cathlabrn

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1. Cath lab nurses..pls share your wisdom!

   cathlabrn replied to islandgirl97's topic in Cardiac

   I am not sure what your duties are but these departments do require sedation. We are required to have ACLS to give sedation. I have been a cath lab nurse for 8 years and I came from a strong cardiac background. In our cath lab, you need to be a st...

2. 15-20 years post-CABG

   cathlabrn replied to Cabbagehead's topic in Cardiac

   You always hope that grafts will last a long time. However, over time they could occlude. A patient could either need bypass surgery again if he is symptomatic. Many times if it is many years later, when you do the angio you may find the graft dow...

3. Chest Pain

   cathlabrn replied to rn undisclosed name's topic in Cardiac

   I'm not sure if you mean SL or a Nitro gtt. With a pressure in the 90s, and chest pain, I would try the Nitro, especially knowing he's got severe disease. It's really necessary to dialate those arteries, and the nitro can do just that. If the pain ...

4. Advice needed.....dislike cardiac

   cathlabrn replied to Lamissa21's topic in Cardiac

   Try this job for awhile. Set a time frame, if you don't change your mind in 6 months, then move on. For now accept the challenge and give those patients great care. A step down unit is a great place to learn. You will care for so many different t...

5. TR Band following Radial Angiogram

   cathlabrn replied to jobyjoz's topic in Cardiac

   We have done quite a few radials but I have never heard of a TR band. How does it work? We just use a syvek with a radial pressure band. You just tighten manually around the wrist. We can usually close a diagnostic within 20 minutes. We used to d...

6. Cath Lab nurses!! Intro plz!

   cathlabrn replied to Marchantia's topic in Cardiac

   I definitely remember the Bad ole days, dutchgirl. When we first started angioplasty, you could count on v-fib showing up more than once in a case. Complications were part of everyday life. Stents are wonderful, but it took a while to get them per...

7. Cath Lab nurses!! Intro plz!

   cathlabrn replied to Marchantia's topic in Cardiac

   :redbeathe I have been a cath lab nurse for 8 years. It's been a great job. So much has changed for the better in this time.

8. Question for Cathlab/tele/Special proced RNs

   cathlabrn replied to sharann's topic in Cardiac

   They can be rolled onto their side with pillow support behind them. They are still able to keep their leg straight and also to get off of their back. Also, have them bend up the unaffected leg. This takes pressure off of their back. A rolled blan...

9. sheath pulling tips

   cathlabrn replied to kcluvlee's topic in Cardiac

   I have pulled alot of sheaths. I think the two finger method works best. Make sure you find that pulse and get on it. Hopefully, you are using some type of closure patch to help you out. The c clamp is great and saves your hands for charting after...

10. Father still having fainting spells 2 wks after cath...

    cathlabrn replied to LButlerRN2007's topic in Cardiac

    Try checking his pulse when this happens. He may end up needing a pacemaker, or his meds changed. I would definitely call the cardiologist.

11. New Grad question

    cathlabrn replied to mrdoc2005's topic in Cardiac

    I started on a very busy IMCU right out of nursing school and got plenty of med/surg experience. It was a very hard place to work but I learned alot. I am glad that I started there.

12. Blanket Orders

    cathlabrn posted a topic in Cardiac

    We are having alot of issues with blanket orders such as, "continue previous orders", "continue home meds", etc. Even after a procedure such as a normal angiogram, insertion of perma-cath, uneventful angioplasty they want us to rewrite the orders i...

13. how many times can a human be defibrillated?

    cathlabrn replied to TinyNurse's topic in CCU

    I've been a cardiac cath nurse a long time and I think every case is different. Whatever it takes as long as the patient is responding to your efforts in some way. Sometimes multiple shocks and drugs can get you through until you can finish a much n...

14. Non-invasive closure devices

    cathlabrn replied to cathlab_wink's topic in Cardiac

    We try to use angioseal whenever we can. It has been great. We used syvek for years, but then changed to Chito and really haven't experienced any problems. What problems have you been having? What is your ACT required before pulling? We have used...

15. Cath lab, RN/tech mix

    cathlabrn replied to lee1's topic in Cardiac

    I have worked as a cath lab rn for 6 years. We have only one rn cross trained and that was his choice. Our call teams consist of 1 rn and 2 techs. Our techs are awesome. With the exception of a couple, our techs are great in an emergency. If we ...