Chachy

RRT's, RT®, and most CVT's have an allied health degree...Radiology and respiratory therapy are at the associates level as well as cardiovascular technician. Also, nurses give medicine under the physicians license. No nurse has the ability to prescribe or give medicine unless under the direct order of a physician. Yes, doctors are aware of this fact. And an RCIS person and a nurse are two different thing. RCIS is specialized in cardiovascular; an RN has no speciality; you can't compare them. In the realm of cardiology...the RN is no where close to knowledge base or skill set of the average RCIS professional.

PS...no matter what your background is, at this point the RCIS is a one part exam....PERIOD! The only people who have the 2 part exam are candidates who applied before 2011; these, most likely, are people who have attemted the exam before and were unsuccessful. The 2 part exam was a cardiac science exam and the RCIS itself. Now it is all rolled into 1.

At my facility, they are not required at this time. Througout the mid-west region, it is slowly becoming a standard. Over time, CCI (the board who backs cardiovascular credentials) is trying to mandate all cath lab people become RCIS. I think it's proper in that is sets a level ground for an education base in the Cath Lab. To the person who says RCIS is an alternative to having a degree...you're wrong. RCIS is an international credential and licensure. It is not a certificate; it is not a replacement for a degree; it's not a state license, it's an international licensure and registration. The scope of practice can be viewed SICP.com. Yes, as much as it will kill you nurses, RCIS people can and do administer medication. Yes this is legal. No, your state doesn't mandate otherwise. It's your hospital or unions that set these bogus rules. Medicare is starting to refuse to pay for serivces of non credentialed people. Although nurses are credentialed as an "RN", they still don't have the RCIS credential. Medicare, in the future, will probably try to get cheap on hospitals and not pay unless people are credentialed in the job they do. Is it right? That's your opinion. It's happening in other realms of the health care service industry, and no doubt will continue to happen. So my suggestion, nurse or not, is to try to challenge the test. It is difficult but do-able. I'm highly suggesting that anyone who has not had a formal education in cardiology take this exam by 2013. After 2013, CCI mandates that all candidates for the RCIS exam go through a formal 2 year cardiovascular training program. I am not spouting off my opinions as this information is all factual. You can verify this at cci-online.org - sicp.com - acp-online.org

Emily...I have trouble with your above statement. Let me give you an example. I've spent over 10 years in the medical field. 2 of which was spent in the US Army as a combat medic! As a combat medic I treated many different types of battlefield and inpatient casualties. I've also given every medication under the sun. I've also had 7 years of Cath Lab experience. I know every cardiac medicine including the chemistry, dosage, indication, contraindication, compatablities, etc. To hear you say something so foolish really strikes a chord with me. I don't think you realize how juvenile the nursing profession is. I'm not dismissing the importance of nurses, or the need for them for that matter, but a nurse is probably the last person I want to see push a med in me. There is a huge lack of education at the multiple facilities I have been to. I'm sorry but having a 2 year degree, doing a couple clinical rotations, and passing an easier board exam (NCLEX) does not make you or any nurse a medical superhero...medince administrator of all, if you will. Now regardless of your degree, wheter it be AS OR BS is besides the point. I'd put my 10 years of experience up again a nurse with 40 years experience. I'd put any of my collegues experience to that same match. You really should open your eyes to these things

Here is the thing I've noticed with the nursing profession. It's over polluted because the attractive price paid per hour. The majority of nurses I work with all hide behind this, " I can legally give medication window." Did you know that there are only 7 states in the USA that mandate the administration of medication by nurse in a hospital setting. Yes, 7! An over obsession with this medication bit is a joke. Hospitals lose money by abiding by these make believe rules. Another sad thing about the health care service industry is that hospitals are overly obsessed with a "nursing coordinator." Or this whole "BSN required" management positions. I don't know about you, but where does all this business experience come in nursing school. Sure, maybe a medical ethics course is offered to BSN's, and maybe you've taken a health administration course along the way. But in now way, does having a BSN prepare someone for the business aspect of the health service industry. Here is my point. I've seen great nurses, and seen ****** one's; overall, I believe, the majority of nurses are high on themselves and view themselves as little doctors. Nothing further from the truth. This profession is slowly turning into a joke and every day I lose more and more respect for this profession. Oh, and this nurses eat their young ********....It's like a little right of passage. It's a lame attempt for nurses to exemplify their **** ass career. Don't disrespect people who are new to the profession. You are a joke if you do. ZDiddy, RCIS