What do the surgical nursing assistants do in the cath lab?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I was just hired to work as a surgical nursing assistant in the cath lab at my hospital and I'm very excited to start. Thing is I have never worked in the cath lab before, but I have worked as a nursing assistant on other floors.

What are the job duties for a surgical nursing assistant there? What are their tasks? What's a typical day like? Any answers will help. Thank you.

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Did you ask these questions during the interview?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Well, the assistants we have in the OR are responsible for helping clean the rooms between cases, stocking rooms, assisting with positioning and patient transfers. As a nursing assistant in the cath lab, you'll probably be doing something similar and not having much patient contact.

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I used to work as a CCL tech and worked in both the prep/recovery area as well as in the labs. I was able to do a lot in that position. I started IV’s, pulled femoral sheeths, and helped with ADL related aspects of care in the prep/recovery area. In the CCL’s I mostly helped with cleaning rooms between cases, finding equipment, and getting patients in/out of the labs. I also would make the sterile procedure tables. There was also a lot of time I got to spend watching cases. It was a great job! I hope the lab your working in is similar to my old lab then you will learn a ton. It was a great place to work before I went to nursing school. Good luck!

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On 2/21/2019 at 3:48 PM, thatswhatshesaid said:

I used to work as a CCL tech and worked in both the prep/recovery area as well as in the labs. I was able to do a lot in that position. I started IV’s, pulled femoral sheeths, and helped with ADL related aspects of care in the prep/recovery area. In the CCL’s I mostly helped with cleaning rooms between cases, finding equipment, and getting patients in/out of the labs. I also would make the sterile procedure tables. There was also a lot of time I got to spend watching cases. It was a great job! I hope the lab your working in is similar to my old lab then you will learn a ton. It was a great place to work before I went to nursing school. Good luck!

Hi! What qualifications do I need for this? CMA? CNA? Thanks

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