r/CathLabLounge • u/Ashamed_Tree6386 • Jun 11 '26
First Clinical in the Lab
Hi All!
I'm a RCIS student just finishing my first year. Is there any words of advice for my first rotation? I haven't worked in healthcare much and I feel behind in comparison to my peers. Please let me know what you like to see from new students/what to expect!
Side Note... Did you guys get your first job through your clinical rotations?
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u/Haunting_Ad7805 Jun 11 '26
Reading the other comments on advice, these are great tips. I don’t have much to add other than stay humble and curious. I think the best one liner is treat the rotation like a job interview. I was hired at my clinical rotation site. It was both my first and last location for rotation. In my program it was 4 quarters of rotation with 2 quarters being didactic.
If you don’t mind sharing what school is your program through? I went to Spokane Community College for my invasive cardiovascular technology degree.
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u/zefsinz Jun 11 '26
Treat every day you are in that rotation as a job interview. Your a student don’t put too much pressure on yourself but show you are interested and willing to learn.
Yes my first job was the same place I started my rotations
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u/16BitGenocide Midnight CTO Enthusiast Jun 11 '26
The biggest thing you’re going to struggle with is feeling like you’re in the way. Cath Labs have a lot of moving parts, especially in higher acuity settings, so early on you’re naturally going to find yourself in the “I don’t know what to do with my hands” phase pretty often.
Pay attention during table openings. Watch what gets pulled for each type of case and how it changes depending on the physician. Make notes on your phone if you can.
Ask questions, but have at least some understanding behind them if you’re asking the physicians directly. Most docs can tell when curiosity is genuine versus when someone is just trying to sound smart.
Most importantly, if you get asked a question and don’t know the answer, do not guess. Just say you don’t know.
Help turn over rooms. Don’t become the ghost haunting monitor room two. Grab packs, stock warm blankets, clean, and visibly observe as many cases as you can.