Attn: Cath Lab RN's. (A bit long.)

Specialties Cardiac

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Specializes in ICU. Med/Surg: Ortho, Neuro, & Cardiac.

Okay, so here's the thing. I currently work as a CNA on MS and have been there since January. I'm pretty burnt out and feel like it's time to try something new. I am in school to become a surg tech and then I want to become an RN...and I'm stuck as to whether I want to specialize in Trauma, Cardiac, ICU, or OR...probably OR.

I was looking on the job postings where I work and they have an opening for a Cath Lab Attendant. I have a few questions on that note...

1. Does anyone know what a "cath lab attendant" does? If they are utitilized at your facility, are they simply there to transport patients?

2. Any of you who have done rotations in the OR...is the Cath Lab similar at all?

3. Do you feel, in your experience, it would just be more beneficial to me to keep working M/S until I graduate?

I would also like to add that I am not doing this to "put off" nursing school or as stepping stones to becoming an RN. If at this time I were able to devote myself and attend school to become a nurse, I would. But that will have to wait about another year.

Thanks for your time.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

I don't know what a Cath Lab Attendant does.

The Labs I've worked in were all small (1-2 rooms) and we didn't have one.

As you said, probably help transport.

Maybe help with set-up?

Inventory??

Suggest you contact the Cath Lab Manager and inquire about the duties and responsibilities in that Lab (I suspect they may vary from Lab to Lab).

Good luck! :)

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Specializes in ICU. Med/Surg: Ortho, Neuro, & Cardiac.

Thanks. That is what I plan to do. My thing is, if 99% of the time I'd be transporting but 1% of the time I'd be helping w/ procedures (which I what I want to do) the Cath Lab Manager will probably say "Ohh nooo, it's not all transport, you'll get to see a lot and learn a lot."

You know how management can be. I don't want to get roped into this thinking it we be a good experience. I was a transport tech when I was 15.

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Ask: How many rooms do they run and what is the average (and low-high spread) case load per room per day?

Those answers may give you an idea of how often you'd be transporting.

In all the Labs I've worked, the RNs always transported after the case, d/t the fact the pt. had the "fresh" arterial puncture site.

Is there a current Cath Lab Attendant you could question re: advertised duties cf reality??

Or, do you know any of the Cath Lab staff, to ask them (not mgmt, but those "in the trenches")?

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Specializes in ICU. Med/Surg: Ortho, Neuro, & Cardiac.
Ask: How many rooms do they run and what is the average (and low-high spread) case load per room per day?

Those answers may give you an idea of how often you'd be transporting.

In all the Labs I've worked, the RNs always transported after the case, d/t the fact the pt. had the "fresh" arterial puncture site.

Is there a current Cath Lab Attendant you could question re: advertised duties cf reality??

Or, do you know any of the Cath Lab staff, to ask them (not mgmt, but those "in the trenches")?

Excellent questions. I will def. keep those in mind.

No, I don't know any of the staff in the Cath Lab. I'm gonna keep asking around though and maybe I can find out from someone who knows someone who works down there.

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Is there a current Cath Lab Attendant you could question re: advertised duties cf reality??

Excellent suggestion - I was going to suggest the same.

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Specializes in ICU. Med/Surg: Ortho, Neuro, & Cardiac.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Per an E-Mail from the Cath Lab Manager:

"The Cath Lab Attendant will need to learn to pull shealths and hold pressure, as well as run the ACT test.

The hours will be 0800-1630, Monday through Friday with some overtime to pull shealths. No weekends. No call.

5 cases per room."

This sounds pretty good to me.

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Specializes in cardiovascular surgical stepdown.

interesting... where i work we require 2 RN's to pull sheaths. Seems scary to me to let unlicensed personal pull lines:uhoh3:

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