cath lab

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hi everyone, I'm an RN and I don't have any experience yet. I have an offer in an MS ward and someone has offered me a work in the cath lab. Is it advisable to take the cath lab offer? I would have to train first of course. I mean the cath lab offer is so tempting since they're saying that in order to get in, you need to have an experience in the ICU. Please advise me on what I should do. Thanks!!

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

I don't know that is so specialized, and you do need critcal experince to do the job. There will be patients coding, become unstable and critical in a second. Arrythmias, you will need to act fast. and when you are on call and get called in there is less people around to help. It takes a good 6mos to 1 year for an experienced nurse to be comfortable in the cath lab.

You will take call and response time is usually 20-30min, means from the time your pager goes off to when you get to the hospital. Call is why I left the cath lab. It was too hard. and it is very hard work.

Good luck in what you decide.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

Cath lab is pretty stressful. I think it would be really beneficial to have at least a year of experience first. There are a lot of hospitals that offer ICU training for new grads. That would be a great base to launch into the cath lab after you have more experience.

I worked with a new grad RN in the cath lab and she was often tearful and insecure about the massive amount of information coming at her all at once. She had the privilege of patient, experienced preceptors but not all new grads are so fortunate. The first year of your nursing career is going to be stressful enough already without the added pressure of taking on a specialty.

It really is entirely up to how you think you will do. If you feel you can handle the stress and think you would enjoy it then go for it! But, keep in mind that it will be a lot to learn. Best wishes in whatever you choose.

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Well, I really don't have an experience working in a hospital yet since I'm classified under the new grads.. I don't know if I can make it in the cath lab but I'm very willing to learn and adapt to the situation there.

What's being done in the cath lab anyway? And what should i be learning? or reading?

My employer told me that once I agree to work for them, they'll start training me on critical care courses and when I'm ready, they'll let me work and be by myself I guess.

Thanks!!

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
Well, I really don't have an experience working in a hospital yet since I'm classified under the new grads.. I don't know if I can make it in the cath lab but I'm very willing to learn and adapt to the situation there.

What's being done in the cath lab anyway? And what should i be learning? or reading?

My employer told me that once I agree to work for them, they'll start training me on critical care courses and when I'm ready, they'll let me work and be by myself I guess.

Thanks!!

critical care courses is the tip of the iceberg, if they would let you be on your own just after courses. I would say run! You will need (even experieince nurses) extensive training. Cath Lab training requries at least 6 weeks of training probably more like 3-6 months. It will depend on if they want you to scrub or not.

I really don't think the cath lab is a good start to hospital nursing but that is just my opionon.

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