dedicated pediatric scanning experience as a full time staff member. Obtaining Pediatric certification (ARDMS and/or CCI). Must have scanned routine congenital post-operative patients and post-interventional patients including hybrid procedures with solid fundamental knowledge of these procedures.
• Solid fundamental knowledge of advanced echocardiography in at least one of the following:

1. 3-D echocardiography: Solid fundamental knowledge on acquisition and post-processing on various echocardiography equipment.
2. Research echocardiography: Proficient in understanding echocardiography research literature with desire to implement scientific literature in daily functioning of the echocardiography laboratory. Must have presented in at least one national or international meeting or published in a scientific journal.
3. Echo PACS system: Advanced knowledge as a super-user/administrator and serves as a resource to sonographer and cardiologists.

• IAC: Ability to work with the NCH Echo Lab Manager on various quality improvement projects for the echocardiography laboratory including IAC Quarterly meeting projects, statistics, volumes and correlations. Seek areas of improvements via QI projects in daily practice of the echo lab and complete one project per quarter assigned by the manager.
• Teaching and Mentoring: Work together with Level 1 sonographers including sonographers with no prior congenital and post-operative heart disease scanning experience and meet deadlines on improving the knowledge and scanning quality of Level 1 sonographers. Implement at least 1 imaging quality improvement project with at least one Level 1 sonographer per quarter.
• Fetal echocardiography: Independently performed fetal echocardiograms with fetal echocardiography certification by ARDMS* and demonstrate competency.
• Annual competency evaluation with a multiple-choice examination (20 questions) and achieve at least 70% on the test to continue in the position (preferred)

Provide care with consideration of patient's age, diagnosis, psycho-social characteristics and family stressors that affect ability to understand or retain instructions. Maintain service excellence in all aspects of echo lab operations.

How work is completed:

A. Demonstrates strong communication skills and patient service skills always introducing self to the patient and family and effectively relaying echo procedure and routine of the Echo/Cardiology clinic.

B. Engage the patient in age-appropriate distraction techniques to ensure quality of the diagnostic study.

C. Provide education as appropriate regarding the echo imaging carefully excluding any comment regarding diagnosis and management.

Job Requirements

• Associate's Degree or equivalent training program required.
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years dedicated pediatric scanning experience as a full time staff member required.
• Pediatric Complex Congenital scanning experience required.
• RDCS (preferred) with Pediatric Certification or RCCS with Pediatric Certification (required).
• Current AHA BLS Certification required.