(Name of your Institution)
Abstract
The profession of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound is a kind of profession that needs enough level of maturity, sense of understanding and the capacity to handle difficult situations with the patient. I believe that it is not sufficient for a sonographer today to be a specialist in the technical aspects of the profession such as expertise when handling equipment and accurate diagnosis of results. Modern day health care requires a degree of humanity amongst medical professional, a facet of the ultrasound profession that is often not given sufficient emphasis. Ethics play a critical role in this field and, hence, studying an Ultrasound program is more challenging than it may seem on the surface.
Through this essay, I would like to demonstrate that I have a thorough understanding of the demands of the Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound profession and am well prepared to undergo the rigorous program at Tidewater Community College. This essay showcases aspects of my background that are testament to my dedication towards this field, work ethics, my understanding of the healthcare industry, what I perceive are its most pressing needs, and how I expect to contribute towards the achievement of the same. Finally, this essay will illustrate why I am a suitable candidate for the Ultrasound program and what sets me apart from other applicants.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Ultrasound is more than just a technological approach that derives images from the human body for diagnosing any illness or deformity in the same. Although it is critical for a person seeking to gain expertise in this field to have steady hands and be well versed in understanding human body, the profession also demands a great degree of integrity and responsibility to address the safety, health and privacy of the patient. I firmly believe that I have the fundamental prerequisites of the ultrasound profession and to demonstrate this, I will be discussing my work ethics, educational values and expectations, and my perception of the healthcare system and the contribution I intend to make towards this field. Through this essay, I wish to illustrate what sets me apart from other applicants to be selected or the Ultrasound program at Tidewater Community College.
According to the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography or SDMS (2014), the working ethics related to this profession demands, three very integrated approaches. These are promoting the well-being of the patient, increasing the competent level of the patient and develop a sense of professional integrity, as well as essence of public trust in oneself. The sonographer should be well aware of the concerns related to the patient and thus should be sensitive and compassionate in handling critical situations. Critical thinking is another vital requirement for this profession. A sonographer must be able to identify the individuality of the patient and should be capable of offering care and support in a non-judgmental, as well as non-discriminatory manner.
My work ethic is extremely strong and is supported tremendously by my unrelenting dedication towards the profession – a fact that I have proved through my academic and professional life. I have consistently drawn upon my experiences to understand the importance of human emotions. Sacrificing my personal level of comfort and luxury to meet the humanitarian sentiments and emotions is part of my nature. I had attained maturity in this respect since I was 16 years of age, when I chose to work in the corporate sector. My dedication and sense of responsibility have always attained the appreciation of my seniors and the respect of my peers. I am dedicated towards lifelong learning and constantly strive to share knowledge with those around me. I believe that sharing is critical for the growth and development of the human intellect and strive to apply this belief in my day to day life.
Not only am I dedicated towards professionalism, but towards understanding the humanitarian aspects of healthcare too. There are instances when a patient should be given enough room to make a decision. The autonomy of the patient and right to refuse should be respected in the most humble way. However, in case of serious instances, the sonographer should be able to create enough trust in the mind of the patient and should be able to convince him/her for the necessary test as it will help him/her for better survival. In many circumstances, this can appear stress worthy, but with my passion for serving people and understand their psychological set up, I can handle such situation in a very appropriate manner. I personally feel that handling human emotions and making someone understand the value of life is the most holistic way to serve humanity. This is the reason that I decided to gain some prerequisite knowledge about this profession. Despite my heightened awareness and understanding of human emotions and excellent rapport with seniors and peers, I realize that, it is necessary to adhere to predefined clinical, corporate and technical protocols in order to be successful in the specific professional of a sonographer.
I terms of learning and education, I have extensively read about the medically indicated diagnostic ultrasound profession, and I have become conscious about the fact that this is a profession that needs the lifelong learning attitude. There are so much to know and explore that one cannot learn everything about it in a lifetime. New discoveries, developments, sensitive and innovations, like Telesonography (Arbeille, et.al., 2013), are expanding on a wider range and thus there is a need to remain aware of latest proceedings in every possible way. A sonographer thus, must keep a regular track of all the updates though journal articles, peer-reviewed contents, internet news, latest books, etc., about things that are happening in this respective field. Ignorance of the same can make the profession get out-dated. This kind of state makes me more enthusiastic about continuation of education in the field of diagnostic ultrasound. As such, I am not only dedicated towards getting a formal education in this field, but also further developing my knowledge through independent research and reading.
