how to study to successfully pass the rvt...
TRANSCRIPT
How to Study to Successfully
Pass the RVT Exam
Janette Wybo, BAS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT
Program Coordinator
Providence Hospital School of
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Resources: The Vascular System, Kupinski, Lippincott, 2013
Diagnostic Ultrasound, Hagen-Ansert, Mosby, 2011
Objectives Upon completion of this learning activity, it is
my hope that the participants will be able to:
• Determine your learning style
• Discover formula to succeed in becoming
RVT!
• Discuss the various resources that can be
matched with your learning style
• Learn from examples the detail of
information needed to successfully pass the
RVT exam.
As the presenter…
• I have no affiliation or financial gain
with any of the products presented
• I do not endorse any products
• My goal is to provide information
• Participants need to investigate the
products and decide for themselves
what will help them succeed.
I am an ARDMS Item Writer for the VT exam.
First Step – Get Informed ARDMS - RVT (Registered Vascular Technologist)
must be graduate of an accredited vascular
sonography program OR work full time for 12
month completing vascular exams (not
volunteering). Must submit a clinical
verification form signed by (physician or RVT).
Recommended to complete 800 vascular exams
(ardms.org)
CCI - Cardiovascular Credentialing International –
to become a RVS (Registered Vascular
Specialist) (cci-online.org)
Qualifications (RVS)
• Two years of full-time or full-time equivalent work
experience in vascular ultrasound. The applicant
must have performed a minimum of 600 vascular
ultrasound studies at the time of application.
• It is recommended, but not required, that the
applicant have experience in the following areas:
Carotid duplex ultrasound, Peripheral arterial
duplex, Transcranial Doppler, Venous duplex
ultrasound, Peripheral arterial physiologic, Visceral
vascular duplex ultrasound.
CCI Qualifications for Accredited
General Sonography Program • A graduate of diploma, associate, or baccalaureate
academic program in health science (including, but not
limited to, cardiovascular technology, ultrasound,
radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, or nursing)
• AND ONE year full-time work experience in vascular
ultrasound
• AND performance of a minimum of 600 vascular
ultrasound studies in their career, which is defined as
work experience and/or clinical experience gained during
a formal educational program.
• In the employment verification letter, supervisor or DR.
must confirm number of studies performed during
applicant’s employment.
Qualifications for Vascular
Accredited Program
Qualification Requirements
• Completion certificate and/or educational
transcripts
• Student verification letter from program educational
Director
• cci-online.org
ARDMS - Do you need
to take the SPI exam?
• If you took your ARDMS physics exam before fall
of 2009 – YES – you need to take SPI exam
• Must pass SPI examination and VT exam within 5
years to become a RVT.
• I recommend taking the SPI exam first.
– There will be physics on your VT exam
– Higher pass rate than VT
• SPI 81% for 1st time takers (overall 72%)
• VT 65% for 1st time takers (overall 59%)
There is HOPE!
ARDMS vs. CCI
• SPI two hour - 110 multiple
choice questions - cost –
$200
• VT three hour ~170 multiple
choice questions - cost -
$250
• Total exam cost $450
• 60 day wait to re-take exam
• Yearly renewal $75
• Required CMEs 30 credits
every 3 years in any category
• Pass rate RVT59-65%
• Three hour ~170 multiple
choice questions with SPI
• Exam cost $350
• 45 day wait to re-take exam
• $150 renewal fee every 3
years
• Required CMEs 36 credits
every 3years with renewal
fee of 30 credits must be
cardiovasular
• Pass rate RVS 53% Decide what’s best for you long term…
My Formula for Success for
Physics Exam
• 1. Become informed on what you need to know
• 2. Good resources
• 3. Put in the time (quality studying)
• 4. Strive for comprehension
• 5. Use two resources for review questions
• 6. Take one ARDMS practice exam
Remember , you did it once – you’re even better
equipped to do it again. We had 23 sonographers who
passed SPI in last 6 months!
ARDMS has new type of
test questions: • SPI /physics exam – Advance Item Type (AIT)
with semi-interactive control questions that
are worth either 2, 1 or 0 points in completing
these questions.
• Designed to assess candidates in actual
practice.
• Great tutorial that every registrant should look
at before taking the SPI exam. http://www.ardms.org/prepare_for_an_examination/advanceditemtypeques
tions
(Handout)
Advance Item Type with
Semi-Interactive Control Questions
Sonographers either love or hate these questions.
You passed
PHYSICS!
Congratulate yourself! Celebrate!
BUT, then focus on the next
BIG task…
Use Same Formula for Success
• 1. Become informed on what you need to know
• 2. Find good foundation resources
• 3. Put in time (quality and quantity)
• 4. Strive for comprehension!
• 5. Use two resources for review questions
– Review book + on-line review
• 6. Take one ARDMS practice exam
We had 3 sonographers who passed VT on their
first attempt in the last 6 months!
