Interventional Radiology and ER

[Jessmartinez017]

Hello Everyone,

I have been a ED nurse for almost 3 years now. I was wanting to spread my wings and start travel nursing. Im wanting to travel to Colorado to start because I have family living there but the only positions available are interventional radiology. My recruiter told me they are accepting ED and ICU nurses. I know we do moderate sedation in the ED almost on a weekly or even daily basis. I'm just nervous about accepting a position that is not ED and would love everyone's opinion.

Thank you!

[NedRN]

I think you will find it pretty easy. There will be some sterile technique required, but you should have that experience in the ED, just not with the size of stuff you will be opening (often twice the length of a chest tube). It is possible that your sole job will be sedation and there may be enough other staff but you may have to circulate (like an OR nurse) as well as do sedation. Try spending a few minutes or even a shift in your current hospital's IR to see what they do.

[Jessmartinez017]

Thank you for your advice!

I'll probably spend a shift with an interventional radiology nurse at my hospital to know what I'm looking forward too.

[NedRN]

As a further note, IR experience will not enhance your resume for continued ED work. However, if you like it generally, you may be able to work your way up to cath lab (sort of a continuous ACLS code) for a big increase in pay (as a traveler). Even IR may pay well currently, look - they are so desperate they are recruiting ED nurses!