Being an EKG technician takes a lot of work. You must get a diploma, undergo EKG training, and complete a licensing program. However, the work doesn’t stop there. As a medical professional, you must have the necessary skills to serve and care for patients.
Our complete guide to becoming an EKG technician lists some of these skills, including hand-eye coordination. This is necessary since you’ll draw blood from patients, attach medical equipment to their bodies, and reposition the equipment as needed. Thus, you need to improve your hand-eye coordination to be an effective EKG professional. Here are some ways to do it:
Get regular check-ups
Your eyesight and hand mobility are essential for hand-eye coordination. Although you see and move as usual, you may have underlying eye and hand problems.
Undergoing routine eye exams will ultimately determine if your eyes are in good working condition. This detects issues that can hinder your abilities, such as poor eyesight or astigmatism. If you’re a busy medical professional, don’t worry because you can virtually book eye exams. This way, you only need to take time off to physically show up on your appointment date. Meanwhile, regular wrist and hand tests help determine mobility issues. There are cases of hand immobility involving the nerves, which can ultimately hinder movement. You can request hand exams as part of your physical check-up if your doctor provides one.
Do aerobic workouts
Aerobic workouts involve training your muscles while doing certain movements. One example is swimming, where you have to look in the direction you’re going while pumping your arms to propel yourself forward. Another is tennis, as you need to hold the racket correctly, continuously have your eyes on the ball, and hit it across the net.
These aerobic activities train your hands and eyes to work together, helping you achieve better coordination. The repetitive movements also train you to move more consistently, benefiting your work as an EKG tech when attaching equipment to the right body parts or areas, for example.
Practice simple hand-eye coordination exercises
Whenever you can’t do aerobic exercises, choose to do simple moves instead. Some eye-hand coordination activities you can do on breaks or in your corner of the clinic include bouncing a ball against the wall, playing darts, and juggling.
Bouncing and catching a ball sharpens your reflexes and ability to pay attention. Playing darts improves your accuracy and precision, which will be helpful in properly drawing blood. Finally, juggling increases your concentration by having you pay attention to multiple items while simultaneously catching them with your hands. Bouncing a ball and juggling are the most appropriate activities to do in the clinic—but only during your free time. Playing darts can be dangerous, so do it at home.
Engage in art activities
Art involves creating something with your hands while trying to make it visually pleasing. Activities like painting, drawing, and knitting are perfect for improving hand-eye coordination. These train your eyes to focus on one thing at a time while your hands work to achieve your desired outcome. Additionally, such activities keep your brain sharp since you’re constantly learning techniques to improve your art, such as new knitting patterns or different ways to mix paint. You don’t have to be good at art to start—just make sure to keep your focus while you're creating. Improving hand-eye coordination is an essential skill for EKG technicians. Practice these tips today to become a better medical professional that provides the best service to their patients.
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