Interested in cardiac sonography

I've been a nurse for five years and have found that bedside nursing isn't my thing. I'm in the process of getting my BSN with the idea of getting my NP, but have lately thought about heading into a more diagnostic field like cardiac sonography.

I'm having trouble finding an accredited program near my area to study this. Some offer just medical diagnostic imaging, but I'm not finding ones with a cardiac specialty. I live in southeastern IN, about an hour outside of Cincinnati.

I'm wondering whether to go ahead and get my BSN in nursing and try to find a sonography program after that, or to just stop what I'm doing and find education in sonography now. I'm 44 years old, and have to get done with this school stuff and settle into something. I came into nursing late, but while I like to care for my patients I've just about had it with the other aspects of the job.

I love science and enjoy taking care of people one on one, so I think I would be a great fit for sonography. Wish I'd thought of it before I went into nursing! But, I guess it's good that I can help pay the bills with my nursing job while I get the sonography thing in line.

Any ideas about accredited schools in the area. It seems like there are several different accreditations, too, which is confusing. Which one will make me most marketable?

Basically, the idea of having patients lined up that I spend about an hour with doing an indepth testing procedure like sonography, and then going on to the next patient sounds pretty darned good right now. No report, a minimum of harassment from coworkers with attitudes, not nearly the pressures or documentation that nursing demands, lots of autonomy. I like the sound of that FINE.

Thanks all!