Pacemaker RN?

[italianrn07]

Hi all, I saw a job posting for a Pacemaker RN at a clinic. Does anyone know what this RN would do or if it is a interesting job? Thanks.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Probably interrogating/programming pacemakers/ICDs.

Like anything, I imagine such a specialized job would be interesting and you'd learn a lot, but I don't know that i could do it for a long time.

[Dinith88]

Hi all, I saw a job posting for a Pacemaker RN at a clinic. Does anyone know what this RN would do or if it is a interesting job? Thanks.

Look into Electrophysiology clinicians/RNs. These are the pacemaker specialists...they help insert them...they work with EP-docs...they work at EP clinics (for people with pacemakers, etc)...

An EP nurse is the the nursing counter-part of the Electrophysiologist doctor.

In plain english...

[KL - NP, MSN, RN]

A device nurse like the previous post is kinda the handy-man for say of the EP doctor - the nurse specializes in knowing the types of devices, how they are implanted, types of leads implanted into the heart, what type of device is used for type of dx i.e sick sinus syndrome, if a patient needs resynchronization due to HF sxs etc for 2 examples - they usually become trained in how to read device settings and how to change the device settings to better the patient based on if they are symptomatic with high/lower hr's, if they are being shocked more often for say VT, etc. - its actually an interesting field hope that helps

[bullseye]

you will be responsible with helping with the insertion and troubleshooting pacemaker, you would be working in an ep lab

[dianah, ASN]

The posting was for a clinic, OP didn't mention EP lab . . ? ?

italianrn07, did you contact the clinic to inquire about the job description and requirements, as well as the nursing duties?

At our hospital we have an EP nurse who runs the clinic, following pts with pacemakers and ICDs and referring pts who need the units placed.

Vendor reps attend the clinics (each vendor has a day for their clinic), are available for consultation, interrogating and interpreting the data.

We in the Cath Lab set up and scrub in on the pacemakers and ICDs but the EP MD and the Fellows actually choose and place the leads.

We always have a rep. from the vendor in the room, for prn assistance and for testing the leads and unit.

Previous place of employment was the same: RNs scrubbed in on pacers to help hand instruments, assist the MD and maintain the sterile field, while another RN sedated and monitored the pt.

The MDs followed the pts in clinic.

Good luck! :)

[onthesnap55]

Although at the time I was not an RN I worked in a pacemaker clinic as a clinician for 5 yrs. The nurses and I all did the same thing. We checked sensing and output thresholds and reviewed rhythm strips that were stored within the device to determine if the device read and if needed treated the rhythm correctly on both ICD's and PPM's. We then made changes according to our findings. There is a lot of training involved in checking devices because there are many functions that are specific to each patients needs. For example if a pt were unable to get their HR up for whatever reason, lets just say they were on Beta-blocker, the PPM has a snesor inside that can tell if the pt is up moving and will adjust their HR to meet their activity needs. The nurse needs to understand the patients needs and point this out to the Cardiologist or EP doctor. On Cardiac Resychronization Therapy devices (used for heart failure) the most important concern is to make sure every heartbeat is paced because in order to sycnchronize both ventricles then you have to pace the heart. I found my passion in devices and went back to college to get my BSN specifically to work for the device companies. I now have my RN (ADN) and I am currently looking for a job to work with devices until I finish my BSN. All the way thru nursing school it was hard for me to focus on the subject at hand. My book almost always found it's way to the cardiac chapters. It's not for everyone, but those of us who do stick with it find it to be very rewarding when you can push a single button and improve a patients quality of life right before your eyes. It doesn't always work like that, but when it does... well your a nurse you can imagine.

[heatherbRN]

Where I work our clinic pacemaker nurse interrogates devices. She sees alot of patients daily and ensures their device is working properly, and can change parameters to optimize therapy. She then relays pertinent information back to the electrophysiologist like when generators are needed to be changed, or if the device is not working correctly. She is an older nurse with alot of experience in cath lab, EP, and CVICU. She absolutly loves her job. She is the only one in the hospital that can do what she does. It seems to be demanding at times when she gets pages to go to the OR because surgeons need devices turned off or whatever. She really gets to know her patients, and she enjoys it. If your an adrenaline junkie then you should skip the clinic nurse and work in an EP lab or cath lab. I work in the EP lab and I get to see and do so much that not many others get to experience.