I know the work I do makes a difference in patients' lives.

My role is mainly outreach; I go to the Mayo Health System sites and examine patients' hearts with an ultrasound machine. The images are stored digitally on a computer where a cardiologist can read them and then create a report.

One of the most important abilities for this job is to be an effective communicator. You have to be patient because the people we deal with are sick. They may strike you as being angry or impatient, you just have to step back and realize that it is the illness talking, they are not trying to be difficult. The main thing is to treat everyone like they are important. If you slight them or if they don't think you are being sincere, they can tell right away. We spend at least an hour on an exam with a patient so you don't want to be uncomfortable or have the patient be uncomfortable.

Education is the key. Take some colleges courses, and you will guide yourself to where you are most interested. That is really the only difference between someone who has a profession and someone who has a job. If you have a profession, you are going to find that you like going to work. If you have a job, you may not feel that way.

The best part is every case is different. You may do a similar exam with each patient; however each patient is different, which requires you to be creative and a thinker.