RVS study plan
RVS · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Vascular Technology
Identify the physical principles of ultrasound (frequency, wavelength, propagation speed, attenuation) and state typical values used in vascular imaging
Describe continuous-wave and pulsed-wave Doppler, including the Doppler equation and the relationship between velocity and frequency shift
Explain spectral Doppler display parameters (scale, baseline, gain, wall filter) and how each affects the waveform
Differentiate color Doppler, power Doppler, and B-flow in terms of sensitivity, directionality, and artifact susceptibility
Your checkpoint
Create a one-page formula and parameter reference sheet covering the Doppler equation, aliasing threshold, and knob-to-waveform effects, then self-quiz with 20 recall items and score at least 85%.
Vascular Anatomy and Physiology
Map the arterial tree from aortic arch to pedal vessels, naming branch points and common variants
Trace the venous system including deep, superficial, and perforating veins of the lower extremity and the upper extremity drainage pathways
Describe the hemodynamics of arterial flow (pulsatility, triphasic waveform, resistance) and venous flow (phasicity, valsalva response, augmentation)
Correlate waveform morphology with expected normal findings at the common carotid, femoral, popliteal, and tibial levels
Your checkpoint
Draw and label a full-body vascular map from memory, then annotate expected normal Doppler waveforms at six sites and verify against a standard anatomy text with no more than two corrections.
Vascular Technology & Vascular Anatomy and Physiology
Perform hands-on knob drills for optimizing 2D gain, color box steering, sample volume placement, and Doppler angle correction
Demonstrate correct angle correction (60 degrees or less) and explain the error introduced by incorrect angle
Recognize common artifacts (aliasing, mirror image, twinkling, flash, motion) and state the corrective action for each
Integrate anatomic landmarks with transducer selection and preset choice for carotid, abdominal, and peripheral venous exams
Your checkpoint
Complete a 30-minute simulated or supervised scanning session on a normal volunteer or phantom, log five artifacts encountered with the correction applied, and pass an instructor or peer checklist.
Vascular Pathology and Diagnosis
Classify arterial pathology: atherosclerosis, thrombosis, embolism, dissection, aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, and fibromuscular dysplasia, with characteristic ultrasound findings for each
Differentiate venous pathology: acute versus chronic DVT, superficial thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency, and varicose veins
Interpret diagnostic criteria for carotid stenosis (velocity thresholds, ratio criteria, plaque characterization) and peripheral arterial disease (waveform changes, ABI correlation)
Explain the role of ultrasound in dialysis access surveillance and graft/AVF failure patterns
Your checkpoint
Build a pathology-to-findings matrix covering at least 12 diagnoses with key velocity, waveform, and imaging criteria, and score at least 80% on a 25-question self-made quiz drawn from the matrix.
Vascular Pathology and Diagnosis & Vascular Patient Care and Safety
Apply a structured diagnostic report format including indication, technique, findings, and impression for a carotid and a lower-extremity venous exam
Identify patient safety risks: thermal and mechanical bioeffects, ALARA principle, and output display indices (TI, MI)
Describe infection control practices, transducer disinfection levels, and safe handling of sterile fields during vascular access procedures
Explain patient communication and comfort measures for anxious, pediatric, or mobility-impaired patients during vascular studies
Your checkpoint
Write two complete mock reports (carotid and lower-extremity venous) with accurate terminology and a safety section, then have them reviewed against a rubric with at least 90% of required elements present.
Vascular Patient Care and Safety
Outline pre-, intra-, and post-procedure care for vascular patients including vital sign monitoring, site assessment, and recognition of complications
Describe ergonomic practices and injury prevention for sonographers performing prolonged scanning
Identify regulatory and accreditation considerations relevant to vascular laboratory practice (quality assurance, credentialing, equipment maintenance)
Explain how to handle urgent findings and critical results communication according to a defined escalation pathway
Your checkpoint
Create a one-page patient safety and critical-results checklist and role-play two scenarios (post-catheterization bleeding and incidental critical carotid stenosis) with a study partner, documenting the escalation steps taken.
Vascular Technology & Vascular Anatomy and Physiology & Vascular Pathology and Diagnosis & Vascular Patient Care and Safety
Complete a full-length timed practice exam under test conditions and record domain-level scores
Review every missed item and map it to a specific domain and sub-topic for targeted remediation
Re-drill weak areas in technology and pathology using spaced repetition over the week
Refine test-taking strategy for image-based and calculation items
Your checkpoint
Produce an error log of every missed practice question with the correct concept, domain tag, and a one-line rule to remember, and raise the domain-level score in the two weakest domains by at least 10 percentage points on a retest.
Vascular Technology & Vascular Anatomy and Physiology & Vascular Pathology and Diagnosis & Vascular Patient Care and Safety
Consolidate high-yield facts across all four domains into a final review sheet
Rehearse rapid recall of normal values, velocity thresholds, and waveform patterns
Simulate exam-day logistics including timing, breaks, and question pacing
Verify readiness by meeting a target score on a final full-length practice exam
Your checkpoint
Pass a final full-length practice exam with a score of at least 80% overall and no domain below 70%, and submit the completed final review sheet.
Milestones
Week 4: Score at least 80% on a 40-question mixed quiz covering Domains 1 and 2, and demonstrate correct Doppler setup and angle correction on a phantom or volunteer.
Week 6: Submit two mock reports and a safety checklist that pass a rubric review with at least 90% of required elements, and correctly answer 15 of 20 scenario-based patient care questions.
Week 8: Achieve at least 80% overall and at least 70% in every domain on a final timed practice exam, with a completed error log showing remediation of prior weak areas.