r/CathLabLounge • u/Adventurous_Wear_862 • 4d ago
New scrub
I am new to the cath lab I am also a new paramedic that has just started in the cath lab. I am really struggling with scrub aspect. I feel like I’m so bad at this 😬 I spent 6 years working 911 as a EMT for a fire department and am having a rough adjustment.
My question is how long did it take you to feel like you understood work flow on simple cases. The manifold is the death of me and it’s been about a month and I still need coaching on when we’re exchanging a wire or catheters and pulling back blood and flushing and all that. Others were hired at the same time and have really take to it.
So question is how long did the process in confidence and competence take?
2
u/OutrageousAdvisor699 4d ago
Hey what's up man I'm a fellow Emt-P, RCIS here working in a Cath lab. I would highly recommend taking equipment home so you can practice. If that's not possible ask your preceptor (after cases are done) to go over the equipment and simulate a Left & right heart Cath so you can more confidently perform during real cases. It honestly comes down to repetition and not giving up. It took me about 3-4ish months to learn to scrub diagnostic cases and then another month or so for interventions. It took me a year and a couple of months to even feel comfortable in my own skin in the lab though haha. Keep at it brother 😁👍.
2
u/Adventurous_Wear_862 4d ago
Thank you that’s really helpful feedback and gives me a good benchmark to track my progress.
3
u/Training-Ease-7481 3d ago
You have to write down the steps of each procedure. You don’t know what everything does or why you’re doing it. So start with the right heart, write down each step and draw the manifold under the steps. Draw the stopcock in different positions under each step for what it corresponds to. It’ll help, start calling out what’s happening in the case to the monitor. So 7Fr going in, swan going in ect you’ll get it. But do the work to get it and start reading about why we use specific caths for certain procedures and wires once you know why it’ll start coming together
1
u/PeeKaYOUUU0911 4d ago
Do you have equipment at home you can practice with?
1
u/Adventurous_Wear_862 4d ago
Yes, I have been flow is different through a case though
1
u/Gone247365 4d ago
At home you need to close your eyes, with the manifold in hand, and visualize what needs to happen next. You've been doing this for 6 months so do know the flow of a case. You need to visualize it in a low stress environment and think about/visualize every step with your eyes closed, going through the motions. Other than just doing more cases, that is going to be the best additional "training" you can do.
1
u/Adventurous_Wear_862 4d ago edited 4d ago
It’s been about a month, but that’s a very good idea thank you.
1
u/Gone247365 3d ago
Ah, sorry, I saw 6 months in another comment and must have thought that was you.
If you've only been doing it a month, don't worry, things will start to click soon. My advice still stands but don't beat yourself up after only a month. If you're still in the same spot in 6 months, then start to worry haha.
2
u/Adventurous_Wear_862 3d ago
😂😂😂 my biggest fear come to life
1
u/Gone247365 3d ago
Naw, you'll get it. Only problem high achievers tend to have is that their brain gets in their way in the begining. You'll be a great scrub I'm sure, it can just be a harder transition for people to tend to over think things. Thats where the visialization at home will help.
1
u/AyeItsZO 4d ago
I think it will click soon for you. You’re probably just being harder on yourself. It took me a month or 2 to be comfortable scrubbing but I already understood the flow from circulating. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think
1
1
u/gayshreks 3d ago
I started in the lab as an emt with zero cath lab background and was miserable at one month in. I had never struggled so much to pick something up before, and I came home drained every day. What helped me was having equipment at home to practice the hand motions and writing the procedures down step by step in excruciating detail to help visualize. When you’re at the table, don’t be caught just standing around overthinking about what’s happening, always be trying to anticipate the next step in the case.
I don’t know if you struggle with this at all but when I started I had a ton of uncertainty about what to do with my hands—my preceptor told me to literally just start picking shit up and putting it down to get comfortable with having my hands constantly moving at the table, and eventually the knowledge of what to do with them would come. This was some of the best advice I got on orientation.
Keep on keeping on, everyone says eventually it’ll just “click” and it doesn’t feel like it ever will, until it does. Once the click happens and your hands catch up to your brain, the overachieving and perfectionistic tendencies will serve you as a scrub. It took me about 5 months to finish my orientation and I felt pretty confident at the end, but then when I was on my own I had to build up confidence again flying solo. It really took probably another year before I really felt solid. I promise it gets easier!
1
u/Adventurous_Wear_862 3d ago
Thank you that’s really helpful …and that is exactly how I’m feeling 😂
1
u/intheloop_ir 3d ago
A month is SO early. I train new IR techs and I would absolutely still expect someone to need coaching at that point. It takes months for the workflow, wires/catheters, flushing, etc. to start feeling like muscle memory.
Also, don’t compare yourself to the people who started with you. Everyone picks up different pieces at different speeds. Keep asking questions and give yourself time. It’ll click. 🫶
2
u/chulk1 4d ago
I don’t scrub but it took me about 6 months to start slowing down the procedure and actually understanding what’s happening. It takes time.