ED Nurse To Cath Lab

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Specializes in ED nurse.

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I  have been an ED Nurse for 7 years and am so burnt out. I recently decided that I want to move to IR or Cath lab although I don't have experience in these areas. The cath lab has an open position right now!  I  wonder if I should just go for it and apply? or should I  wait and read the Morton Kern book first and familiarize myself with cath lab procedures? Also someone else suggested that I ask to do a shadow day in both departments. ( I work at UCLA). Help! a part of me thinks I should just go for it since I looked and there is a posting now ..  I am definitely nervous ...

I also remember how scary the ED one was as a new grad and now I own it ? any thought and opinions are much appreciated. 

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I would strongly second the suggestion that you shadow, and for a full day at least.

My view on Cath lab and EP lab is that they can be boring and monotonous, certainly not everyone's view but if your only experience is in ER then keep in mind that this is the polar opposite.

It's certainly interesting at least at first, learning about and watching various procedures, but eventually that gets old.  

Mainly, it's not an area where the nurses work as independently or with as broad of a scope as you do in other areas such as ICU or the ED.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

apply and shadow ? see what you think 

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I did a quick stint in cath lab a few years ago, and I definitely recommend doing a shadow day. Some questions to ask:

- who makes up the call team (usually it is a 3-4 person team of 2 RNs/2 CVTs/1 interventional cardiologist

-what are call requirements (we were required to do 1 full weekend per quarter and 1 weeknight per month). 

-ask about the types of cases and patient population (I worked at a pretty busy cath lab, not unusual to have 40-60 cases scheduled any given day)

-When shadowing see how the team works, I.e. is there mutual respect. 

 

Like MunoRN pointed out, cath lab nursing can become boring quickly. There's a strict recipe for every case. 

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Specializes in ED nurse.

Thank you so much for that great advice ! I really appreciate it . I

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