Sleep technologists monitor patients while they sleep to diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. They work in outpatient clinics or hospitals and can earn certification through formal training or on-the-job training. They connect electrodes to measure heart rate, brain activity, and other functions while ensuring patient comfort. They work overnight shifts and may work ten-hour shifts.
A sleep technologist is a professional responsible for monitoring patients while they sleep. These individuals are also called polysomnographic technicians or sleep technicians and may work in offices or hospitals, but are usually located in outpatient clinics that specialize in sleep. These technicians monitor a variety of patient activities and tests to help diagnose sleep disorders. They can earn certification through formal training programs or be trained on the job.
The primary purpose of sleep testing is to diagnose patients with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. Sleep disorders often result from a lack of adequate rest and can severely affect an individual’s daily life. Some disorders can cause or contribute to ongoing, serious, and potentially life-threatening health problems. Therefore, the work performed by a sleep technologist is extremely important for providing quality care.
Working in a specialist sleep clinic, or within a sleep testing facility in a hospital or physician’s office, a sleep technologist will explain the testing process to the patient and place them in the testing environment. This usually includes connecting electrodes to various specific points on the body to measure heart rate, brain activity, oxygen use and other similar functions. It also involves making sure the patient is as comfortable as possible so that her sleep is as natural as possible.
During the test, the sleep technologist will monitor all devices connected to the electrodes. She will also watch and record body movements and the incidence of snoring. With training and experience, she will be able to identify and record sleep stages and symptoms of sleep disorders. Experienced technicians can be trained to interpret test results and diagnose disorders, but these roles often require the involvement of a physician or other advanced professional.
Some technical colleges and private training programs offer certificate-level polysomnography courses. While not all facilities require this formal training, they may favor candidates who do. Some facilities, on the other hand, prefer to hire sleep technologists who can be trained on the job in accordance with facility practices.
In most cases, sleep technologists work overnight shifts. This is because nighttime is the natural time for patients to fall asleep, and testing at that time provides the most accurate results. It is also not uncommon for a technician to work a ten hour shift, as this often provides the most efficient scheduling plan for the installation.
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