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General Purpose of Job:

A professional care giver who assumes responsibility and accountability for the overall direction of non-professional cath lab personnel and activities under the supervision of the Cath Lab RN Manager and the Cath lab clinical manager.  Addresses the psychosocial, physical, and general aspects of patients care related to the catheterization laboratory environment.  Administers peri-operative care for patients undergoing catheterization procedures using general anesthesia, sedation, and local anesthesia when appropriate.  Assists cathing physician and anesthesia with patient monitors, IV’s, leads, patient positioning during procedure and emergency resuscitation and/or intervention.  Maintains communication with the physician(s) as appropriate addressing patient’s condition and procedure.  Assists with the maintenance of equipment and inventory.  Assesses and sets-up procedure room for proper equipment availability, function, and readiness.  Obtains supplies for individual cases and ensures all appropriate needs of the Cardiac Cath Lab team are met.  Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.  Patient care requirements include those of Neonate, Infant, Toddler, Pre-School, School Age, Adolescent and Adult when these patients’ population are served.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive description of duties and responsibilities; employees will perform other reasonably related patient care / hospital business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and or hospital administration as required.

The above statements should be included on all job descriptions.

List the job's essential or most important functions and responsibilities. Include all important aspects of the job -- whether performed daily, weekly, monthly, or annually; and any that occur at irregular intervals.  Standard functions listed below should be included on all job descriptions.

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.

• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines. 
• Administers perioperative care for patients undergoing catheterization procedures using general anesthesia, sedation and local anesthesia when appropriate. 
• Is in charge of Cath Lab room, ensuring that appropriate personnel, equipment, medical supplies available to do procedure.
• Able to operate and troubleshoot cath lab / Point of Care equipment / instruments and clinical applications.
• Educates both patient and family on catheterization care they will be receiving and what to expect post-procedure.
• Documents in a complete and logical manner ensuring all critical information is included on the patient record.
• Acts as a patient advocate.
• Assists anesthesiologist when needed.
• Communicates patient information to the appropriate staff and physicians.
• Utilizes standard precautions in all patient care.
• Utilizes self-directed learning to improve nursing knowledge and skills.

• Checks charts of patients scheduled for cardiac catheterization for permits, patient identification and appropriate pre‑catheterization laboratory tests.

• Assist in resolving any incomplete pre-cath orders, permits, lab tests and arranging support services for caths.
• Individualizes patient plan of care as it relates to the particular procedure that the patient is undergoing as well as to individual patient needs.
• Collaborates with the Cath Lab team to implement the established plan of care for the cardiac patient.
• Assists the physicians with patient and parent teaching with regards to medical and/or surgical intervention for the patient and participating in the discharge planning.
• Assessment of patient condition and/or needs for all pre‑ and post‑surgical cardiac patients and communicating these findings to the cardiologists and surgeons.
• Transports patients to and from the cath lab.
• Communicates with the physicians any questions related to patient needs and anticipated variances in the procedures
• Assists the physicians during procedures by properly positioning and prepping patients and handling samples appropriately
• Administers medications as ordered, takes and records vital signs as needed, collects and documents specimens and delivers to the lab.
• Communicates updates about the procedure and patient’s condition to the patient’s family on a regular and timely manner while observing HIPAA rules.
• Actively participate in breaking down the room after the procedure utilizing standard procedure.
• Enter supply and procedure charges the for the patient appropriately
• Maintains a safe and clean cath lab environment for patients, staff and physicians.
• Assist restocking medications and supplies maintaining appropriate levels for case load.
• Checks equipment and supplies to ensure they are correctly stocked and or safe for patient use.
• Actively participates in Quality Improvement and Process Improvement activities.
• Cleans instruments as indicated for sterilization and delivers and picks up instruments from central sterilization department in OR.
• Attends and participates in all related cardiology conferences.
• Attends mandatory in-services and unit staff meetings

• Performs inventory of supplies and submits a written report as required.
• Attends seminars and in-services offered by hospital.
• Takes initiative to be proficient in the use of Excel spreadsheet and other applications/programs.
• Actively participate in cross-training and learning various roles including but not limited to circulating nurse, hemodynamic recording, creating, editing and then reviewing with physician the cardiac diagram and completing cardiac calculations cardiac cath excel spread sheet for cath procedures as well as EPS (Electrophysiology Studies) recording and pacing.
• Performs and become proficient in all other roles in the Cath Lab like Hemodynamic Recording, Log and Diagram, EP recording and pacing on top of being a Cath Lab Nurse

• Facilitating communication between nursing departments and Cardiology Services, Hospital Administration and Medical Director of Cardiology and CV team and the Cardiac Surgeons.
• Collaborating and or assisting with IRB / Research personnel on projects and data collections.
• Coordinating with physicians’ offices, cardiology clinic and OR scheduler to optimize patient scheduling for cardiac procedures.
• Rotates ON-Call duties in areas designated by Cath Lab Clinical manager within one’s scope of practice and competency.
• Make Post Cath follow up phone calls and document in EMR (Epic).
• Assist in putting Cath, Cardiology and or surgical data into the different Cardiology databases.

Education and/or Experience:

• Graduate of approved school of professional nursing.
• Current or eligible Texas RN license
• BLS, PALS and ACLS certified.
• Previous Cath Lab and or Critical Care Unit experience preferred
• Knowledge of Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease preferred

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations.

• Licensed as an RN in the State of Texas
• BLS, PALS and ACLS certified