New grad, want to work in Cath Lab! Need advice.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 14, 2008

We hire nurses from CCU, ICU, SICU, ED.

We have hired some from the PACU as well.

You will need to know your cardiac rhythms, meds (oral and IV and infusions), have good assessment and organizational skills, a solid understanding of pathophysiology and hemodynamics (what do the changes mean for this pt?), and critical thinking skills.

You will (hopefully) gain wisdom and intuition as well, working in a busy ED or ICU.

Good luck to you!

angel110600 · Feb 17, 2008

I work in the Cardiac Cath lab, it took me 6 long months to even get considered a position here. I have been a nurse for 5 1/2 years and worked 2 of those years on a Cardiovascular stepdown unit. You really need experience to work in the cath lab. Training is brief, 6 weeks because you are already expected to have basic knowledge of EKG's ACLS and BCLS.

I find I have to anticipate what will happen the patient in reference to what the doctor is doing. You have to analyze data very very quickly. Even if we have a doctor present most of the time, they are not focused on the "whole picture" the main goal for the doctor is to open the artery. You are responsible for a lot of things. Things can gete hairy quickly! Knowing what to anticipate next is important. You really have to study study study too.

I would highly recommend starting on a cardiac floor. If you do want the position and end up getting it, consider extending your training.