Orientation and Student Success Skills
This course will provide a comprehensive orientation to Stenberg College and the program you have enrolled in. As with all new things, there will be some challenges to overcome; however, with this course, you will become familiar with your new environment and the resources available for your use. You will gain effective learning and study strategies; become familiar with course and research online resources; enhance reading and writing skills; participate in activities to increase self-awareness, communication, and accountability; and develop teamwork skills.
Keyboarding / Computer Fundamentals
This course is designed to introduce students to the Windows environment and typing programs. You'll focus on the development and maintenance of accurate keyboarding skills and work to maintain the minimum typing requirement set by the program.
Medical Terminology
This intensive, fast paced course is an introduction to the world of medical terminology and is designed to provide the foundation for all subsequent courses. You'll become familiar with various medical word parts, become fluent in the pronunciation and spelling of these parts, and become proficient with the building and breaking down of medical terms to determine meaning. It's essential for all healthcare professionals to be able to function effectively and safely in a medical environment; therefore, you must be competent and accurate in the use of medical terminology on the job.
Anatomy/Physiology/Pathology
This course will cover body systems and sense organs. Teaching about each system will include: an overview of that system's general function; system parts, their specific function and location; relationship with other systems; and common pathologies including lab and diagnostic tests, signs and symptoms and prognosis of those pathologies.
Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
To help you understand the essential mechanical, electrical, and dynamic components of the human heart, this course studies the heart's anatomy, structural relationships, and embryological development.
Introduction to Health Research & Statistics
This course will help students to develop confidence in interpreting the statistical data in health sciences research articles. Students will complete practical exercises to strengthen their understanding of sampling, measurement and statistical analysis techniques. Focus will be placed on descriptive statistics, elementary probability and statistical estimation and hypothesis testing.
Cardiac Pathophysiology
Cardiac Pathophysiology provides information on common cardiac conditions and pathologies.This course is built upon and integrated with the Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology course. Each type of cardiac disease or pathology is discussed in relation to anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, causes, significance, consequences, clinical presentation, risk factors, diagnostics, and treatment as appropriate. Specific cardiac diseases and pathologies within a broad category are also discussed. The clinical presentation of a cardiac disease or pathology is discussed in relation to the cardiology technologist's clinical practice.
Cardiac Pharmacology
Cardiac Pharmacology provides information on commonly used cardiac medications. This course is built upon and integrated with the Cardiac Pathophysiology course. The cardiac medications are categorized according to accepted drug classifications. Each drug class is discussed as to action, indications, contraindications, adverse effects, usage, dose, and clinical application as appropriate. Specific cardiac drugs within classes are discussed as well. The clinical application of a drug class or specific drug is discussed in relation to the patient's cardiac pathology and the cardiology technologist's clinical practice.
Cardiac Instrumentation
In this course, students gain an understanding of how biomedical instruments like electrocardiograms, Holter monitors, blood pressure monitors, event monitors, implantable loop recorders, pacemakers / pacemaker programmers and implantable cardiac defibrillators work. Students will be able to describe how the heart's electrical impulses are converted into mechanical functions that can be printed by the electrocardiograph.
Rhythms, Arrhythmias, and Pacemaker Studies
This is an integrated course in instrumentation, professionalism, and the study of the electrocardiography theory and principles used to perform basic 12-lead electrocardiograms, as well as specialized leads such as an 18-lead ECG, Lewis lead, and Fontaine lead. You will receive instruction in ECG interpretation, identifying cardiac rate, axis, blocks, hypertrophies, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmias (especially life-threatening arrhythmias). Students will also learn how to apply aseptic techniques in this course. The pacemaker segment of the course includes in-depth instruction on pacemaker function, pacemaker ECG interpretation, pacemaker lead implant analysis and operation of recommended procedures.
Fundamentals of Stress Testing & Ambulatory ECG
Students gain knowledge of the standards and guidelines for exercise testing using different protocols. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of exercise tolerance testing and ambulatory ECG topics essential to the cardiology technologist. The course covers important topics and general principles related to both types of procedures including; importance of general factors such as age, gender and environment; and various diseases and health states.
