Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

The Work

Cardiological technicians perform tests on patients suspected of having heart disease. Technicians set up and operate equipment that monitors the activity of the heart, blood vessels and lungs. They compile scientific records and analyse different physiological data, for use by a specialist doctor (cardiologist) when making a diagnosis.  
 
Cardiological technicians are also involved in the implantation and evaluation of pacemakers. They may monitor heart readings during operations and operate resuscitation equipment if the patient's heart fails. The cardiological technician is assisted by a cardiographer in certain tasks, such as recording the electrical activity of the heart.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialised electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
• Explain testing procedures to patients to obtain cooperation and reduce anxiety.
• Monitor patients' blood pressure and heart rate using electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures to notify the physician if something appears wrong.
• Obtain and record patient identification, medical history, or test results.
• Monitor patients' comfort and safety during tests, alerting physicians to abnormalities or changes in patient responses.
• Prepare and position patients for testing.
• Attach electrodes to the patients' chests, arms, and legs, connect electrodes to leads from the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, and operate the EKG machine to obtain a reading.
• Adjust equipment and controls according to physicians' orders or established protocol.
• Check, test, and maintain cardiology equipment, making minor repairs when necessary, to ensure proper operation.
• Supervise or train other cardiology technologists or students.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Most cardiological technicians are graduates with a degree in physics, physiology or clinical measurement. Some cardiological technicians explore support from the Irish Cardiac society professional registration with CORU, or UK Cardiac equivelant. 

Training & Development   

FET Centre Traineeship: Health Service Skills, Healthcare Support, Laboratory Assistant, General Management at NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Applied science, Physiology and Health Science, Applied Laboratory Science, Applied Science/Laboratory Techniques, Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Science, Biotechnology, Pre-University Science with Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Nursing, Physiology and Massage at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Lab Technician & Lab Analyst, Advanced healthcare Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-7 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Clinical Measurement Science, Nursing, Veterninary- Nursing, Applied Biology, Nutrition & Health Science, Health Science and Physiology, Physiology and Health Science, Sports Science with Exercise Physiology, Medical Technology, Applied Health Care NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate Study Options Preventive Cardiology Science-Clinical Measurement Science, Interventional Cardiovascular Medicine  NFQ level 9

Professional Development & associations

Irish Cardiac Society 

Society for Cardiological Science & Technology UK

CORU

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €40k - €58k

Salaries vary depending on employer, location, experience, and duties.

Data Source(s):
HSE.ie/ Payscale

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels fell between 2021 and 2022, by approximately 3,000 persons, but remained above 2017 levels, resulting in a positive, but below average, annual average growth rate for the five-year period. Employment for this occupation was primarily in industry (accounting for a 60% share of employment). Employment permits issued were across a variety of technician roles (e.g. process, manufacturing, laboratory). The Recruitment Agency Survey identified vacancies for maintenance technicians in manufacturing with electrical/mechanical skills as difficult-to-fill.

Employers (Skills for Growth) experienced difficulties in filling a range of engineering technician roles, including aircraft technicians and manufacturing technicians, particularly for those with digital skills and knowledge of procedures/processes. There was a 3% increase in the number of online job adverts in 2022, driven by increases in electrical/electronic technicians and, to a lesser extent, laboratory technicians.

New apprenticeship registrations for a number of industry related technicians (including lab analysts) have risen strongly since the first of these programmes were introduced in 2017; by 2022 there were 314 new registrations across a range of apprenticeships (lab analyst, manufacturing technology, OEM engineer etc.) up from approximately 100 in 2017. Although demand seems to be lessening for these roles, issues with attracting suitable candidates remain for maintenance and laboratory technicians in particular, at least in the short-term.

• IICMP Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Physiology

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• Society for Cardiological Science and Technology

  • SCST, Executive Business Support (EBS), City Wharf, Davidson Road,Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9DZ UK
  • 0044 (0) 845 838 6037
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here