[DutchgirlRN]

I've been asked to orient to doing tilt tables and gladly agreed. I've never seen a tilt table can any anyone tell me what happens and what I'll be doing? All I know is if the patient passes out then the test is positive.

[dianah]

Dutch, I've never even SEEN one done!
I found the link below, perhaps in reading thru it you can extrapolate the Nursing duties.
Are protocols already written?
I'm pretty sure your MD will have a particular way he wants it done; it's good to check out how other centers do it, to compare (not too many are doing this test these days, although it's still occ. ordered).


http://hora.cpmc.columbia.edu/dept/syncope/tiltfaq.html

Another one (with pictures! ):

http://www.heartsite.com/html/tilt_test.html

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by dianah

Dutch, I've never even SEEN one done!
I found the link below, perhaps in reading thru it you can extrapolate the Nursing duties.
Are protocols already written?
I'm pretty sure your MD will have a particular way he wants it done; it's good to check out how other centers do it, to compare (not too many are doing this test these days, although it's still occ. ordered).


http://hora.cpmc.columbia.edu/dept/syncope/tiltfaq.html

Another one (with pictures! ):

http://www.heartsite.com/html/tilt_test.html

We do 1-3 of them per day. The cath lab nurses do them. They're wanting to pass the responsibility over to the medical imaging nurses. Thanks for the links!

[dianah]

Originally Posted by DutchgirlRN

We do 1-3 of them per day. The cath lab nurses do them. They're wanting to pass the responsibility over to the medical imaging nurses. Thanks for the links!

wow, 1-3 per DAY???
We get an occasional referral for one but not many (maybe 1-3 per year!).

I'd be interested to know what you think of the process, once you learn it.
Will you be able to fit them in, along with all your other duties?
I know some days you're running between buildings!

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by dianah

wow, 1-3 per DAY???
We get an occasional referral for one but not many (maybe 1-3 per year!).

I'd be interested to know what you think of the process, once you learn it.
Will you be able to fit them in, along with all your other duties?
I know some days you're running between buildings!

I never knew they were so obsolete. Interesting....

I do float between the outpatient imaging center and CT/MRI in the hospital. I've had very few days where I have felt like I was being pulled in two directions at once but in general I like it because it keeps things fresh in both departments. Besides, the more I learn the more (I hope) indespensible I become. I'm worried with a new outpatient center opening up just 10 miles from here in April 08. But I keep reminding myself they really have to have a nurse for hydrations, lopressor, conscious sedations, MRI sedations.

We were the first hospital in the South and third in the nation to have the Heart View Scan. One of our Cardiologists is one of those responsible for creating Heart View. Personally I think he's a real arse but he speaks 7 languages fluently (not Dutch, can't be all that!) and apparently very respected among Cardiologists. He and I actually had a big fight several years ago. He wrote me up and I in turn wrote him up. It turned out that admin was on my side which amazed me since he's a big money draw for the hospital.