Changing specialties while traveling

[MissAnthrope]

I'm traveling as an ICU/CCU nurse..was wondering if I could be considered for a Cath Lab or Interventional Radiology assignment. It seems to me that basically you administer the sedation, and monitor the patient, which given my critical care background I feel like I could do well. However, I have not ever worked in a cath lab, so the equipment would be new to me. Is it possible to do this? Has anyone changed their specialties while traveling?

[suzanne4, RN]

It will depend on if you can find a facility that is willing to hire you. There is much more to working in a cath lab than giving sedation. Orientation programs for seasoned CCU nurses is usually a full three months to get it done.

As far as Interventional Radiology, you need to know the different catheters and procedures being done, and do at times gown and assist the physician. Procedures are also done by the IR nurses as well in some facilities, so that would require training.

There is no other area that is as simple as giving meds and monitoring. They each have their own little requirements that make them different.

Check with your recruiter, but most facilities want experience in an area and usually are not willing to train someone unless that are really desparate. And if they are that desparate, then that should be a red flag about the assignment to begin with.

[MissAnthrope]

Thanks for the reply. I certainly didn't mean to oversimplify or downplay the nurses role in either IR or Cath Lab so I apologize if it seemed that way. :zzzzz

[suzanne4, RN]

Nothing to apologize for, the issue comes down to finding a hospital that is willing to train you. And if you do come across one, it usually means that they are desparately short and that is not usually a good thing for the nurse.

Best of luck to you.