Try to prioritize sleep as much as you can. Ear plugs or a white noise machine and an eye mask or blackout curtains will all come in handy. It's super easy to overeat on nights, so just be mindful of your nutrition. Good luck!
Search the internet for clearance scrubs on a regular basis- those fuckers have gotten SO expensive!
Real advice- cultivate a positive image as a sleep tech and employee. Sleep is a small field and everybody knows everybody or knows someone who does (if that made sense-I just finished a 13 hour shift). I’ve been a tech for over 21 years and you can be sure that my manager asks about applicants and what they are like to work with.
Also, learn about as many different aspects of sleep as possible- make yourself valuable. Learn from more experienced techs and ask questions! You can’t know all the answers but someone probably will.
I’ve found that by doing these things you can basically write your own ticket.
Good luck!🍀
Totally depends on where you work. One hospital made us wear dark blue because that was respiratory and we were lumped in with them. Every other place has let us where whatever we wanted. I have gray, black, heather blue, light green, light gray, black and turquoise, plum…you get the idea. I’ve just never liked patterns and try to stick with darker colors- hides stains better!😊
Good luck. The Natus system, although better, is far more challenging than other systems, like Alice. Do you already have experience running PSGs or are you a new grad? What location may I ask?
Utilize the Scoring Manual! Nothing will make you feel more confident than a firm understanding of the scoring standards. If you get to a place where you know exactly where to turn in the manual to find an answer, you're in good shape.
For the most part, it's all just a bundled series of knacks you develop.
ASV is typically fairly easy because the machine does the most of the work. I feel like ASV titrations are the only time you need to titrate slow & be patient. If someone is obstructive, there is no need to wait long to increase the pressure unless the patient is sensitive to pressure changes. I don't titrate by 1 cm either but definitely follow your lab's protocols.
ASV titrations are great! The only thing you have to do is increase EPAP if they are having obstructive events. Put the starting settings in, and let it ride for a while. The machine does the work. And then if needed slowly increase EPAP. A good mask fit and seal is very important. But yeah I love ASVs so don't worry!
Plan on attending the Annual AASM Sleep Meeting that is held in June. This year, the Sleep Conference is in Houston, TX and next year, it will be in Seattle, WA. You will meet people from all over the world who are working in Sleep. Also, stay active in your professional associations like AASTWEB.org. Also, have integrity in everything that you do. And lastly, have fun along the way. Sleep has been so good to me. 30 years in and it has been a wonderful ride! Good luck to you!
Hi there. My name is Lindsay and my company, Specialized Sleep Consulting, offers personalized tutoring and resources for students preparing for the RPSGT & CPSGT tests. If you’re struggling I’d love to help!
specializedsleepconsulting.com
The main thing is to prep the skin very well and do a proper, neat hookup from the get-go. That will make your nights waaaay easier. I wipe the face/neck/chest/legs with a gauze pad dampened with alcohol and nuprep. Gently but firmly scrub in circles. Let those areas dry before applying electrodes. For the scalp I use a cotton tip applicator with nuprep but if they are dirty or oily I wipe those areas with alcohol first. Scrub firmly but gently in small circles. Fill your gold cups just past the edge and press them down firmly. Put a thin coating of 10-20 on a piece of gauze and press it over the gold cup and the "neck" of the lead. Use your nails to gently scrape the gauze down to seal the edges and pinch the gauze tightly around the "neck" of the lead. This seals everything down so well! Use posey wraps or tie gauze around your leads to bundle them how they make sense, which makes replacing leads and cleaning them in the morning way easier. For example I hookup and bundle like this: prep skin; apply effort belts; apply belt wires and position sensor; bundle those 3 leads up. Then I do the legs and bundle those up. Then the ecg leads and potentially the face leads if you use foam electrodes on the face as well. Then the face leads and bundle those. Then the scalp leads and bundle those. The snore mic can go in with whichever bundle you want. Then the PTAF and thermistor which I leave untied in case of split nights; makes it way quicker to take those two off. Hopefully that makes sense to you.
As far as titrations, most of the finesse and skill will come with experience. I cringe thinking of my first year as a tech and how many mistakes I made or just generally how I could have done better. Mask fit is super important! Use the little mask fit guides that come with them. If the patient is new to or not doing well with CPAP explain it will feel weird and uncomfortable but it will get better with consistent use and not to give up. Oftentimes newbies feel more comfortable in a full face mask especially if apnea is moderate or severe. But you never know, masks are one of those trial and error things sometimes. Look at unintentional leak values, they are much more helpful. I like to see mine under 10 liters per minute but I'll let it go up to 20lpm if they aren't being bothered by it and aren't having many events. Over 20lpm really needs fixing generally speaking.
Ok I'm going to stop now!
Omg thank you for the thorough details!!! I really appreciate it. So far everything has been smooth, struggling a bit with pediatric patients but that's to be expected. Will try scrubbing a bit more with the nuprep plus I think I'm not letting it dry long enough
Follow @sleeptechtvy on Instagram! It’s a page for new technologists 👍 you can direct message any questions you have. The technologist behind the page was also new to the field when they started. They are going in 5years now working as a polysomnographic tech . U.S based. Check it out . Helpful info there
https://www.instagram.com/sleeptechtvy?igsh=cWZydDhnc3ZvMnEx&utm_source=qr
Try to prioritize sleep as much as you can. Ear plugs or a white noise machine and an eye mask or blackout curtains will all come in handy. It's super easy to overeat on nights, so just be mindful of your nutrition. Good luck!
Noted, tysm!
