Registered Nurse - Cath Lab

WellSpan Health•Chambersburg, PA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is responsible and accountable for implementing, directing, and coordinating patient care through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Care includes recognizing and treating physical and psychosocial changes relevant to the adult patient population served. The department has three cardiac catheterization suites and a 13-bay pre- and post-procedure care area. Procedures include cardiac catheterization, permanent pacemaker and AICD implants, electrophysiology studies, ablation procedures, carotid stenting, transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE), and cardioversions. Care is provided to adults aged 18 and older; pediatric procedures are not performed. The position is part-time, 40 hours biweekly, working Monday through Friday on 10-hour day shifts. Staff participate in an on-call rotation. Orientation lasts 16 weeks to six months and covers all aspects of the department. The RN provides pre-procedure preparation and education, procedural support, recovery care, follow-up, and discharge assessment. The role also requires maintaining procedural competencies and collaborating with physicians, other departments, disciplines, and bedside nursing staff to meet patient needs.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Eligible for or currently licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in Pennsylvania.
CPR certification required.
For Cath Lab, proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation, conscious sedation, and ACLS is required or must be achieved within six months of hire or transfer.
Experience applying customer-service behaviors and communication skills required.
Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation required for Cath Lab.
Demonstrated participation in educational programs to update and maintain current knowledge and clinical skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
Previous nursing experience in the specialty area preferred.
One year of acute-care nursing experience in ED, Cath Lab, CCU, IMCU, or Tele-Observation preferred for Cath Lab.
Certification in the specialty preferred.

Responsibilities

Implement, direct, and coordinate patient care using the nursing process: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Provide safe medication administration, accurately transcribe physician orders, and complete chart checks to identify missed orders.
Assess patient education needs and provide education using appropriate resources.
Analyze assessment data, identify priority problems, document plans of care, and use problem-solving skills to plan care.
Recognize changes in patient condition, respond appropriately to emergencies, and report changes during procedural recovery.
Complete and document pre-procedure and post-procedure assessments, preparation, teaching, follow-up, and discharge assessments.
Schedule Cath Lab patients; make pre-procedure and post-procedure phone calls; provide procedural instructions; and prepare charts.
Verify patient identity, review diagnostic studies and consents, confirm H&P documentation, and notify physicians of abnormal results.
Monitor patient response during recovery and assess discharge readiness according to established criteria.
Maintain intravenous therapy and provide appropriate airway management and response to airway complications.
Remove venous and arterial sheaths and manage vascular complications; calibrate arterial lines and draw blood from them.
Apply transcutaneous pacemakers and demonstrate competency in cardioversion and defibrillation.
Use high-risk and commonly used Cath Lab medications safely, including dose calculations and initiation and titration of vasopressors.
Maintain sterile technique, perform point-of-care testing, and complete 12-lead EKGs.
Provide accurate SBAR handoffs and coordinate care collaboratively with other departments and disciplines.
Assist with procedure flow and circulating, providing the physician or assistant with needed equipment; assist with TEE and cardioversion procedures.
Demonstrate appropriate use and care techniques for IABP, Impella, and temporary pacemaker therapies.
Use ancillary procedural equipment, including cleaning it, and assist with operation of x-ray equipment as permitted by governing bodies.
Follow radiation safety practices and complete annual radiation safety education and malignant hyperthermia education.
Participate in the on-call rotation and function as a virtual nurse when assigned, including admissions, discharges, education, documentation, and collaboration with bedside nursing staff.
Maintain department policies, quality, safety, environmental, and infection-control standards; keep work areas clean as required.
Complete required education and in-services on time and support professional development through educational programs, literature, meetings, and workshops.
Attend at least 50% of staff or committee meetings and area in-services; support teamwork, customer service, fiscal responsibility, and service improvement.
Use proper body mechanics and safely position, transfer, and transport patients.
Provide leadership through the nursing process and supervision, maintain accountability for patient treatment and outcomes, and serve as a resource for patient care, specialty practice, orientation, and staff teaching.
Respond calmly to delays, apologize for inconveniences, and offer alternatives.