State organizations have not developed formal EKG technician training and/or certification requirements in Vermont. Those who intend to work in a cardiac care unit may be subject to rules and regulations that affect individuals serving in an assistant capacity. The Vermont State Board of Nursing has jurisdiction over those laws that establish guidelines relating to the delivery of nursing care. It is a good idea for individuals to contact employers to obtain more detailed information about their unique hiring expectations and training opportunities.
Delegation Regulations
According to the state’s Administrative Rules, the term ‘delegation’ refers to the transferring to a competent individual the authority to perform a selected nursing task in a selected situation and the nurse retains the accountability for the total nursing care of the individual. The state does require that nursing assistants become licensed before offering care to patients. The classification of an EKG technician as a nursing assistant may be the policy of some facilities and it is reasonable to assume that the technician will be required to complete similar education, training, and licensing steps in order to provide patient care.
According to Sub-Chapter 2 of the Vermont Nurse Practice Act, the term ‘nursing assistant’ refers to an individual, regardless of title, who performs nursing or nursing related functions under the supervision of a licensed nurse. Since technicians are supervised by nurses in most facilities, they could become subject to the requirements established for the nursing assistant. In order to be eligible to become listed on the state’s registry for licensed nursing assistants an individual must be no less than 16 years of age, complete an approved nursing assistant education and competency evaluation program or met requirements prescribed by the Board and completed a competency evaluation, and have committed no acts or omissions which are grounds for disciplinary action unless the Board has found that sufficient restitution or rehabilitation has been made.
There is an enormous amount of personal, professional, and institutional liability associated with the provision of high quality medical care to patients and it is the responsibility of facility administrators and advanced care professionals to ensure that all ancillary staff are competent and qualified to perform the tasks that they are assigned. Most cardiac care directors have developed educational programs that are designed to orient new technicians to the challenges that are commonly encountered when managing patients who suffer from a wide variety of heart diseases. Training is also offered to those who are not familiar with the services offered by the cardiovascular department or who need to brush up on their skills.
Education and Training Requirements
Few colleges and universities offer educational programs for the EKG technician. Some establishments have created certificate programs that introduce individuals to the profession, but these are generally very short and are meant to prepare students for certification exams. Although it used to be fairly common for people to enter this career field with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED, enhanced state and federal quality of care initiatives have led many employers to start requiring applicants to have either an allied health degree or a couple of years of patient care work experience. Those who are new to healthcare may want to consider enhancing their resume before applying to a job opening as an EKG technician.
Two of the most popular entry-level patient care professions include the medical assistant and nurse’s aide. A few years of work in either of these fields allows individuals to acquire the basic skills they will need to be successful in any specialty. These opportunities also help to expose individuals to a wide variety of practice areas. This is also a great time to network with individuals who work in the cardiac care unit who can help to reaffirm one’s commitment to public service and who can offer advice about effective career advancement.
State Contact Information
Phone: (802) 863-7200
Toll-Free: (800) 464-4343
Email: Contact Form
108 Cherry St. Burlington, VT 05402
Phone: (802) 828-2396
Alternate: (802) 828-5924
Email: jennifer.silverwood@sec.state.vt.us
89 Main St., 3rd Floor Montpelier, VT 05620
