Starting in Cath Lab- nervous

[Nursegal2020]

Hi there! I am starting a new position in Cath Lab next week and I’m NERVOUS. Here’s why: I worked 2 years med surg then 1 year ED (technically 9 months because I broke my wrist.... anyways). ED was definitely “fun” but once I was on my own after training I would get so nervous and worked up prior to shifts because you never knew who/what was gonna roll in.. and worse.. if it would be my patient LOL. The again, I started at the PEAK of COVID so we had soooo many sicky patients right when I was off orientation. Stressful.
Anyways, I wanted something a little less stressful overall but still stimulating. Am I making the right choice? Is Cath Lab decently less stressful than ED? I’m worried I shouldve gone to outpatient surgery but then I feel like I’m selling myself short! Not that OSC is a short sale I’m just a nervous Nellie BUT I DO work well under pressure. I did well in ED, I was just anxious about it alll the time.

 

any advice would be great ❤️

[dianah, ASN]

So many thoughts running through my head right now! 

Cath lab is definitely stimulating, but possibly, with fewer overall unknowns.  Pts have already been worked up, to a certain extent (well, except the STEMIs who come rolling through, and those who crash on the table during a cath). 

You only deal with one pt at a time. 

It is more procedure-oriented, yet patient-oriented at the same time.

You may not get as many adrenalin rushes as with ER.

Some observers have asked me, "doesn't it get boring?  You do the same thing every day!"  Yah, well, every person is different.  They present differently, the reason we are doing the cath differs from person to person, and the outcomes differ (this one goes for CABG, this one for DES X2, this one's arteries looked smooth as a baby's butt!).

You will learn much more about cardiac anatomy and physiology and pharmacology.

Being on call will probably provide you the adrenalin rush you like ?

Hopefully you will work with a solid team.   Take advantage of all the orientation time you can.  

Best to you, keep us informed how it goes!