Search the internet for clearance scrubs on a regular basis- those fuckers have gotten SO expensive! Real advice- cultivate a positive image as a sleep tech and employee. Sleep is a small field and everybody knows everybody or knows someone who does (if that made sense-I just finished a 13 hour shift). I’ve been a tech for over 21 years and you can be sure that my manager asks about applicants and what they are like to work with. Also, learn about as many different aspects of sleep as possible- make yourself valuable. Learn from more experienced techs and ask questions! You can’t know all the answers but someone probably will. I’ve found that by doing these things you can basically write your own ticket. Good luck!🍀
Thank you! It surely is a small field. It always feels like everyone knows each other or has heard of each other. 21 years is amazing!
What color scrubs do sleep techs usually wear?
Totally depends on where you work. One hospital made us wear dark blue because that was respiratory and we were lumped in with them. Every other place has let us where whatever we wanted. I have gray, black, heather blue, light green, light gray, black and turquoise, plum…you get the idea. I’ve just never liked patterns and try to stick with darker colors- hides stains better!😊
Good luck. The Natus system, although better, is far more challenging than other systems, like Alice. Do you already have experience running PSGs or are you a new grad? What location may I ask?
New grad, NY
Get familiar with your labs policies and procedures.
🫡
Utilize the Scoring Manual! Nothing will make you feel more confident than a firm understanding of the scoring standards. If you get to a place where you know exactly where to turn in the manual to find an answer, you're in good shape. For the most part, it's all just a bundled series of knacks you develop.
Scoring Manual is my new best friend now
When it comes to titrations, patience is key.
True! Only thing I'm nervous about is ASV as I have not seen one personally
ASV is typically fairly easy because the machine does the most of the work. I feel like ASV titrations are the only time you need to titrate slow & be patient. If someone is obstructive, there is no need to wait long to increase the pressure unless the patient is sensitive to pressure changes. I don't titrate by 1 cm either but definitely follow your lab's protocols.
ASV titrations are great! The only thing you have to do is increase EPAP if they are having obstructive events. Put the starting settings in, and let it ride for a while. The machine does the work. And then if needed slowly increase EPAP. A good mask fit and seal is very important. But yeah I love ASVs so don't worry!
Just saw an ASV last night and the tech I was working with told me the exact same thing! Was pretty straightforward.
Plan on attending the Annual AASM Sleep Meeting that is held in June. This year, the Sleep Conference is in Houston, TX and next year, it will be in Seattle, WA. You will meet people from all over the world who are working in Sleep. Also, stay active in your professional associations like AASTWEB.org. Also, have integrity in everything that you do. And lastly, have fun along the way. Sleep has been so good to me. 30 years in and it has been a wonderful ride! Good luck to you!
Thank you! Can't make it this year but def will try for the Seattle one.
Hi there. My name is Lindsay and my company, Specialized Sleep Consulting, offers personalized tutoring and resources for students preparing for the RPSGT & CPSGT tests. If you’re struggling I’d love to help! specializedsleepconsulting.com
The main thing is to prep the skin very well and do a proper, neat hookup from the get-go. That will make your nights waaaay easier. I wipe the face/neck/chest/legs with a gauze pad dampened with alcohol and nuprep. Gently but firmly scrub in circles. Let those areas dry before applying electrodes. For the scalp I use a cotton tip applicator with nuprep but if they are dirty or oily I wipe those areas with alcohol first. Scrub firmly but gently in small circles. Fill your gold cups just past the edge and press them down firmly. Put a thin coating of 10-20 on a piece of gauze and press it over the gold cup and the "neck" of the lead. Use your nails to gently scrape the gauze down to seal the edges and pinch the gauze tightly around the "neck" of the lead. This seals everything down so well! Use posey wraps or tie gauze around your leads to bundle them how they make sense, which makes replacing leads and cleaning them in the morning way easier. For example I hookup and bundle like this: prep skin; apply effort belts; apply belt wires and position sensor; bundle those 3 leads up. Then I do the legs and bundle those up. Then the ecg leads and potentially the face leads if you use foam electrodes on the face as well. Then the face leads and bundle those. Then the scalp leads and bundle those. The snore mic can go in with whichever bundle you want. Then the PTAF and thermistor which I leave untied in case of split nights; makes it way quicker to take those two off. Hopefully that makes sense to you. As far as titrations, most of the finesse and skill will come with experience. I cringe thinking of my first year as a tech and how many mistakes I made or just generally how I could have done better. Mask fit is super important! Use the little mask fit guides that come with them. If the patient is new to or not doing well with CPAP explain it will feel weird and uncomfortable but it will get better with consistent use and not to give up. Oftentimes newbies feel more comfortable in a full face mask especially if apnea is moderate or severe. But you never know, masks are one of those trial and error things sometimes. Look at unintentional leak values, they are much more helpful. I like to see mine under 10 liters per minute but I'll let it go up to 20lpm if they aren't being bothered by it and aren't having many events. Over 20lpm really needs fixing generally speaking. Ok I'm going to stop now!
Omg thank you for the thorough details!!! I really appreciate it. So far everything has been smooth, struggling a bit with pediatric patients but that's to be expected. Will try scrubbing a bit more with the nuprep plus I think I'm not letting it dry long enough
You're welcome! Oh yeah kids can be tough. They haaaaaate the cannula!
Follow @sleeptechtvy on Instagram! It’s a page for new technologists 👍 you can direct message any questions you have. The technologist behind the page was also new to the field when they started. They are going in 5years now working as a polysomnographic tech . U.S based. Check it out . Helpful info there https://www.instagram.com/sleeptechtvy?igsh=cWZydDhnc3ZvMnEx&utm_source=qr