I think I caught the cath lab bug

Published Mar 20, 2008

1,381 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

Howdy.

I'm a second-semester nursing student, but I think I've decided I want to work cath lab at some point after graduation. I've worked in hospitals for years- I'm an EMT and also a pharmacy tech, but for the last 5 years I've been the hospital's central telemetry monitor tech, so EKGs are second nature to me.

Yesterday in clinicals I had two heart patients on an IMU floor, and got to go with both to cath lab. One had a PTCA with stent place x3 to the LAD and the other was a pacemaker insert. I felt right at home in the lab and now I want to know what's the best path to get there given my experience.

Until yesterday, I planned to take an ICU internship at my hospital and move into the SICU once we move to our new tower and start taking higher acuity patients.

For cath lab, however, am I correct in thinking you want nurses with ICU experience? I highly doubt- even with my EKG background, I would get hired in the lab right after graduation.

Thoughts?