ARDMS Content Outline Anatomy & Physiology [20%]
• Cerebrovascular
• Venous
• Peripheral Arterial
• Abdominal/Visceral
Pathology [19%]
• Cerebrovascular
• Venous
• Peripheral arterial
• Abdominal/Visceral
Patient Care [4%]
• Communication
Integration of Data [10%]
• Cerebrovascular
• Venous
• Peripheral Arterial
• Abdominal/visceral
• Protocols [33%]
• Cerebrovascular
• Venous
• Peripheral Arterial
• Abdominal/Visceral
• Physics & Instrumentation [5%]
• Artifacts
• Imaging instruments
• Quality assurance/ Statistics
• Treatment [7%]
• Cerebrovascular
• Venous
• Peripheral arterial
• Abdominal/visceral
• Other [2%]
• Traumatic injury
• Miscellaneous conditions/tests
NOTE – Percentages are approximate
ARDMS Content Outline for
Exam Item Writers Vascular Technology (VT) Tasks
• Anatomy & physiology 20%
Cerebrovascular normal anatomy
• Cerebrovascular normal anatomy
• Evaluate the cerebrovascular vessels
• Cerebrovascular hemodynamics
• Evaluate the cerebrovascular vessels
for normal perfusion
Venous
• Venous normal anatomy
• Evaluate the veins of upper extremities
• Evaluate the veins of lower extremities
• Evaluate the central venous system
• Venous hemodynamics
• Evaluate the effects of limb
augmentation maneuvers on venous
flow
• Evaluate the effects of respiration on
venous flow
Peripheral arterial
• Peripheral arterial normal anatomy
• Evaluate the upper extremity arteries for
obstruction
• Evaluate the lower extremity arteries for
obstruction
Peripheral arterial hemodynamics
• Assess pressure changes following
exercise
• Assess segmental pressure gradients
• Abdominal/visceral
• Abdominal/visceral normal anatomy
Evaluate the abdominal/visceral vessels
• Abdominal/visceral hemodynamics
• Evaluate the abdominal/visceral
vasculature for perfusion
Cont…(Handout)
Most sonographers do not
do all the VT exams… • Abdominal Visceral including transplants
• Cerebrovasclar
• Transcranial Doppler (TCD)
• Peripheral Arterial (Upper and Lower Extremity
– Doppler 2D and color duplex
– Segmental pressures
• Peripheral Venous (Upper and Lower Extremity
• Doppler 2D and color duplex
• Know intra-operative and post surgical complications
Draw from your experiences and become informed
enough to understand it.
ARDMS exam has new
“HotSpot” Questions
• Hotspot item question types display
image and question that require
examinee to indicate correct answer by
using cursor to mark directly on image.
• Hotspot questions require a higher
level of thinking and processing than
when answering a conventional
multiple choice question.
New ARDMS
HotSpot Question
Answer – see red X mark in image above
Deciding What is a
Good Resource? • Review the source before purchasing
or ask for recommendations
• You can “rent” many textbooks on
amazon.com (Good thought for
Physics)
• Decide on a resource based on what
best fits your learning personality
• Find what best clicks for you!
Learning Style Inventory
• Visual Learners – love reading, benefits
from charts, tables
• Auditory Learners – love talking aloud,
benefits from tapes, auditory reviews
• Kinesthetic or Tactile Learners – love
hands-on, benefit from observing exams
Take the test and see what you learn about
yourself! None are better than others!
(Handout)
Good Resources
• I recommend getting a good textbook and READ
it (especially if you have not received formal
vascular training.
• Important to have a depth of knowledge
• Don’t attempt “cursory knowledge” by just
looking at review books to try to get by to pass
the exam.
• The exam questions will have two close
answers in which one answer is better than the
other if you have the knowledge.
• Can’t guess your way through this one…
Put in Quality and Quantity Time
• Organize how you are going to study
– Go through exam outline and write out a plan
• Make the plan realistic
An 8 Week Plan takes 10 Weeks
• Study 3 nights a week for 2 hours over 4 weeks,
then study 4 nights for 2-3 hours for 4 weeks
Tell those closest to you and ask for their support
Study with a Buddy - don’t have whine/wine sessions
Many RVTs had little or no resources and passed…
Let’s Talk About
ALL the Resources…
Find What Fits for You.
SDMS* Resources • One location for variety of resources
• NCER (National Certification Exam Reviews)
• $50 - $70 Review book with webinar*
– SPI (Physics) and VT (Vascular Technology)
– Outline format with review questions at end of each section
– Members access to twelve
webinars with CME credits
• SDMS membership $85 year
Trusted source*
1, 2, 3 Steps to Success
• daviespublishing .com– around for 30 years
• Step 1 – Education textbook
• Step 2 – Test preparation review book
• Step 3 – Flashcard study system
• Many also receive CME credits
• Cost – Bundle Price: $199.95
Boast to have a 90% success rate
Other Resources
• Anatomy and Physiology Textbooks
• Scanning Protocols
• Reference Guides
• Scanning Techniques DVDs
– Venous and abd vascular
Benefit – go at your own pace
Cost Varies ~ $50 - $175
Life is a Test – Pass it!
