ECT

[kankh]

I am currently a med-surg nurse but I am really interested in doing ECT. Could anyone tell me if there is a certification or training program required to do this? While in nursing school I watched ECT once and it seemed like there was one nurse that was the ECT nurse and the other nurses working there were floated from the psych unit. Is this common? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

In my experience nurses don't do ECTs, only doctors do them. Nurses do help however, kind of like a nurse would help during surgery, before, during, and after. Friends of mine who have worked surgery have also worked with doctors who do ECTs...

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

The Psychiatrist determines the treatment settings & pushing the button.

The anesthesiologist monitors oxygenation & administers medications. The RN does everything else.

In my experience, the primary ECT nurse is usually a psychiatric staff nurse (and read a cardiac monitor) with the other RN or PCT/MA doing the post procedure recovery.

[kankh]

Sorry, I was unclear in my initial post. I was referring to the primary nurse who assists in ECT, not that a nurse actually performs the procedure itself. Thank you for your responses, it was very much appreciated. :)