Patient Care

• As a sleep technician, you will gather and analyze patient information, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). This includes reviewing patients' medical history, medications they are taking, type of test and test guidelines. You will complete and verify all information and explain the procedure to the patient, in addition to helping the patient become accustomed to the sleep lab environment.
  
  

Test Preparation

• You will prepare, according to the AASM, all testing equipment to ensure proper functioning and make any necessary adjustments. You will apply electrodes and sensors correctly and make the appropriate physiological adjustments, while making sure the sensors are sending proper signals. You will also be fitting patients with positive airway pressure (PAP) masks as needed.
  
  

Sleep Test Procedures

• As a sleep technician, you will need to follow procedural protocols, according to the AASM, to make sure the appropriate data is collected. Part of your duties will be knowing how to perform tests such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness (MWT) and parasomnia studies, which include sleepwalking, confusion upon waking, night terrors and sleep eating. Another duty you will be performing as a sleep tech is to monitor PAP and oxygen titration. You will be establishing and documenting beginning values, such as your patient's body position, respiratory and heart rates. You will need to make sure the study equipment is sending good quality signals, document what you observe and implement appropriate actions for patient safety.
  
  

Record Keeping

• Sleep technicians assist with scoring stages of sleep and wakefulness by following professional guidelines. Another part of your job as a sleep tech will be to assist with scoring sleep lab events that can include respiratory and cardiac events and also limb movements. Furthermore, you will help prepare reports of sleep tests.
  
  

Additional Duties

• As a sleep lab technician, compliance with applicable laws and regulations is required. You will also need to adhere, according to AASM, to guidelines and standards relating to safety and infection control procedures. Performing routine care of equipment and maintenance and evaluation of inventory will also be part of your job duties. You will be required to have current basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certifications. Additional skills needed by sleep technicians include the ability to follow directions, effective written and oral communications and ability to respond to any patient injuries by providing correct information.
  
  

Education

• One way to become a sleep technician is to complete at least one year of polysomnographic training with a state licensed or national educational facility. Your other option is to become a sleep lab trainee for at least six months, according to the AASM.