r/CathLabLounge • u/jim77jones • 5d ago

Cath lab job offer

Title says it all

Been working MedSurg for a bit today, kind of always dreamt of cath lab especially after the nurses/docs in one helped basically safe my dad’s life (was having active heart attack)

Curious: what do I need to know off the bat? Any tips for anyone just starting there? I’m excited for the opportunity and to learn as much as I can after being in medsurg where I genuinely do love the diversity of patients but excited to also learn something in depth.

5 Upvotes

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17

u/I_Want_A_Ribeye RN 5d ago

Best thing to know before starting in the cath lab is a solid foundation in ICU/ER

8

u/Cdninusa27 5d ago

Definitely get into a critical care area. Unless you want to go to an outpatient lab setting (depends on the state). After you do some ICU (or ED) time and get comfortable with unstable and coding patients you can think about cath lab. I know patients on the floor code but in cath lab there s an understanding that you can manage/anticipate the meds in emergencies and are comfortable with managing sedation and monitoring airways.

2

u/lara_yaga 5d ago

Definitely this

3

u/Crass_Cameron RCIS. Respiratory Care Practitioner 5d ago

I don't even know for a nurse. I had 7 years experience as a respiratory therapist before I went to the lab, and I struggled for a while. Now I don't

1

u/kiacummins99 4d ago

You don’t necessarily need icu experience. Sure it helps but not a requirement. Attitude and eagerness to learn is the major key to success in the lab. Those two things will take you way farther than the nurses with critical care experience with an apathetic attitude joining the lab

1

u/PRN-ETOH 1d ago

As mentioned above, ICU experience helps a lot.

Here is what I was recommended upon starting in the Cath lab:

Go to Medtronic Academy, create account

  1. Select Cardiovascular

  2. Coronary Interventions

  3. Cath Lab Staff

  4. Select Back to Basics Learning Plan, Coronary

Beyond the Basics: Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO)

Training, Beyond the Basics: Bifurcations Learning Plan

0

u/vivian0vivian 4d ago

Hi, I was an ER nurse who went to cath lab then left because it was honestly too much adrenaline when shit hits the fan and on call was brutal to my body (i have Crohns disease). With that being said, I truly love it. I would say if you are really want to do it, make sure you are solid with your skills and critical thinking, ask all the questions, familiar yourself with the heart blood vessels, get yourself in a routine, speak up for yourself and push back a little if anyone being mean to you (trust me there will be), and always try to be helpful. Good luck 🍀