Pass or come back for Free!
• esp-inc.com
• Weekend reviews
• Instructor-led lectures that teach and
review material and prep for exam
• Cost $275 - $450 for one - two courses
+ travel expenses and lodging
• Benefit – network with others, take-home
course book is a good resource
Other Resources
esp-inc.com
• Quiz Cards $59
• X-Zone purchased for specific time frames
for practice Q and A’s
• 2 hours $39
• 5 days $79
• 15 days $109
Benefit – challenging questions (on-line)
What if you need hands-on?
• gcus.com
• Offers on-site/hands-on and other educational products
• Cost – Varies $1,495.00 for upcoming peripheral vasc weekend course
Other Resources
• Scanning Technique DVDs Ultrasound Evaluation
for Calf Vein Imaging: 48 minutes
Price: $99.00
• Vascular Textbook Zweibel and Pellerito
Copyright 2005: Cost $119
• Ultra P.A.S.S. Flash cards: Price $57
"Preparation Agenda for Study Success"
On-Line Study Course
(Burwin Institute) • burwin.com
• Web based study with on-line instructor
• Receive a course book that takes you step by step
through the material with mandatory tests emailed to
an instructor who provides feedback.
• Benefits – more details with ability to ask questions
with your on-line instructor.
• Cost for VT Course $450
Local Resources for
Success
• Liz Lawrence, RDMS, RDCS, RVT holds
study groups at her house for small
groups.
• Benefit - one on one small study group
• Cost $300 for 10 week course
– (3 hours per week)
• Contact Liz via email or phone
(Handout)
Are You a Lone Wolf?
• Buy a used review book on Amazon
– $70 Used SDMS book for $20.
• Borrow a review book from someone who
passed it already. You’ve promise
not to spill coffee on it!
• Use free on-line flash cards
• Cost – gift card for the friend from
Starbucks after you do spill coffee on their
book.
Why is it all necessary? • Important to gain knowledge to carry onto
your career.
• Benefit your patients.
• Improve your technical and diagnostic
abilities.
• Understand the WHY of what you do so well.
• Build your confidence.
• Current standard of competence! In 2017,
Medicare reimbursement will be tied to exam
being performed/reviewed by a RVT.
Let’s look at ways to digest all
the information and do some
sample questions…
These questions do not represent exam
questions I have submitted as an Item
Writer for the ARDMS, but as a
sonographer/educator who has practiced
vascular sonographer
for 30 years.
Scanning Technique
Common Femoral and Great Saphenous Veins
How do you direct the transducer to
image the great saphenous vein
from the common femoral vein?
A. Direct the transducer more medially
B. Direct the transducer more laterally
Lower Extremity Venous Anatomy
Anterior Accessory SV is directly over CFV
“Alignment sign” anterior accessory saphenous vein
(AASV) aligned over CFV/CFA, whereas the GSV lies
more medially.
What best describes the location of the
greater saphenous vein as it course
superiorly from the ankle?
• A. Medially
• B. Laterally
• C. Posteriorly
• D. Centrally
Dig for Good Resources
What is the relationship of the
CFA to CFV?
Look for relationships to help you understand.
What vessel is posterior to the
proximal Rt common iliac artery?
• A. Lt internal iliac artery
• B. Rt internal iliac artery
• C. Rt common iliac vein
• D. Lt common iliac vein
Find Clues Basilic vs. Cephalic Vein
Note When You Come Across Things That
are Unique – i.e. Subcalvian Vein
• Compression is
not used
• Portion obscured
by clavicular
shadow
• Limited
visualization
Paget-Shroetter syndrome
• Venous thrombosis associated with
compression of subclavian vein at thoracic
outlet - AKA “effort thrombosis”
– Typical patients are young, athletic, and
muscular males
Stump the Stars Question! What is correct patient positioning for
evaluation for Paget-Shroetter Syndrome?
• A. Upper body elevated 40 degrees
• B. Upper body lowered 20 degrees
• C. Patient should lie flat
• D. Patient upright
Seek Out Great Resources
Figure 15-3. A spectral Doppler waveform from the internal jugular
Cherish Great Resources
Look for Possible
Hot Spot Questions!
Place an X on inspiration for Doppler
of subclavian vein.
X X
Learn all you can not just to
pass the exam,
but to benefit your practice
and patients.
Stay positive!
The best teachers in the world,
teach nothing,
but inspire their students
to learn…
thanks for
your attention.
Who wants a Handout?