JobsAdvocate Health

Sonographer Extern

Advocate Health · Burlington, WI

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about your clinical rotations so far. What exams have you gotten hands-on time with, and where do you feel most confident?

whether the extern has enough hands-on scanning exposure to be safely useful in a working department

Tell me about a time you had to adapt a scan on the fly because the patient's anatomy or condition wasn't cooperating.

flexibility and problem-solving under real clinical conditions, not just textbook scanning

Tell me about a patient you scanned who was anxious, in pain, or difficult to communicate with. How did you handle it?

bedside manner and ability to keep a patient comfortable during the exam

Tell me about a time you had to manage several tasks or patients at once during a rotation. How did you prioritize?

ability to work independently and manage competing demands, which this role expects even at extern level

Technical

Walk me through how you'd position a patient and select a transducer for a routine abdominal exam.

basic technical grounding in scan protocol and equipment setup

How do you check that a requisition matches what the physician actually ordered before you start scanning?

attention to detail around order verification and avoiding wrong-exam errors

How do you label and document images so the identification is accurate every single time?

reliability with documentation standards tied to regulatory and billing accuracy

How would you scan and care for a pediatric patient differently than an elderly adult?

understanding of age-specific care principles required by the posting

What steps do you take to protect yourself and the patient from infection risk during a scan?

knowledge of aseptic technique and basic safety habits

Situational

Say you're scanning a patient and you see something on the image that doesn't match the ordering physician's reason for the exam. What do you do?

judgment about scope, and whether they escalate findings appropriately rather than freelance a diagnosis

This is a per diem, as-needed role with a variable schedule. How do you feel about coming in on short notice or picking up shifts that don't follow a fixed pattern?

realistic willingness to work the actual schedule being offered, not just enthusiasm in the interview

Suppose the ultrasound machine starts acting up mid-shift, image quality drops, or a probe seems off. What do you do?

awareness of equipment troubleshooting protocol and knowing when to escalate versus keep working

If you noticed a coworker or even yourself making a small habitual shortcut in labeling or documentation, how would you handle that?

integrity and comfort raising compliance issues in a regulated clinical environment

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 36320 AMC Burlington - Ultrasound Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: No Hou rs Per Week: 0 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Working as needed Pay Range: $21.85 - $32.80 Major Responsibilities: • Competently operates ultrasound equipment to perform general and/or vascular procedures/studies. • Accurately differentiates between normal and pathologic findings. • Reviews patient's medical record to obtain necessary clinical information including patient history, lab results, and physician orders, obtains necessary clinical information from patients, and compares requisitions to physicians' orders to ensure exam accuracy. • Positions patient and selects proper transducer and technical factors for accurate ultrasound procedures. Adjusts factors to attain the appropriate images. Ensures safety, mental and physical comfort of patient. • Uses cognitive sonographic skills to identify, record, and adapt procedures as appropriate to anatomical, pathological, diagnostic information and images. • Accurately identifies and labels images identifying patient name, medical record unit (MRU) number, and location or position of scan on all images. • Maintains records in accordance with various regulatory agencies and enters patient and study information into the radiology information system, and documents billing codes of procedures performed to ensure accurate patient charges. • Identifies equipment performance issues, communicates to appropriate staff, and evaluates new products and equipment for possible future use. • Analyzes sonograms, synthesizes sonographic information and medical history, and communicates findings to the appropriate physician. • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA). Education Required: • Currently enrolled in an accredited or approved program in Sonography. Experience Required: • No experience required. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months training in an accredited program in Sonography. • Clinical competency in abdominal, pelvic and routine vascular exams or those sonographic exams routinely performed by the hiring department. Competency must be verified by the Sonography Program Director. • Knowledge of and adherence to department, facility, and organization policies and protocols. • Ability to effectively communicate with patients and caregivers using excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Ability to prioritize, work independently and manage simultaneous assignments. • Ability to be flexible in schedule and adaptable to constant change. • Knowledge of aseptic techniques. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, and twist throughout the workday. • Must be able to: • - lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • - lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • - carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • - push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • - perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Must have clear speech, vision and hearing. • May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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