Does sleep fascinate you? Would you like to spend your career studying sleep and sleep disorders? If so, consider becoming a sleep technologist.
In this article, we'll talk about what a sleep technologist does and what it takes to pursue a career in this fascinating field.
What Does a Sleep Technologist Do?
A sleep technologist, also known as a polysomnographic technologist, assists doctors and other healthcare professionals in conducting sleep studies.
Sleep technologists are the ones responsible for welcoming study participants, explaining procedures, and utilizing equipment and monitors to track sleep patterns.
Other job duties may include:
- Taking notes on participants' sleeping positions, sleep stages, and irregularities
- Operating various instruments and sensors
- Communicating with study participants, doctors, and other staff
- Helping study participants implement doctors' recommendations
- Handling critical situations such as seizures, cardiac arrest, and sleepwalking
Polysomnographers commonly work in sleep centers, hospitals, and outpatient clinics. They may also go into private residences to conduct sleep studies on individuals.
Sleep technologists most often work the night shift since these studies are often held at night.
5 Steps to Becoming a Sleep Technologist
So, do you have what it takes to become a sleep technologist? Follow the steps below to pursue this career.
1. Obtain a High School Diploma or GED
All sleep technologists will need to have this basic level of education. A high school diploma or GED is sometimes the only requirement for a job listing, but usually, further training is required.
Students hoping to enter a sleep technologist training program must have a high school diploma as a prerequisite to the program.
If you are still in school, work hard to keep your grades up and earn your diploma. If you are no longer in school, you'll need to study for and pass the GED to receive your equivalency diploma.
2. Complete a Training Program
As mentioned, most employers require job candidates to have some formal training as a sleep technologist.
You can find these training programs at community colleges, vocational schools, and other colleges and universities.
The training programs typically take about eight to 12 months to complete. They provide training in various types of sleep disorders and the instruments used in sleep studies.
Polysomnographic technologist certifications are recommended for those looking to study longer and gain more credentials.
3. Complete Basic Life Support Training
Sleep technologists sometimes have to deal with emergencies that come up during sleep studies. Participants may experience seizures, undergo cardiac arrest, or demonstrate sleep-related issues.
To understand how to handle these situations when they come up, sleep technologists are usually required to complete a basic life support training course before they can begin working.
These training courses provide instruction on CPR, first aid, and other emergency interventions. The training courses are typically short and may only take a day to a few weeks to complete.
4. Get Certified and Licensed
After completing your basic life support training course, you will receive certification in this area. This certification will have to be renewed on an ongoing basis.
Additionally, you must pass an examination offered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. Passing this exam qualifies you to become a registered polysomnographic technologist.
Once you have passed this test, you can apply for a license as a sleep technologist. At this point, you may begin applying for sleep technologist jobs.
5. Complete Continuing Education
To maintain your sleep technologist credentials, you will need to recertify with the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists on an ongoing basis.
To do this, you will need to obtain 50 credits of continuing education every five years. Alternatively, you can retake the certification exam to renew your license without continuing your education.
However, completing continuing education credits is recommended, as this enables you to stay up-to-date on the latest information in the field of polysomnographic studies.
What Skills Do You Need to Become a Sleep Technologist?
Sleep technologists must have a good working knowledge of the various types of instruments and equipment used in sleep studies, as they must be able to operate all of this equipment.
They must be physically fit and able to spend long periods on their feet. They must be comfortable with working nights more often than not.
They must have good communication and interpersonal skills, as they spend much time communicating with study participants and working with other professionals conducting the studies.
Sleep technologists should be empathic and caring toward study participants. They also need to be detail-oriented to take thorough notes throughout each sleep study.
Become a Sleep Technologist Today
Studying sleep disorders and helping study participants learn to improve the quality of their sleep can be an advantageous career path.
To pursue this career today, start following the steps outlined above and become a sleep technologist.
