cath lab staff

[JoL]

HOW DOES YOUR LAB WORK DO YOU HAVE NURSES RADIOGRAPHERS AND TECHNICIANS. WHO SCRUBS FOR PROCEDURES??? WHO CIRCULATES FOR CASES????WHO RECORDES THE PROCEDURE REGARDING PRESSURES AND ECG'S??? DO YOU HAVE HEALTHCARE ASSISTANTS WHAT IS THEIR ROLE??? WHAT DO THE RADIOGRAPHERS DO SCRUB, CIRCULATE OR LOOK AFTER THE IMAGING OF THE PROCEDURE ONLY, DO TELL I AM TRYING TO SEE WHAT OTHER LABS ARE UP TO. WHO IS DOING WHAT AND WHERE

[CCL"Babe", BSN, RN]

Hello Jol,

In my cath lab the team is comprised of RNs and CVTs. We gave up the rad techs when we went filmless.

The monitor role records the procedure and the pressures. Our procedure records are done in a computer system.

RNs can perform any role. We circulate, monitor and scrub. The issue of scrubbing comes into play when there is only one RN in the procedure room.

CVTs can circulate, monitor and scrub, but they can not give meds. Some of our CVTs went to school for CVT, some of our techs are EMT(emergency medical technicians) or paramedics that we hired and trained for the position. We also have some CVT who have no formal training, but have been doing it as long as the cath lab has been there (over 20 some years)

Our team usually is comprised of three members in any combination, but with at least 1 RN. We also have cardiac fellows who scrub in for some cases.

Over all scrubbing is usually everyones favorite role. We are assigned rooms for the day. The staff in the room rotate through the roles.

In prep and recovery we always have at least one RN.

[Cath Lab RN]

We have a combination of RN's and Rad techs. I work in Mass. and the Depart. of Public Health mandates that you have a rad tech (RT) to run the equipment. In fact by DPH standards only an MD. or RT can even turn on the equipment or move the table (and yes we are also filmless). We all rotate through the position of recording. Only RN circulate as we give meds. We just scrub to set up and then break scrub as our docs are adults and can manage to do the procedure. Our RT pans the table and moves the camera. Hope that helps. No CVT's.

[traumarn1]

we will usually have 2 rn's and 1 rad tech assigned to each lab, the rn's are trained to do all 3 jobs....record, circulate, and scrub. the techs can record and scrub. Once upon a time the tech's would circulate but since they can not give drugs we found it to be more trouble than it was worth. The rn's are also responsible for calling the same day admits, patient interviews, same day prep, and post procedure care prior to transfer. At this time we do not have a dedicated area for pre/post procedure caths within the lab or in the house. WE NEED ONE TERRIBLY!!!!! We are required to have rad techs even though we are digital and filmless because of the equipment)panning/ troubleshooting.