Students who wish to get an established career in the healthcare sector choose between the medical and paramedical fields as one of their earliest career choices, both of which require varying efforts and qualifications. Among the most preferred choices of courses for children stand the diploma in Cardiac Care Technician (CCT) and a diploma in nursing, even when they both differ significantly in their provided career scope, responsibilities, salary, and job flexibility. However, knowing all these details is an important part of the process, which helps you choose the best course.
About the Diploma in Cardiac Care Technician
The cardiovascular technician market is expected to grow a lot in the coming years due to the various lifestyle diseases that result in the necessity of cardiac procedures, growing by almost 10% in urban regions. Further, this is what gives rise to the benefits of pursuing a diploma in cardiac care technician in Bhilwara in today’s time. The following are some of the most crucial details related to the curriculum, eligibility, career scope, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
The common requirements listed in the eligibility criteria of this 2-year-long course are:
- 10+2 pass with PCB stream
- Work experience of 1 to 2 years as an ECG technician
Core Concepts Taught in the Curriculum
As you would expect from this cardiac care technician program, its curriculum comprises theoretical and practical knowledge of cardiovascular systems and diagnostic procedures. The following core concepts are taught in the course:
- ECG interpretation skills
- Patient monitoring techniques
- Cardiac rehabilitation training
- Emergency cardiac care
- Operating cardiac equipment
- Managing Holter monitors
- Assisting with diagnostic procedures
- Supporting therapeutic care
Skills Developed
With the knowledge of all the concepts included in the course curriculum comes the technical and clinical assistance skills required to excel in your job role. A few necessary skills this program helps you develop include:
- ECG machine handling and rhythm identification
- Monitoring vital parameters in ICU settings
- Emergency cardiac response
- Equipment sterilization and maintenance
- Communication with cardiac patients and families
Career Scope
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are one of the biggest causes of death among people of varying ages across the globe, approximately 32% of the total. The demand for expert cardiovascular technicians across government and private hospitals is a result of the high rate of these diseases. The career scope makes such paramedical courses for working professionals fit to enroll in, as it opens valuable and needed opportunities for people at:
- Cardiology departments in multi-speciality hospitals
- Cath labs
- Cardiac ICUs
- Diagnostic centers
- Emergency care units
Job Roles and Responsibilities
After completing a diploma in cardiac care technician course, the typical job roles and responsibilities you will find include:
- Performing ECG tests
- Preparing patients for angiography
- Assisting during cardiac procedures
- Monitoring heart rhythms in the ICU
- Maintaining cardiac equipment
What is a Diploma in Nursing?
A diploma in nursing is of two types: ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) or GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery). Both are known to prepare students for direct patient care across medical specialities. The GNM is a 3.5-year-long course where 3 years are used for learning, while 6 months are dedicated towards an internship necessary to gain practical experience. Meanwhile, the ANM is a 2-year-long course that includes a 6-month internship.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility of ANM and GNM varies largely, besides the fact that they both ask for a medical fitness certificate. Below is the eligibility criteria for both courses.
- GNM: 10+2 pass with minimum 40% marks and preferably science stream with English subject or arts. You are also eligible if you have the ANM qualification with a minimum 40% marks.
- ANM: 10+2 pass with a science or arts stream in the background with a minimum score of 40% marks.
Core Concepts Taught
In ANM as well as GNM, the core concepts that make an important part of their curriculum include:
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Basics of Pharmacology
- Ethics
Skills Developed
In a practical hospital environment, whether it be public or private, qualities like empathy and communication are as important as theoretical and practical knowledge for nurses. The most important skills you can develop to be a nurse in a diploma course are:
- Patient assessment and documentation
- Medication administration
- IV line management
- Wound care and infection control
- Critical thinking in emergency cases
- Emotional support and patient counseling
Career Scope
Nursing is one of the most valued healthcare professions globally, as the WHO reports a shortage of over 5.9 million nurses across the globe. Hence, if you aspire to be a nurse and fill one of these vacancies, you can find opportunities at:
- Government and private hospitals
- Community health centers
- Nursing homes
- Schools and industrial health units
Job Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of nurses come with a broad scope of patient interaction and clinical judgment within defined protocols, working alongside senior doctors at the same time. Their common responsibilities in a medical setting include:
- Administering medications
- Monitoring patient progress
- Assisting in surgeries
- Maintaining patient records
- Coordinating with doctors and families
- Managing wards or units
Diploma in Cardiac Care Technician vs Nursing: Key Differences
When you know all the aspects where the two domains and their diploma courses differentiate, you need to compare the differences and then decide which one sits right with your expectations or aspirations. While neither of the two courses is entirely better than the other, your final decision should depend on:
- Interest area
- Career goals
- Duration
- Budget for the fee
| Diploma in Cardiac Care Technician | Diploma in Nursing | |
| Field Type | Focused specifically on cardiology | General healthcare |
| Average Freshers Salary (India) | ₹2L – ₹4L per annum | ₹2.5L – ₹4.5L per annum |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 or 3.5 years (varies for ANM and GNM) |
| Patient Interaction | Limited to cardiac cases | Across all medical cases |
| Career Flexibility | Limited (specific to cardiology) | High (multiple specialties) |
Conclusion
The diploma in CCT and the diploma in nursing are both chosen by people with varying career aspirations. While neither is the best one out of the two, both of these qualifications offer different but rewarding careers in the healthcare field.
If you are currently looking to enroll in a diploma in cardiac care technician course, enroll at GD Goenka Healthcare Academy and take the first step towards your dreams.
FAQs
Q. What is another name for a cardiac technician?
Other names for a cardiac technician are electrocardiology technician, cardiovascular technologist, or cardiology technologist.
Q. How hard is it to become a cardiovascular technician?
It is not very hard to become a cardiovascular technician when you pursue a specialized course that prepares you for this position from the right college and provides the appropriate understanding of concepts along with practical experience.
Q. What is the role of a cardiology technician in the ICU?
The role of a cardiology technician in the ICU is to perform and interpret electrocardiograms and other diagnostic tests, help the doctors diagnose blood vessels and heart problems, and make the patients feel comfortable during tests and procedures.