A cardiac catheterization lab is a hospital specialty department where patients with heart problems undergo diagnostic and treatment procedures. Physicians, technicians, and nurses collaborate to provide high-quality care to patients. Nurses are in charge of a variety of tasks, including counseling patients, administering medication, and assisting doctors during complex procedures. To work as a cardiac cath lab nurse, you must complete a degree program, obtain registered nurse credentials, and complete a hospital-based training program. An individual can take a certification exam and begin working independently after receiving training.
To work as a cardiac cath lab nurse, you must first obtain a nursing degree from an accredited institution. A community college or vocational school can offer a two-year associate’s degree, or a university can offer a four-year bachelor’s degree. The majority of future cath lab nurses opt for bachelor’s degrees because the longer program provides students with more in-depth training. Anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and basic nursing techniques are all taught in nursing school. Most schools allow students to participate in practical internships in order to gain practical experience.
After earning a bachelor’s degree, a person can sit for a licensing exam to become a registered nurse. A person’s knowledge of patient care, common tasks, medical terminology, and hospital ethics is tested through a written or computer-based registered nurse exam. To gain experience in a fast-paced nursing setting, most new registered nurses begin their careers in critical care centers or general hospitals. After a few months or years as a registered nurse, a person can look into specialized programs at local hospitals and heart clinics.
Most hospitals’ cath lab training programs include both classroom studies and several hundred hours of supervised nursing in actual cath lab settings. A nurse is introduced to various cardiac conditions and learns about the tools and techniques used to treat them during training. Although the length of training varies, a person who wants to work as a cardiac cath lab nurse should plan on spending at least six months in a program before being allowed to work unsupervised.
After completing their training, many new cardiac cath lab nurses choose to take voluntary certification exams to improve their credentials. Respected regional and national governing boards administer certification tests to ensure that nurses are fully prepared for the complex responsibilities of cardiac care. A newly certified nurse typically has a lot of job options in general hospitals and specialty clinics.