Electrocardiogram technicians play a vital role in the healthcare industry. There is no more important organ in the human body than the heart, and EKG technicians ensure heart function is measured accurately and that results are conveyed clearly to doctors. That's a big responsibility.
As you might imagine, you can't just walk in off the street and apply for a job like that. All EKG positions require at least a year of training. Most require post-secondary education as well.
The thing is, any time you're enrolled in a college or university program, things can go wrong. Schools take education seriously these days. It's not just that you've got to keep your grades up, though that's definitely true. Your school keeps a close eye on you outside of the classroom too. Any mistake, or just an accusation, can get you into trouble.
How do you stay on track and ensure you make it to graduation?
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are here to help. We're focused on student issues—making sure your school treats you fairly and that you have every opportunity to succeed. We know the law as it applies to education. We're also experienced in working with university systems. We've helped hundreds of pre-professional health students deal with issues, large and small, on the way to earning their degrees. And we're always just a phone call away at 888-535-3686.
Common Issues and EKG Technician Students
We can't tell you exactly how your school works because every college and university is different. They all have their own rules and procedures. We can give you a general idea, though, of what types of problems you're likely to face no matter where you're enrolled.
- Academic Issues: First and foremost, you're a student. You're expected to go to class and study, to write papers and take exams. Many student problems come down simply to low GPAs.
- Disciplinary Issues: You're also part of a community, though, and like all communities, your campus has a long list of rules designed to make sure everyone gets along and the school as a whole functions effectively. Break those rules, and there are consequences.
Below, we dig a little deeper into what types of problems you might encounter in each of these categories.
Academic Expectations
Your curriculum as a student is shaped by the demands of your profession. The most highly sought-after EKG technicians—i.e., the ones who wind up making the most money—gain national certification in their field through organizations like American Allied Health, the National Healthcareer Association, or the National Association for Health Professionals (NAHP). As a result, most schools focus on the skills you need to do well on these agencies' certification exams.
For example, the Medical Training Institute (MTI) of New York provides training in
- EKG technology
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Safety and health
- Career development
As part of your classwork at MTI, you also work both with mannequins and live patients to improve your skills. And, the program offers prep work in taking the certification exam.
Certification also requires between one and three years of on-the-job externship work. Many schools now offer this experience as part of their curriculum. As part of this training, you'll practice putting the principles you learned in class into action under the guidance of a certified supervisor. You'll learn additional skills such as
- Interacting with patients
- Communicating effectively as part of a healthcare team
- Maintaining ethical and professional standards
And this training is typically graded, just like any other class.
Finally, if you're working towards an associate's or bachelor's degree, you'll need to worry about your school's Academic Standing Policy. These policies set the standards you need to meet in order to make adequate progress towards your degree. Policies also define the consequences you'll face any time you're not meeting standards. At California State University, San Marcos, for instance, you need to maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain in good standing. Anything below that, and you're placed on Academic Notice. Continue to struggle while on Notice, and you can ultimately be Disqualified from the program.
Misconduct
EKG technician students are sometimes surprised to discover that their personal behavior can be as important to their university success as their classroom achievements. In fact, it's easier to wind up dismissed from school for misconduct than for a low GPA.
In addition, the healthcare industry takes professionals seriously. As you might expect, you can't do your job effectively if you don't know how to treat patients with respect, haven't figured out how to keep records confidential, or have trouble communicating with colleagues. As a result, when you go through the certification process, or apply for your state license, your personal background will matter. Any disciplinary action taken against you while you're a student can weigh heavily against your chances of earning your credentials.
Of course, we all make mistakes. Students tend to make more than their fair share. Or maybe you didn't actually make a mistake. Maybe you're the victim of some sort of misunderstanding. In any case, you don't want an accusation of misconduct to derail your career. The Lento Law Firm is here to protect you, no matter what type of problem you're facing.
Below, you'll find information on student misconduct in particular and how to handle allegations.
Academic Misconduct
No school wants to develop a reputation for cheating, so all schools maintain a strict academic misconduct policy. As part of that policy, you're barred from things like
- Cheating: The use of any unauthorized materials to complete your coursework. This can include a book, an online resource, or a person. If you're getting answers from a source other than you're own brain, and your instructor hasn't given you permission to use that source, it's cheating.
- Plagiarism: Attempting to pass another person's work off as your own, especially without giving them credit. Here again, there's a wide variety when it comes to violations. Buying a paper from any online paper mill is obviously plagiarism. You can be accused, though, for simply failing to properly cite a source.
- Falsification: You're also not supposed to make up information as part of your coursework. If you have lab work, for example, it's important you don't invent data. Likewise, you don't want to include a non-existent source in a paper.
- Sabotage: This involves deliberately damaging school resources or a classmate's work in an effort to gain some advantage.
