Interventional Radiology Tips Please!

I have no books to suggest, but THAT is some wonderful and exciting nursing, imo! Bet you will love it!

I worked in both the 'plain' radiology dept, as RN for xray/CT/MRI/depts.

as well as rotating to

the "Special Procedures" dept, which fell under radiology wing,

where all manner of amazing things were done under fluoroscopy. My role in the "special procedures" dept, was almost always doing IV sedate while the docs did fascinating fascinating things to the patients, from depositing chemo-like substances directly onto a tumor in the brain via the femoral artery, or doing liver biopsys, to inserting tubes of all types, more types of things than i can list, all done in a room that looked like star trek to me. Techs did all the managing of the machinery and equipment, i was just the Versed/fentenyl fairy in the room, watching the monitor, VS, etc.

Some procedures we also served as almost a 'scrub' nurse role, too, depended on the procedure being done. I especially liked watching the kidneys pumping away.

In the event you would be doing what we used to call "conscious sedate", you could bone up on your cardiac monitoring, as you are only one watching THAT, and study the drugs most commonly used. Almost every hospital has to have you certified (often by that hospital itself) to give IV sedate, with a course and testing, to be qualified to perform that,

but studying ahead of time, can only help.

My hospital also required ACLS and cardiac monitoring tests, too, which are probably things you either already have with your background, or could easily ace.

Fascinating to watch the body under fluoroscopy. It'll be something new every day.

I agree, IR is a lot of fun! I work in a combined cardiac cath lab/IR department, so heading down to "special procedures" adds more variety to my day. There are so many different procedures done in IR, I'm still going in on some things that I've never seen before. I don't really have anything to add about preparation.. basically review sedation medications/reversals and cardiac monitoring, the rest is learn as you go! For my lab, we have a HUGE orientation book with all of the procedures and nursing responsibilities for each procedure, you could see if your lab has something like this to look over before you start. I'll say this much though... once you go procedural, you'll never go back to the floor/unit!

Thank you! I'm gonna read, read, read. Your post was really helpful, thanks again!

A lot of nurses that I encounter that do IR seems to love it! Really looking forward to it!

What are nurses allowed to do with fluoroscopy? I was told only an RT or someone certified in, could operate fluoro. Can an RN pan, move RAO and LAO? Does a RT have to be in the lab on IR or Cath Lab or EP Lab. I have seen all RN labs, and wonder how they get away without having an RT

If I want to transition to IR but I don't have great IV skills, will I still be okay?!

On 12/27/2020 at 11:34 PM, bnurse22 said:

If I want to transition to IR but I don't have great IV skills, will I still be okay?!

I worked with many a nurse in IR who couldn't start any IV to save a life. Now some IR will have you place PICC or US guided IV. However that is a skill that can be taught and US does help. Don't worry about IV, I would worry more about knowing the procedures and conscious sedation. ?

On 12/16/2012 at 5:45 PM, Pghfoxfan1 said:

What are nurses allowed to do with fluoroscopy? I was told only an RT or someone certified in, could operate fluoro. Can an RN pan, move RAO and LAO? Does a RT have to be in the lab on IR or Cath Lab or EP Lab. I have seen all RN labs, and wonder how they get away without having an RT

This depends on where you work. in EP the physician is technically handling the Fluoroscopy while the nurses are charting/scrubbed in. Mostly everywhere else I worked I had an ARRT to handle the Fluoroscopy.