RCP medication administration in Ca Cath Labs.

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  1. This is a discussion on RCP medication administration in Ca Cath Labs. in Cardiac Nursing, part of Nursing Specialties ... Can anyone give me information on respiratory therapists in the cath lab working as a scrub tech at...

    by Feb 7, '12
    Can anyone give me information on respiratory therapists in the cath lab working as a scrub tech at the table with the MD administering medication?
    Is it in a RCP's scope of practice to inject buffered lidocaine (SQ) or lidocaine with epinephrine(SQ) in a groin site or a radial site(SQ) for the purpose of inserting a sheath or a oozing exit site?
    Also has anyone experienced a RCP pushing IV Verapamil, Heparin, Nitro as a cocktail for a radial approach? Most of the time the MD is in the surrounding area.

    I have looked at the RCP scope of practice in Ca and what I have found states medication administration by a RCP (in Ca) can be given in the treatment of respiratory issues. Am I missing something? Is the RCP scope different in a cath lab setting? Where can I find information in that regard? Thanks....
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    by TM6538 Feb 7, '12 12:56 am
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  3. 2 Comments so far...

  4. Mar 23, '12 by
    I think you're making a common mistake of confusing a Respiratory Therapist with the Radiology Techs that work in CL. They're both called RTs so it can be a little confusing. I've never seen Resp. in the CL. If so, that does seem highly unusual.
    AmySellers likes this.
  5. Mar 24, '12 by
    Quote from TM6538
    Can anyone give me information on respiratory therapists in the cath lab working as a scrub tech at the table with the MD administering medication? Is it in a RCP's scope of practice to inject buffered lidocaine (SQ) or lidocaine with epinephrine(SQ) in a groin site or a radial site(SQ) for the purpose of inserting a sheath or a oozing exit site?Also has anyone experienced a RCP pushing IV Verapamil, Heparin, Nitro as a cocktail for a radial approach? Most of the time the MD is in the surrounding area.I have looked at the RCP scope of practice in Ca and what I have found states medication administration by a RCP (in Ca) can be given in the treatment of respiratory issues. Am I missing something? Is the RCP scope different in a cath lab setting? Where can I find information in that regard? Thanks....
    Hmm. Trying to find the best way to answer this....Whoever is at the table scrubbed in can do these things in the states I've worked in under the direct supervision of the MD. It can be a rad tech, X-ray tech, surg scrub tech, RN, or CVT.

    The CCL is multi faceted and interdisciplinary. In one of the labs I worked in, there were indeed Resp techs working in it...and EMTs. And they were even allowed to give conscious sedation.
    jelly221,RN likes this.