Cath Lab vs OR

Specialties CCU

Published

I posted this in the periop section as well since I didn't know which place would be better. I work in peri op now, and I find the OR fascinating. However, I am in a specialty hospital where we do one specialty only. I'm very interested in cardiology, and I'm curious to know how similar the cath lab is to the OR. I've read that nurses circulate and scrub, plus it seems like they do some anesthesia stuff, push meds etc. Having never been in a cath lab it sounds very similar, yet a broader scope of activity at the same time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care: cardiac cath lab/ER/ICU.

My suggestion is to go observe and then go during a STEMI. It's quite different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.
My suggestion is to go observe and then go during a STEMI. It's quite different.

What ^^^^^ said!. Like being on call most of the time? Working in the cathlab is stressful at times. For some folks, it can be a steep learning curve. Having critical care background is helpful x100%. Everybody learns differently. One of our RNs to join my cathlab team came from the ED and he is doing quite well.

Do you have thick skin? Is part of the unwritten list of qualifications as many cardiologists (interventionists) are beyond arrogant and complete ASSwhoole! I have one that if I could, I would deck him out on the spot but I do not want to go to jail since I am still active duty and he is not worth it for me to spend my energy on this waste of mankind.

You circulate but not like in the OR and this depends on the facility/state regs.... I am in a training facility and the students techs have to do most of it. It has been my observation that you do want to learn each facet of the field in sections/phases. Just like in the OR (you have instruments), the cathlab has tons of catheters that YOU must know where to find a JL 3.5 or a 3.5 by 8 compliant or non compliant and the lingo goes on... You sometimes have to predict what exactly is it that the doc wants and so on for a particular case. Not every case will be the same.

You do not want to be guessing if you have the right catheter when the doc is trying to save the ole dude on the table with a full blown STEMI or worst yet, when the vessel ruptures as the doc is trying to open the blocked area up.

You also use meds to moderately sedate these pts but some of them are barely affected by 3-5 mg versed and 200 mcg fentanyl during a case. I like my pts to go to sleep and be quiet, but occasionally you have that pt that remains fully awake and keeps talking or asking if that "500 of nitro" that the doc just gave is the stuff that blows up. We have one literally ask that and the doc was getting annoyed because he could not concentrate. This is where you would come in and tell the pt in the ear to just close his eyes and go to his happy place as the doc is working on his heart and needs full concentration. It usually works.

If you have a cathlab in your facility, stop by and meet your colleagues. Start a networking relationship and let them know you are curious and interested.

Good luck!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment