The use of non-lisenced presonnel in the cardiac cath lab

[S. Stell]

I work in a very busy cath lab in Rochester New York. We utilize non-lisenced personnel in a variety of ways. Some monitor some are IABP certified. I would like to know how other labs utilize their non-lisenced personnel. Please let me know how your lab deals with these staff members.

[carolyn54]

I also work in such an enviroment. I feel that they are utilized

more than they should be. Being the one held responsible for

his/her actions are at times stressful. I worry about my license if something goes wrong because of the actions taken by this type of personnel. Granted we have some very responsible non licensed personnel in our lab,but if they are so knowledgeable, why don't they further their education? In a "sticky" situation(a crash & burn case)

I am too busy to watch what every person is doing. Non-licensed personnel

DO NOT have the physiology background to function competently/professionally.I would prefer another nurse in the room.

[cathmarm]

I work in a cardiac lab and a combo lab. We do interventional radiology cases as well as cardiac interventional cases. We currently have only two Radiology Techs. We have 10 nurses. The techs scrub in and manage the equipment. The nurses do the monitoring, and everything else. I would welcome additional techs or registered vascular techs. No offense to any nurses that are sharp and bright... but our techs are so skilled that at times they see things before the nurse does. It is imperative that the nurse have 3-6 month orientation (one with previous ICU experience) If the nurse is weak in ICU- ED experience, minimum orientation should be a year. Otherwise I will work with a skilled tech any day instead. :)

Since I am the coordinator and make the room assigmenents, I make sure the mix is right for the tech and nurse involved. I will not place the nurse in a compromising position or leave the tech with two weak nurses. So the rules for me work both ways. I protect the nurse and the tech, but ultimately, we protect the patient. I will close a room if I can't make it work for us.

[NWCVLRN]

I work in a small caridac cath lab where we also do interventional radiology cases as well. At this time we do not employ unlicensed personnel to work in our lab with the exception of patient transporters to transport patients to and from the cath lab when the patients are stable.