There has been a precipitous rise in academic misconduct over the last decade. As a result, cheating, plagiarism, falsification, and sabotage have become serious offenses. A single incident can be enough to lower your grade in a course or even fail you in that course altogether. Multiple offenses can get you suspended or expelled.
You don't have to accept an accusation of academic misconduct, though. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can work with you to challenge your instructor's assertions and avoid a sanction. All schools have procedures in place that allow you to defend yourself. At the University of West Florida, for example, you can appeal directly to your instructor's department head. If that doesn't solve the problem, you can appeal further to the Dean of the Health Care Program. Or, your university might have a hearing process for resolving academic misconduct. At UCLA, for example, you have the right to present your full case, including opening and closing statements, evidence, and witness testimony.
You never want to try to take on an academic misconduct defense by yourself, though. Cases can be complex, and the stakes are high. Even a warning on your record could impact your certification, licensing, and even job applications. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can work with you to develop a strong defense, help you gather and organize evidence, and even offer feedback on how to present your arguments.
Disciplinary Misconduct
The classroom isn't the only place where you're under scrutiny. Your college or university pays attention to everything you do. It also has a Code of Student Conduct set up to govern your activities.
Once again, your school's policy will be unique, and if you really want to know what can get you into trouble, you should look for an online copy of the Code. Some prohibitions, though, are almost universal.
- Substance abuse: Drug use and possession are almost certainly banned on your campus. Even if you live in a state where marijuana is legal, it remains illegal under federal law. Most schools also have strict rules about who can drink and where alcohol is allowed.
- Discrimination and harassment: Most schools bar all forms of discrimination and harassment against any member of the campus community. Certainly, it will have rules against harassing or discriminating members of protected groups, such as women, minorities, students with disabilities, and those in the LGBTQ community.
- Weapons possession: Most schools also ban weapons from campus. This includes firearms, fireworks, and any other combustible materials, and it applies even if you are otherwise licensed to possess those weapons.
- Disruption: All schools have general policies against disruption, whether you're creating a disturbance in class or at the student union.
- Theft: You'll likely face serious consequences for theft, whether you're stealing from another student or from the university.
As with academic misconduct, you can be sure that your school will have some form of judicial process for defending yourself. Sometimes low-level allegations are handled through administrative review. If there's a possibility you could be suspended or dismissed, though, your school will allow you to make your case at a hearing. Keep in mind that the standard of “Responsibility” (guilt) on college campuses is usually “preponderance of the evidence.” That's a much lighter standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Again, any Responsible finding can jeopardize your future. Any time you're facing a charge, you need the best help you can get. That means contacting someone from the Lento Law Firm. We're defense attorneys, but we're not just any defense attorneys. We're specifically focused on helping students get the fair treatment they deserve.
Sexual Misconduct
If you're enrolled in an education program that receives federal dollars, that program is required to hold students accountable for sexual discrimination and harassment. Any type of sexual misconduct, from making an inappropriate comment in class to stalking, dating violence, and rape, is covered under Title IX guidelines.
Because this offense is so serious, the minimum penalty is usually suspension. The most common penalty is dismissal. The good news is the government also gives you some important due process rights any time you find yourself accused. For instance, you are entitled to
- Receive the same treatment as the Complainant (your accuser)
- Be presumed “Not Responsible” (innocent)
- A thorough investigation
- The chance to review all evidence
- Advanced notification of all meetings and proceedings
- A formal, live hearing
- An appeal
- Investigators and decision-makers who are free of bias
Because procedures are mandated by the federal government, a sexual misconduct case can be even more confusing than the typical university disciplinary case. To mount a true defense, you need to know things like how your school defines “consent,” what qualifies as admissible evidence, and what questions you can ask Complainants.
Luckily, you also have the right, under Title IX, to bring an advisor with you to your hearing, and this advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can work with you both to prepare your case and to deliver it.
Getting Help
Most colleges and universities allow you to bring an attorney with you to all hearings and other proceedings, not just Title IX hearings. Your attorney may not be able to speak on your behalf during these hearings, but they can be on hand to offer advice. University allied health programs understand that the stakes are high—your career is on the line—and they generally want to make sure justice is done.
Whether your school allows this or not, though, you need someone from the Lento Law Firm to help you prepare and present your case. It is no exaggeration to say that your entire future is at stake any time you've been accused of misconduct. The process can be confusing and, quite frankly, incredibly stressful. A Lento Law Firm attorney can ensure things go smoothly. They can monitor what happens and respond any time your program seems to be violating your rights. They can work with you to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
The Lento Law Firm was specifically built to handle allied health student cases. Our Student Defense Team knows what's at stake for you—how much work you've put into getting where you are and how important your career is to you. Whether you're facing a serious misconduct charge like rape, or you just need help negotiating a better grade from your professor, you can count on us to have the knowledge and the experience to get you the best possible outcome.
If you're an EKG tech student with a problem, don't wait to see what will happen. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
