Job Description of an RPSGT
Sleep disorders can drain the energy of individuals suffering from them, making sufferers miserable. These disorders could also leading to other health problems. As medical research into sleep disorders grows, more treatments have become available for sleep disorder sufferers. This offers more opportunities for technologists with the RPSGT credential, who make a living curing these disorders.
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Function
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RPSGT stands for registered polysomnographic technologist, according to the American Association of Sleep Technologists. An individual becomes an RPSGT through the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. RPSGTs work at sleep centers, where patients with sleep disorders are diagnosed and receive treatment. The technologist sets up equipment and prepares patients for sleep studies. She is responsible for observing patients while they are sleeping and evaluates their sleep patterns, according to Pacific Sleep Medicine Services. Based on the information collected, the RPSGT uses polysomnographic procedures to help treat sleep disorders. She also educates patients about sleep disorders and good sleep habits. When patients have a medical emergency during sleep, the RPSGT administers medical care. She also provides all needed maintenance and repairs to equipment. All data collected must be properly recorded.
Conditions
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Since most individuals sleep at night, the RPSGT technologist must be able to work nights. Night shifts can last as long as 10 hours, according to Pacific Sleep Medicine Services. This can keep the technologist away from his friends and family and could also cause health problems, such as gastrointestinal disorders. The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that nightshifts might increase the risk of cancer.
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Skills
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An RPSGT must have the RPSGT credential, which he can only acquire after obtaining clinical experience and the Basic Cardiac Life Support certification, according to the American Association of Sleep Technologists. He must pass an examination to get full certification. To be successful, the technologist needs to have excellent communication skills to explain procedures and proper sleep habits to patients and computer skills.
Outlook
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As of 2006, there were more than 7,000 registered sleep technologists globally, according to estimates from the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. The need for sleep technologists will likely grow because advances in sleep medicine will increase the number of treatments available to patients with sleep disorders. The need is expected to increase as many aging Americans will develop sleep disorders associated with aging.
Earnings
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A sleep technologists average biweekly earnings were $1,719 in 2003, according to the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists, but registered technicians earned slightly more. According to Payscale, the median earnings for those with RPSGT credentials are $52,000 for sleep technologists, $48,000 for sleep directors and $64,709 for sleep lab managers.
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References
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