Monitor Surveillance Technician

Duties and responsibilities:

Monitor surveillance technicians observe the electrical activity of heartbeats which is graphically displayed on a series of monitors in cardiac care units of hospitals. They examine these patterns and provide the results to physicians and nursing staff. They:

Gather and report heart pattern information on patients.

Operate monitoring computers that simultaneously display multiple patient results.

Identify heart pattern changes and abnormalities.

Clean and maintain equipment, battery packs, and wiring systems.

Average Salary: $26,000 - $41,000

Education: Students wanting to become Monitor Surveillance Technicians should take math, science, and computer technology courses in high school.

Upon graduation from high school they may enroll in training programs at vocational schools, community colleges, or hospitals. Program length varies from three months to two years.

Do you think you would like to be one?

I would not like to be one because it’s not the type I job I would want.