Duties
As a sleep lab technician, you will use a variety of monitoring equipment for the sleep studies you'd conduct. One is called an EEG, which records the brain's activities while the patient is asleep. You'll be working underneath a sleep technologist or clinical director. Some of the duties that the sleep lab tech is responsible for include discussing sleeping studies with the patients they're studying. They are also required to collect data about the patient and check on them while they're sleeping during the study. In some cases, they could help with the maintenance and scoring of sleep study records.
Education
To become a sleep lab technician, you will have to study in an accredited program that trains polysomnography professionals. You will need to have good communication and technical skills, like being able to monitor the oral and nasal airflow of patients.
Settings
Many in this field work within hospital sleep centers or independently. They work during night time hours and could be exposed to chemical vapors.
Compensation
The average annual salary for this field is between $35,000 and $50,000. How much you make is determined by where you live and your level of training. Some could hold a managerial position in the sleep lab.
