So does anyone here work in Cath Lab?

[RN1982]

I'm getting sick of all the cattiness and bureaucracy in my current unit so I saw a job posting for the cath lab. It would be a pre/post procedural position. What do you do? Is there on-call in your position or in this position? The description didn't say there was on call and I'm assuming this is a day shift position.

[CathRN]

In my previous cath lab, there is more call than you'll ever want, yes, primarily days, but with call, you can be there all hours. Also, the cattiness is over the top!

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

I'm not a cath lab nurse, but work really closely with them at our place. Every unit is different, but call is the norm. A pre and post procedure nurse would be doing the prepping, probably some education and recovery after. Mostly pretty straightforward. Our crew work really well together and have been together a long time, but every place has its own personality.

[juliaann]

I'm a CV tech, and I'm the only person who ever works in the cath lab with fixed hours, and that's only because I'm also the EKG tech for the hospital from 3p-11p M-F. All the other techs and our nurses are here 6am-4pm + call every third night. When there's an after-hours cath between 3-11, I come over and start setting up since I'm already here, as well as 1 other tech and a nurse come in from on call. When there's an after-hours cath between 11p-6am or on the weekends, both techs on call and the nurse come in.

We usually have 2-3 after-hours caths per week. I work in a 300-bed university teaching hospital.

The cath nurses and techs are great. Very laid-back, very fun. Cath lab positions never come open in my hospital, the team that's working there now have been for years. They all enjoy their jobs, despite the frequent call. I