TM6538

Can anyone give me information on respiratory therapists in the cath lab working as a scrub tech at the table with the MD administering medication? Is it in a RCP's scope of practice to inject buffered lidocaine (SQ) or lidocaine with epinephrine(SQ) in a groin site or a radial site(SQ) for the purpose of inserting a sheath or a oozing exit site? Also has anyone experienced a RCP pushing IV Verapamil, Heparin, Nitro as a cocktail for a radial approach? Most of the time the MD is in the surrounding area. I have looked at the RCP scope of practice in Ca and what I have found states medication administration by a RCP (in Ca) can be given in the treatment of respiratory issues. Am I missing something? Is the RCP scope different in a cath lab setting? Where can I find information in that regard? Thanks....

Hello all.. In response to the ER nurse wanting to go to the cath lab... I went to the cath lab after working on a cardiac step down for 15 years.. I truly love my job. I think one of the most important skills needed in the lab is to be able to think on your feet and prioritize. I have found ER nurses to be some of the best at that. One of the hardest things for me to get a handle on was the right heart cath hemodynamics...a work in progress... I think the best way to learn it is to monitor the cases as much as you can..Hands on. IABP's, Cardiac meds etc. At our hospital we were required to obtain our RCIS ( Registered cardiovascular interventional specialist) within 2 years of being hired in the lab. All the studying I did for that test helped quite a bit. Good luck.