Am I ready for the cath lab?

[guntheros]

I currently work at a long term acute care, patients requiring 30+ days in the hospital. We work with resp. failure/vents, surgeries that have gone wrong (bad wounds, resp. failure, renal failure, etc.) We have many on telemetry. When we code a patient, we start the code process, but within 2 minutes we have a code team taking over and we just give pt. history and are the runner if need be. I have worked here for 2 years. So... my question is am I ready for the cath lab? Do I have the background needed to be fully competent? I am so nervous that I may actually get the job and not be prepared for it!

Thanks for you honest inputs in advance.

Nicole

[dianah, ASN]

Hi Nicole. Did you apply for a cath lab position? I assume you're ACLS certified, yes? Hmmm, you MIGHT get it, based on your past experience. Have experience w/drips/pressors?

Cath labs I've worked in ALWAYS required ICU experience, although we have hired nurses w/ER and PACU experience.

What kind of a cath lab is it: diagnostic only, or interventional? Is EP done? How many labs? Will you take call, and if so, how often? Is there high turnover?

Let us know how things go! Good luck!