Angiographer

Arteries and veins are a lot like pipes. They transfer fluids from place to place, and sometimes, they burst, break, or become blocked. When a Doctor needs to check a person’s pipes for these sorts of problems, an Angiographer performs the testing.

Angiographers work closely with Cardiologists and Neurologists. They tell the Angiographer where the problem is likely occurring, and they may sit with them as the angiogram testing is performed.

As an Angiographer, you talk to the patient before you begin. They may have questions about the procedure, but you take care to avoid giving them any sort of diagnosis or medical advice.

Next, you help them lie down, and you shave and clean an area on their arm or leg. The Doctor may provide a numbing shot in that location. You then guide a small tube through the person’s arteries and veins, heading toward the troubled spot. By injecting a small amount of dye into that spot, you make the veins and arteries visible on an x-ray that you take for the Doctor.

This test can take hours to complete, and your patient has to stay still and cooperate throughout the entire procedure. Sometimes, you may ask them to hold their breath. Other times, you may ask them to move slightly.

You may also encourage them to talk so they can stay calm. In time, you’ll learn to participate in conversations just enough to seem interested, but not so interested that you forget to perform the test properly. When you’re done, you remove the tube.