Nancy Rist, RN RVT

Technical Director
Grand View Hospital
Sellersville, PA

What is your current title and employer?

I am currently the Technical Director at Grand View Hospital, a 250 bed community hospital in Sellersville, PA– 40 miles NW of Philadelphia. Except for 5 years in North Carolina, I have been employed at Grand View in some capacity or another since I was in High School.

When did you start this position?

After graduating from St Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Bethlehem, PA, I worked a few years on medical surgical units before moving into ICU. I worked ICU at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, NC, which is where I first became aware of the emerging technology of duplex ultrasound. I enjoyed my 10 years as an ICU nurse, but in 1986 I saw a job posting for a vascular lab staff position. Remembering the ultrasounds I had seen in NC, I was interested enough to place an application. It didn’t hurt that it was day shift, and no weekends or holidays!

Where and when did you get your vascular training?

I received on the job training in carotid duplex, segmental pressures, and IPGs and MVOs. Over the years as we added equipment and procedures, I augmented my training via conferences, workshops, and technical support personnel.

I was privileged to be involved from the beginning of NEPVC (North East Pennsylvania Vascular Chapter) when technologists from several local hospitals established it in 1990. Over the years I have found these colleagues to be an invaluable source of information and assistance. These are the folks who introduced me to SVT and ARDMS. I love learning and have always been interested in new things, so I started studying for registry exams and earned my RVT credential in 1993.

When did you join SVU?

I joined SVT in 1995 and have attended four of the national conferences over the years. I love the opportunity these conferences provide for interaction and networking.

Are you a member of an SVU Affiliated Chapter? What positions have you served at that chapter and when?

I am the current President of NEPVC and will finish my two year term this year. Prior to this I served for two years as the President-Elect, and before we changed our officer format I served as Vice President in the mid-1990’s. I have also been on the Membership Committee since NEPVC was formed.

How do you think SVU and its Chapters can work better together in the future?

Probably the hardest task local chapters face is obtaining different, varied speakers and topics for meetings. I suspect that if SVU could somehow help local affiliated chapters with speakers for meetings that most affiliated chapters would be unbelievably grateful.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing vascular technologists today?

When thinking about the issues facing vascular technologists, the first thing that comes to mind is government and insurance issues, which SVU does a wonderful job keeping us informed about. Personally, I think the biggest issue is the increasing age of our population, especially the baby boomers, and the decreasing percentage of RVTs to provide care for these people. I would encourage all vascular technologists to look for opportunities to speak to high school students about career choices in vascular ultrasound. I would also strongly suggest that we all learn to see ourselves as mentors to the few students who do choose vascular technology as a career.

What tips would you give to today’s ultrasound students about their career in the vascular ultrasound profession?

My tip for today’s students would be to learn and PRACTICE good body mechanics. Excellent training and credentialing won’t help a lot if you are unable to scan due to work related injuries or pain. I would also encourage students to get involved in a local vascular chapter. The people you meet there provide an unbelievable resource for you, whether you are new to vascular technology or a veteran of many years.

Name of Spouse and Children?

I have been married to Darl for 29 years and we have two sons. D Wes, 27, is an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in Pittsburgh, PA. David, 26, is an IT tech and will be getting married at the end of June. We don’t have any pets; I have found that teaching and training three men was enough!

What do you do for fun and relaxation when not working?

I don’t have very much free time right now for fun and relaxation since I am a distance education student at OIT. I have just a few courses left and should graduate in the spring. When I do have a few moments, I like to read and do counted cross stitch. My husband and I both love to travel, and are hoping to do more of that now that both sons are out of the house.