Cardiovascular Technology

The cardiovascular technologist assists physicians in the invasive cardiovascular laboratory. Procedures in the cardiovascular lab include coronary angiography and intervention, ventriculography, atherectomy, peripheral vascular angiography and intervention, structural heart, and electrophysiology, as well as other heart and vascular diagnostic and therapeutic studies.

The cardiovascular technologist also provides extensive personal care to the patient before, during and after a cardiovascular procedure. Cardiovascular technology is a rapidly expanding field and has become an essential and integral component of the health care continuum.

Program Description

The Cardiovascular Technology program offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree or a 14-month academic certificate program for qualified students. The program provides the student with classroom and online theory courses and supervised clinical experiences. Clinical instruction offers a variety of experiences whereby students apply theoretical knowledge to develop clinical skills in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, peripheral disease and cardiac electrophysiology.

Prospective students who have completed a two-year, post-secondary allied health program; have earned an associate or baccalaureate degree; or will have met the degree requirements from their primary educational institution upon completion of this program are eligible to enter the 14-month Academic Certificate program. Prerequisite coursework includes Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II.

Students are required to take the Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist credentialing examination offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International prior to graduation.

Program Mission

The mission of the Cardiovascular Technology program is to create a compassionate, competent and professional cardiovascular technologist. The program will provide an education that encompasses theory, professionalism and ethical concepts relating to clinical practice. The program facilitates independent learning and critical thinking and promotes technical skill development, enabling graduates to function effectively as team members who provide quality client care in the cardiovascular environment.

Goal 1: Be prepared as a competent entry-level cardiovascular technologist in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains for cardiovascular technology.

Goal 2: Utilize theoretical knowledge and critical thinking as the basis for professional practice.

Goal 3: Practice responsibly within the ethical and legal realm of cardiovascular technology.

Goal 4: Assume responsibility for lifelong personal learning and professional growth.

Goal 5: Provide quality care as a competent and compassionate professional in the dynamic cardiovascular environment.

1. Students in the Cardiovascular Technology program must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” (74%) or higher and achieve an overall GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0-point scale to be eligible for progression into second-year clinical coursework:

BIO 175
175L
A&P for Nursing &Allied Health
and A&P Nursing& Allied Health Lab
4
BIO 176
176L
A&P Nursing & Allied Health II
and A&P Nursing&Allied Hlth II Lab
4
CSS 101College Studies Seminar3
ENG 101Craft of Language3
HSC 390Medical Terminology1-2
INT 103Methods of Patient Care1
MAT 112College Algebra3
PHL 490Ethical & Legal Dimen Hlth Sci1
PHY 105
105L
University Physics I
and University Physics Lab I
4
SOC 101Intro to Sociology3

2. Students must complete the following additional courses with a grade of “C” (74%) or higher:

CVT 200Advanced Cardiac Life Support1
CVT 202Intro to Rad Physics & Safety1
CVT 203Rhythm & 12 Lead ECG Analysis3
CVT 205Cardiac Invasive Procedures3
CVT 206Cardiac A&P3
CVT 207Advanced Procedures3
CVT 216Cardiac Device Theory3
CVT 217Cardiovascular Hemodynamics3
CVT 219Cardiac Arrhythmia Therapies3
CVT 225Cardiac Pharmacology3
CVT 228Radiation Biology1

3. Students must complete the following additional clinical/lab courses with a grade of “B” (84%) or higher:

CVT 204LCardiovascular Simulation Lab1
CVT 212Cardiovascular Clinical I6
CVT 222Cardiovascular Clinical II6
CVT 232Cardiovascular Clinical III3
General Education
BIO 175A&P for Nursing &Allied Health4
BIO 175LA&P Nursing& Allied Health Lab0
BIO 176A&P Nursing & Allied Health II4
BIO 176LA&P Nursing&Allied Hlth II Lab0
ENG 101Craft of Language3
MAT 112College Algebra3
CSS 101College Studies Seminar3
PHL 490Ethical & Legal Dimen Hlth Sci1
PHY 200Survey of Physics3
PHY 200LSurvey of Physics Laboratory1
SOC 101Intro to Sociology3
or SOC 270 Special Topics
INT 103Methods of Patient Care1
HSC 390Medical Terminology1
Cardiovascular Technology
CVT 203Rhythm & 12 Lead ECG Analysis3
CVT 204LCardiovascular Simulation Lab1
CVT 205Cardiac Invasive Procedures3
CVT 202Intro to Rad Physics & Safety1
CVT 206Cardiac A&P3
CVT 207Advanced Procedures3
CVT 212Cardiovascular Clinical I6
CVT 217Cardiovascular Hemodynamics3
CVT 216Cardiac Device Theory3
CVT 219Cardiac Arrhythmia Therapies3
CVT 225Cardiac Pharmacology3
CVT 222Cardiovascular Clinical II6
CVT 232Cardiovascular Clinical III3
CVT 200Advanced Cardiac Life Support1
CVT 228Radiation Biology1
Total Hours70
HSC 390Medical Terminology1
INT 103Methods of Patient Care1
PHL 490Ethical & Legal Dimen Hlth Sci1
CVT 203Rhythm & 12 Lead ECG Analysis3
CVT 204LCardiovascular Simulation Lab1
CVT 205Cardiac Invasive Procedures3
CVT 202Intro to Rad Physics & Safety1
CVT 206Cardiac A&P3
CVT 207Advanced Procedures3
CVT 217Cardiovascular Hemodynamics3
CVT 212Cardiovascular Clinical I6
CVT 216Cardiac Device Theory3
CVT 219Cardiac Arrhythmia Therapies3
CVT 225Cardiac Pharmacology3
CVT 222Cardiovascular Clinical II6
CVT 232Cardiovascular Clinical III3
CVT 200Advanced Cardiac Life Support1
CVT 228Radiation Biology1
Total Hours46
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
Associate Degree Only  
BIO 175
175L
A&P for Nursing &Allied Health
and A&P Nursing& Allied Health Lab
4
ENG 101 Craft of Language 3
CSS 101 College Studies Seminar 3
MAT 112 College Algebra 3
PHL 490 Ethical & Legal Dimen Hlth Sci 1
 Hours14
Spring
Associate Degree Only  
BIO 176
176L
A&P Nursing & Allied Health II
and A&P Nursing&Allied Hlth II Lab
4
PHY 200
200L
Survey of Physics
and Survey of Physics Laboratory
4
SOC 101
Intro to Sociology
or Special Topics
3
HSC 390 Medical Terminology 1
INT 103 Methods of Patient Care 1
 Hours13
Summer
Associate Degree and Certificate Program  
CVT 204L Cardiovascular Simulation Lab 1
CVT 203 Rhythm & 12 Lead ECG Analysis 3
CVT 205 Cardiac Invasive Procedures 3
CVT 202 Intro to Rad Physics & Safety 1
 Hours8
Second Year
Fall
Associate Degree and Certificate Program  
CVT 206 Cardiac A&P 3
CVT 207 Advanced Procedures 3
CVT 217 Cardiovascular Hemodynamics 3
CVT 212 Cardiovascular Clinical I 6
 Hours15
Spring
Associate Degree and Certificate Program  
CVT 222 Cardiovascular Clinical II 6
CVT 219 Cardiac Arrhythmia Therapies 3
CVT 225 Cardiac Pharmacology 3
CVT 216 Cardiac Device Theory 3
 Hours15
Summer
Associate Degree and Certificate Program  
CVT 232 Cardiovascular Clinical III 3
CVT 228 Radiation Biology 1
CVT 200 Advanced Cardiac Life Support 1
 Hours5
 Total Hours70