Exercise Tolerance Testing
You will gain knowledge of the standards and guidelines for exercise testing using different protocols including Bruce, and Modified Bruce & Naughton. This will also incorporate Nuclear Stress Testing, Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MIBI), and the drugs Persantine and Dobutamine. You'll be trained in the professional standards and communication skills required to retrieve medical history from patients and to give them proper instructions and information.
Holter Monitor Scanning
This course will provide the students with knowledge of the principles and analysis of Holter recordings. Students will be taught how to identify, describe, select and apply various different protocols. Proper skin preparation to avoid artifacts will be emphasized in this course as well as the identification of arrhythmias and the correlation of these arrhythmias to reported symptoms in the diary. Students will gain confidence in their skills and abilities in hooking up holter monitors while providing safe and professional patient care.
Related Cardiac Procedures & Diagnostic Techniques
This course will provide the student with the knowledge of the standards and guidelines for electrophysiologic studies like Signal Averaging ECG, vectorcardiography and tilt table testing. Students will learn about the principles and analysis of 24 hr. blood pressure recorder, Event Monitors and other cardiac procedures (e.g. angioplasty, stents, echocardiogram, transesophageal ECG). Students will also be introduced to specialized topics in Cardiology Technology including cardiac rehabilitation and radiation protection for cardiac imaging.
Medical Laboratory Communications and Phlebotomy
Using specific examples that pertain to the Cardiology Technologist, this course discusses professional behaviour and describes the healthcare team and the duties of the team members. The departments and personnel in the lab are discussed, and the tests and abbreviations within these departments are taught. Basic phlebotomy skills are also covered.
Clinical Applications (Laboratory Practice)
Ongoing lab sessions offer additional hands-on practice performing ECGs, Exercise Tolerance Testing on a treadmill, and allow students to apply knowledge in rhythm and arrhythmia interpretation by performing Holter scanning. Additional Saturday laboratory lab sessions for ECG, Holter Scans and Stress Testing (15 in total) as well as on-going afternoon lab sessions for Venipuncture (once a week) are held so students can complete practice requirements for clinical preceptorship. Students must successfully perform 50 ECGs, 30 Holter Scans, 20 Stress Tests and 20 Venipuncture to demonstrate competency for the clinical setting. As Clinical Applications / Lab Practice Sessions are scheduled outside of regular course hours, students will need to adjust their schedules in order to meet these requirements.
Career Search Strategies
This course is offered in a combined online and classroom delivery format. In the guided online sessions, students learn to network effectively, prepare targeted resumes and cover letters, and follow up in their job search. In the instructor-led session, students are provided with a personalized critique of their resume, cover letter, and online profiles and are also given the opportunity to practice and perfect interview skills.
Introduction to Health Information Systems
This course provides a basis for understanding how the delivery of patient care can be improved through the appropriate application of information management systems. Students will learn how to use information management systems appropriately, both at theoretical and practical levels. Focus will be placed on increasing awareness in their role within the larger schema of health informatics and on building requisite knowledge and competence to use information effectively in the patient's interest in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team.
Clinical Preceptorship
You'll be assigned to a hospital or specialty lab where you'll be supervised one-on-one by an experienced registered Cardiology Technologist preceptor. This will give you a great opportunity to implement your skills and theoretical knowledge in a professional setting.
Program Review
Students will debrief on their clinical preceptorships, sharing what they learned over the course of this experience. There will be a review of key theoretical and practical knowledge. Students will also receive test taking skills information to help them as they prepare for the CSCT examination. Students will also be asked to evaluate their overall educational experience (clinical and didactic) so the program may be improved in relation to student feedback.
Additional Certification(s)
The program also includes essential industry-related training and certification in:
CPR/HCP/AED
You'll receive Red Cross First Aid Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Health Care Provider (HCP) and Automated External Defibrillation (AED). This industry standard certification is valid for three years.
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHMIS trainers provide information about materials in the workplace that can be hazardous, such as cleaning agents, compressed gases and flammable materials. Becoming WHMIS certified will demonstrate that you are able to identify hazardous materials and handle them properly.
Personal & Professional Development Skills Certificate
Responding carefully to the needs of today's employers, a series of Personal and Professional Development Workshops have been integrated throughout the program to develop critical thinking and soft skills. Workshops include Giving and Receiving Feedback, Conflict Resolutions, Active Listening, Providing Quality Service and Building Rapport, Leadership, and Employability Skills.