Learning has played a pivotal role in my understanding of the Ultrasound professional. According to research led by Pinto, et.al., (2013), the errors that are noted in the field of diagnostic ultrasound are due to lack of attention made over the clinical history and not examining the patient properly. There is lack of communication in the sonographer with the patient that makes worse kind of situations. Lack understanding about technical equipment, improper application of probes, inappropriate optimization of derived ultrasonic images, and above all over-estimation of personal skills are some of the key features that can create disaster to the patient. In this context, I completely understand that a diagnostic ultrasound professional or the sonographer must have absolute and crystal clear knowledge about the profession, which must get structured under appropriate ethical practices. In the pursuit of taking diagnostic dltrasound as my profession, I have attended professional ultrasound program cases. With patience and matured level of understanding, I have attended several pre-requisite courses over a span of two years that have extensively added to my domain knowledge. This is a very nice feeling, and I have gained confidence in myself for this profession. In order to enhance my skills and abilities as a sonographer, I have tried to collect information from the ultrasound department of Portsmouth Medical Hospital. Actually, this approach helped in attaining enough technical and clinical knowledge about this profession. I was made aware of the regular level of comfort and privacy that a sonographer needs to maintain while examining, positioning and further implementing right draping procedures. As I could get along well with the staff members, I have realised that I could comprehend the way they are dealing with patients and in few of the cases, even my suggestions were considered as appropriate. I have attained the appreciation from the staff members for my knowledge about technical derivatives, which I owe a lot to all those books that I have gone through in my zeal to understand ultrasound proceedings.
One my significant strengths is my perception of the humanitarian aspect of healthcare at large and the ultrasound profession in particular. With a very traditional background, I have always believed in the concept of social interdependence. The purpose of any job must serve humanity, and that is the way one can get spiritual satisfaction. As the World Health Organization or WHO has noted (1998), the diagnostic equipment available at the disposal of a sonographer varies from region to region, country to country. However, for the proper diagnosis of an ailment, it is critical for the practitioner to be able to draw the most accurate results possible using what equipment is available to him/her. In order to achieve this, the sonographer has to inculcate a degree of dedicated, humanistic approach towards each screening.
There is a need to have appropriate knowledge about the strengths and the weaknesses about oneself. As stated above, state of over-estimation can spoil the whole reputation of the professional and can turn up dangerous to the patient. It is more about understanding people and serving them with the purpose of offering a better health and mental stability. Respect to dignity and privacy of a human being is always a matter of philosophical trust in me. I believe that people count on you when they trust you and to gain the same, you must be communicative and comprehensive enough from the core of your heart. Practical perceptions and the goal to serve the patient must be well nurtured in oneself to get into the realm of trust.
In me, the capability to meet the demands of trustworthy kind of inter-personal relationship with the patient is much attained from my journey as a receptionist to the accounts department at the Law Firm in San Diego, CA. It is at this placed that I realised my level of efficiency in terms of being well organized employee who carries a great professional attitude. However, the matter of having patience is attained with the passing of years. With two kids around, I have realised that it is my patience that still creates enough hope in me to lead towards the diagnostic ultrasound profession. I see myself working with people and patients and gaining self-satisfaction as I accomplish my task as a sonographer. My age and my level of maturity are my biggest strength, and I know how to use the same in this profession. These are the elements that make me a better candidate for this profession and a better student for this program.
Although I fully understand that undertaking the Ultrasound program at Tidewater will not be an easy task, I am confident that my inherent dedication towards the profession of sonographer and the medical fraternity at large will power my will to successfully complete the program. My strong work ethics, attitude towards learning and my enhanced perception of the needs of the modern healthcare system make me a unique candidate for this program.
References
Arbeille, P., Fornage, B., Boucher, A., Ruiz, J., Georgescu, M., Blouin1, J., Cristea, J., Carles, G., Farin, F. and Vincent, N. (2013) Telesonography: Virtual 3D image processing of remotely acquired abdominal, vascular, and fetal sonograms.Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.First published online: 30 SEP 2013. DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22093
World Health Organization (1998) Training in diagnostic ultrasound: essentials, principles and standards: Report of a WHO study group – WHO technical report series 875, Philadelphia http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_875.pdf [retrieved on 25th June, 2014]
Pinto, A., Pinto, F., Faggian, A., Rubini, G., Caranci, F., Macarini, L., Genovese, E.A. and Brunese, L. (2013) Sources of error in emergency ultrasonography.Critical Ultrasound Journal. July 2013, 5:S1,
SDMS (2014) Code of Ethics for the Profession of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.SDMS Position Statement. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Plano, Texas https://www.sdms.org/about/codeofethics.asp [retrieved on 18th June, 2014]
