Cath Lab nurses- mask or no mask?

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · May 18, 2012

I haven't seen any CDC guidelines on this. Where I work it is recommended you wear face shield and gown when you pull, but most of the nurses have this down to a science and don't wear anything.

Check with your employer as well.

Tess Deco RN · May 18, 2012

nurses wear masks with eye protection in the cardiac cath lab where i work. i think universal precautions would apply since the patient's artery is being accessed and blood exposure is a risk.

you might want to contact [color=#474747]the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions! they may be able to furnish you with guidelines or at least refer you to someone who can. here is a link to their site and contact info!

contact us - the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions

sauconyrunner · May 18, 2012

Thank you both!

I am the Infection Control Nurse, so "checking with my employer" is not really an option, we are working on what our policy should be. I did FINALLY find the CDC guidelines for Cardiac Cath labs. And of course they do recommend a mask and hair cover and gloves.

sauconyrunner · May 18, 2012

I haven't seen any CDC guidelines on this. Where I work it is recommended you wear face shield and gown when you pull, but most of the nurses have this down to a science and don't wear anything.
Check with your employer as well.

I'd hate to be one of those nurses not wearing the recommended gear the day that something doesn't go as planned and they have an exposure!:uhoh21: (I had a horrific blood shower one day putting in an NG tube, and that does not recommend or require anything but gloves...)

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · May 18, 2012

I'd hate to be one of those nurses not wearing the recommended gear the day that something doesn't go as planned and they have an exposure!:uhoh21: (I had a horrific blood shower one day putting in an NG tube, and that does not recommend or require anything but gloves...)

Oh, I see. Its recommended but getting your team to comply is another story.

sauconyrunner · May 18, 2012

After today, OnlybyHisgrace- I think the whole problem may be related to the leader of this area....but thats a whole different story... Grrrrrrr.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 18, 2012

As an OR nurse, I can say that I'm appalled by the "sterile technique" utilized by our cath lab. They set up their table wearing only mask and sterile gloves (what keeps their untucked shirt from getting against the table?), the only people wearing masks in the room are the person at the table and the cardiologist. The most shocking thing though, is what was said by some of the RCIS folks who came to the OR to observe: "We don't really do sterile procedures. It's just clean." Are you fing kidding me?!? You're shoving wires and stents into the HEART and CORONARY ARTERIES and it doesn't need to be sterile? Let's just say that when our hybrid OR, currently under construction, opens, they are in for a rude awakening about sterile technique. What they do will not be allowed on combination procedures.

In a different case but kind of similar, we used to treat our cystoscopies as "clean" procedures. No mask or gown required, just gloves. That no longer happens because of the UTI numbers following cystoscopies.

Zookeeper3 · May 19, 2012

Everyone in the room has masks, hair net and booties on. The scrub tech has eye protection for obvious arterial reasons. When we go to interventions, or are inserting an IABP, I swap my mask for the eyeshield one, takes a second. Circulating, i'm never near the sterile field unless a pump is being inserted.

Any one entering the room is cap, mask and booties, no exceptions. Now if you can invent light weight lead.....

MunoRN, RN · May 19, 2012

Mask, hat, and booties for anyone in the room. There actually CDC guidelines you can refer to; central line insertion guidelines.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · May 19, 2012

I was asked by the cath lab manager to find some CDC guidelines for covering hair and masking in the Cardiac Cath Lab. I said, sure, no problem...then I started looking.
Seems there is a lot of disagreement and variation in Cath labs.
Can anyone tell me if there is some sort of RECENT guidelines for Cath lab attire? I've never worked in the Cath Lab, but I am surprised that I couldn't really just pull up some sort of agreed upon standards. Have I missed something? THank you!

I can't give you standard guidelines but here is a good site. HeartSite.com located at http://www.heartsite.com/html/cardiac_cath.html has a wonderful simulated cath lab with photos. If you go through all the sections, you may acquire a good understanding of the lab, the process, prodedure, etc.

OCNRN63, RN · May 19, 2012

as an or nurse, i can say that i'm appalled by the "sterile technique" utilized by our cath lab. they set up their table wearing only mask and sterile gloves (what keeps their untucked shirt from getting against the table?), the only people wearing masks in the room are the person at the table and the cardiologist. the most shocking thing though, is what was said by some of the rcis folks who came to the or to observe: "we don't really do sterile procedures. it's just clean." are you fing kidding me?!? you're shoving wires and stents into the heart and coronary arteries and it doesn't need to be sterile? let's just say that when our hybrid or, currently under construction, opens, they are in for a rude awakening about sterile technique. what they do will not be allowed on combination procedures.
in a different case but kind of similar, we used to treat our cystoscopies as "clean" procedures. no mask or gown required, just gloves. that no longer happens because of the uti numbers following cystoscopies.

i have to wonder how much of this change from sterile procedures to clean has to do with hospitals wanting to cut costs and just rolling the dice when it comes to infections. i've been working as an rn for 27y, and i can't believe how many procedures that were once sterile are now clean. with all the superbugs out there, you'd think we would be extra vigilant.