RN Cath Lab

Description 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. Standards of Behavior William Newton Hospital’s Standards of Behavior allow a mechanism for holding each employee accountable and encourages us to "raise the bar". All employees are expected to familiarize themselves with the Standards and practice them daily.

• i - Integrity We act with unwavering moral principle, transparency, and sincerity in every interaction.
• P - Patient-Centered We meet patients where they are, ensuring the are active participants in their care journey.
• We prioritize the patient's physical and emotional well-being over all else.
• A - Accountability We own our actions.
• We set clear expectations and hold all team members to the same high standards.
• C - Compassion We treat every patient, family member, and colleague with kindness, empathy, and dignity.
• E - Excellence We approach every task, large or small, with enthusiasm.
• We continually pursue mastery and best practices in our field.

Duties and Responsibilities

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 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.