RN Cath Lab

Job Summary

The Cath Lab RN performs the primary functions of a Registered Nurse in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care of all patients in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab (CCL) during. Is responsible for meeting the established standards of Intensive Nursing Practice. Manages assigned staff, supplies, and equipment in the unit. Promotes teamwork with co‑workers, physicians and personnel of other departments. The Cath Lab RN reports to the Surgical Services Director.

• Coordinates and directs patient care to ensure patient’s needs are met and hospital policy is followed.
• Plans ways to solve issues and make improvements.
• Helps maintain performance improvement activities for department.
• Acts as patient educator explaining procedures and answers questions prior to the procedure.
• Assesses and documents the health‑care status of all assigned patients in the CCL as outlined in the nursing standards.
• Completes a comprehensive patient history and physical, including patient interview, psychological and physical assessment, as well as patient’s perception of illness.
• Assesses and interprets patient age‑specific data and provides appropriate, age‑specific treatment.
• Collects data from patient, family, significant others, and health‑care providers.
• Collects data by interview, observation, inspection, auscultation, and palpation. Assesses reports and records: previous records, EKG, urinalysis, radiology studies, hematology studies, chemistry studies, coagulation studies, arterial blood gases, echocardiograms, and glucose tests.
• Recognizes and assesses initial/slight alterations in the patient’s body system (i.e., heart and lung sounds) and verbalizes this among members of the health‑care team.
• Assesses pain and provides individual pain management for each patient if required.
• Interprets heart patterns on monitor and assesses changes in pattern, verbalizing this among members of the health‑care team.
• Organizes assessment data so they are accurate, complete and accessible and so they remain confidential.
• Communicates assessment data in an orderly fashion by reporting, revising, verbalizing pertinent information among members of the health‑care team, and recording.
• Formulates a teaching plan for discharge based upon learning needs, assessed on admission, performs teach‑back and includes family as appropriate.
• Follows radiation safety policies as outlined by the NRC and Hospital’s Radiation Safety Committee.
• Knowledge of cardiac monitoring identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately based upon ACLS guidelines and hospital policy.
• Responsible for patient safety in the CCL and must be able to recognize cardiac arrhythmias and respond according to emergency protocols, operate external/internal cardiac pacemaker and defibrillator. Intervenes with appropriate therapy in the event of cardiac emergencies.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide collaborative patient care and performance improvement activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual educational requirements, i.e., mandatory marbled packets, annual CCL Competency Checklist, and annual ICU/ER/HS medication test.
• Maintains regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and CMS regulations.
• Completes required in‑service assignments in a timely fashion.
• Maintains and ensures patient confidentiality at all times.
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and a cooperative working relationship with physicians, departments and staff.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Ensures compliance with policies and procedures regarding department operations, fire, safety and infection control.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, vision, and core values.

• Current Registered Nurse licensure for the State of Kansas.
• 2 years nursing experience required with diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures; or minimum 2 years Critical Care background with willingness to train.
• ACLS and BLS current provider status.
• Available to fulfill “on‑call” obligations – response in less than 30 minutes.
• Demonstrates clinical competence in basic cardiac physiology/pathology, 12‑Lead EKG interpretation; physiologic monitoring (intra‑cardiac pressure waveform knowledge), pacemaker operations (implantable and external) and other equipment related to cardiac care.
• Ability to use radiographic equipment as requested/assigned within State regulations.