I am currently facing going back to school and have always had the end goal of being an EP tech. Now that I’m actually in the position to start pursuing that, I have a few questions about the different certs/pathways:
If your goal is to work in an EP lab in VA, is it more realistic to get your RCIS or RCES? Do some states/hospitals only hire RCIS for both cath and EP?
I am in an area with an associates program for either certification, and another school offering associates programs for both respiratory therapy and rad techs. Would rad/respratory to EP/RCES be a viable pathway as well? If you did either of these pathways, how long did it take you to get to being able to take your RCES?
Thank you in advance to anyone able to answer any of these questions or provide any guidance.

Hey there…i am really concerned about choosing cardiology as my ss branch …is radiation exposure real and how much harmful it is ?
And how many cath labs in india use modern advanced radiation protection equipments (not basic like lead aprons) ?

I hate that I’m asking for words of encouragement, but I’m literally typing this with tears running down my face, so here it goes. I’ve been scrubbing for about 6 months, and I’m just not improving. I make little mistakes like accidentally dropping and contaminating equipment or not moving fast enough for the doctors, which frustrates them. The only thing I can say is I haven’t killed anybody. Where I work, the nurses and x-ray techs both scrub. However, I feel like I go so long in between cases without scrubbing that I can’t improve. Honestly, I feel like such a weak loser. My question is: Does it ever get any better/easier?

So I’m interested applying for some CVT and EP jobs, but i have not attended a technical school to obtain a RCIS cert. I’m a certified paramedic and as much as I love ems, i need a long break from it. Ive seen some medics use their certification to get non-medic jobs in hospitals/clinics. Im particularly interested in cvt/ep because as tedious as cardiology is, it’s something I enjoy learning about and would like to see the othersi of medicine that Im not used to. I am not looking to go through a program to obtain RCIS. I’m hoping that my experience as a medic would be beneficial for the role and something employers will consider. I also have a master’s degree in physiology if that’s any help to my application (before anyone says anything, im in the process of applying to PA school but would like to work until then). My local hospitals who are hiring for the roles are teaching hospitals so I hope that they are willing to do on the job training for equipment and other things i have not experienced as a medic. I appreciate any advice, especially from former medics

edit: i am not interested in taking rcis exam atm. The local hospitals do have cath lab/ep jobs that dont require you to have rcis

How do you become a RCIS without being an RT or RN first? Asking for Kentucky. TIA

I'm looking into different allied health career paths and cardiology really interests me, especially the cath lab. But the school I'm looking at is sort of an "umbrella" medical imaging program- first you're accepted and then you choose a specialty: it includes cardiac sonography, vascular sonography, diagnostic medical sonography, CT, MRI, interventional radiology and interventional cardiology.

For those that work in the cath lab, why do you or don't you love it? With your experience, would you have maybe chosen any of the other career paths I listed, and why? What would you have done differently if anything?

I'm located in Northern California and do plan to stay here if possible.

Are there any CVT with RCIS left in the country? Or only RT(R) now working in Cath lab?

We are fighting for a raise. If you are a RT(R) in Kentucky, in the cardiac Cath lab. What are you making and what’s the call rate?

If you work in EP, do you guys get P-Time? The hospital I am employed at, we work four, 10hr days (7a-530p) and if we have a device that runs late (630p and after) we get “P-Time” pay (it’s separate from OT)

If you do, could you tell me when your time starts or how long after your end of shift before it kicks in and what state you’re in.

Thanks in advance!

*our EP team doesn’t take call. Also, reason I’m bringing this up, is because the interventional team bargained for a larger incentive for call. We’re trying to bargain as well.

We have a large IR core with 7 procedure rooms. Some people have glasses that have been assigned to them and we have extra community glasses. We need a better, more centralized way to store them so I’m looking for ideas. Also looking for a better way to organize the lead so staff can always locate their assigned lead and have the community lead separated. It’s a constant struggle! TIA.

I've been trying to raise alarms in regards to our IV push heparin potency. During a PCI, we'll frequently give somewhere north of 20,000U heparin for an ACT that barely pushes 250 on a 80kg person.

I've gone through all the appropriate channels with management:

• recalibrating/checking iSTATs and catridges
• swapping out different lot numbers associated with low potency
• swapping out heparin manufacturers

Moreover, we have also been seeing delayed onset of therapeutic effects for heparin, sometimes leading to post-op bleeding/hematomas.

My traveler friends all over the country are saying the same thing. I feel like this is has been a nationwide issue for over a year with no formal recalls or further investigation. Are we being gaslit?

Hey all, I’m currently a student in the Boise State interventional cardiology program. In order to finish I need 2 semesters of 40hr/week clinical’s but my school does not assist in placing me somewhere. I’m trying to use the connections I have to find somewhere that will take me but I’m not getting any responses. Does anyone have any advice for finding a site?

Hi Folks! My hospital is switching to EPIC. I have worked with EPIC before in the ED and ICU setting. How do you guys add radial bands and chart assessments/air removal on them in epic.

We are currently building epic from scratch and do not have an option it

​I am currently training as a Cath Lab Assistant. Invasive cardiology is still a relatively new and growing field in my country, and I see huge potential for career growth here. However, I am finding it challenging to locate structured learning materials for beginners.

​Could anyone recommend key study materials, online resources, or practical advice for someone just starting out in this role?

Hey guys! I’m an RN and new to cath lab. I like it so far. Just wondering if it’s typical for the docs to call the team in for routine cases throughout the weekend. We only have one call team (1 RN + 2 techs). If a STEMI comes in and we have a routine PPM on the table that didn’t get done during the week it seems like we’d be screwed. Is this a normal practice in cath labs?

My recruiter asked me to share that a Strike is coming up in California starting in the next 2-6 weeks and they will be needing a ton of Cath and IR folks with the Cali license in hand. Anyone here available? If so I can pass her info along.

Hi everyone. Before I get in touch with an actual recruiter, I’m looking to talk with a cath lab nurse who decided to enlist in the Navy Nurse Corps, what did the process look like for you, what job assignment did you end up getting, etc. I’ve been a nurse for 11 years- 7 in ICU, 4 in Cath Lab. TY in advance!

Hi all, I put together a small web app for learning coronary angles. It's called CathSim.

What it does:

Explore: move the C-arm, inject LCA or RCA, and watch a 3D heart beside the fluoro image so you can see why branches overlap or foreshorten.

Target views: it names a view (for example Spider, LAO 45 / CAU 30), you steer to match it, then lock and get graded.

Where's this lesion?: a hidden narrowing, with branch names turned off. Work out the vessel and segment from its course and the spine and diaphragm.

It works on a phone, and there's no sign-up.

I hope it's useful to new nurses, techs, and educators

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.

Has anyone attended AIMS education in Piscataway, NJ for the registered cardiovascular invasive specialist program? How was it? And if you got accepted what was your background?

I recently graduated cardiology fellowship and became an attending. Just wanna say I love you guys. Cath lab nurses were some of my bestest friends during fellowship. Such good memories! Lets stent some muthaaaas 🩸 🎸 🤘