Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools: Student Profile

Nancy Rinke
Student of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Nancy Rinke came to diagnostic medica sonography school by an unusual path. A professional horse trainer, at the age of 40 she found that getting bucked off a horse was no longer a laughing matter, so she shifted to horse breeding.

She soon discovered sonography (also known as ultrasound). "Sonography is used extensively in horse breeding to determine when to inseminate, and then to look for pregnancy. I was fascinated with the ultrasound, and was always asking my vet questions."

She took a short course in equine reproductive sonography at Texas A&M University, and started using the technology at the farm she managed, "and from there it was an easy transition to human medicine."

The University of Kansas Medical Center was a logical choice for Rinke, since she was living in Kansas City and aware of its reputation. She was drawn to the fact that "in a teaching hospital you'll see many things, lots of pathology, which will help you as you're learning." KU offers a 15-month ultrasound training, which Rinke began in Sept. 2005.

She has been able to devote herself entirely to the full-time ultrasound training program, with support from her family and money she made selling her horses when she changed careers. "Some students work as X-ray techs on the weekends to support their schooling, which is wonderful, but I'm glad I don't have to."

The diagnostic medical sonography program puts students into direct contact with patients early in their ultrasound training, with support from a certified sonographer. The professionals offer coaching to the newer students, and later backup and consultation as needed.

Rinke says working with an experienced mentor provides her with "a safety net. You have that wonderful experience to guide you." This system provides the equivalent of an internship, with opportunities to interact with patients directly and to collaborate with colleagues in a professional setting.

The teaching hospital setting provides exposure to a broad range of problems, so that students can "actually see many of the things that we learn about in books." Through hands-on work and classes in anatomy, students learn what a normal scan looks like.

Learning to scan requires training the eyes "to see many more shades of gray, which helps you understand what you're seeing. At first when you scan you ask, 'What am I looking at,' and later you know what it is. If there's a pathology you might not know the exact name of it, but you recognize that it's not normal.

As an older student and a career changer, Rinke finds that she's "probably more about school than a lot of younger people." She notes that older students like herself are often more dedicated and more willing to stay home and study. "My priority is school; I'm paying for it. It's more dear to you when you're writing the check every month."

Rinke anticipates many opportunities to find work and to advance in the field of diagnostic medical sonography, where demand is high. The middle 50 percent of sonographers make between $59,422 and $70,946.* "Traveling" positions, the medical equivalent of temp jobs, can pay much more, but require the sonographer to live and work away from home for about three months at a stretch.

For Rinke, the hospital situation is an appealing one. As someone who's trained horses for a long time, she enjoys the adrenaline of a challenging position. "I know I'm going to see lots of things. I like working with people when they're really sick. I've got a lot of empathy for the people that I see every day."

This is a career for people who enjoy change and care about people, Rinke reflects. "It's important to do something that you enjoy. If you've been around a medical setting and are looking for a way to advance, this is a good way to go. You're going to have to work and you're going to have to study, but the rewards are well worth it."

_{*Salary.com 2010}