Nurses in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory
Who they are, what they do and which devices they use: a research-based profile for recruiting this target group for MedTech and pharma projects.
Overview
Nurses in the cath lab prepare patients for procedures, monitor them during the procedure and care for them afterwards, including psychological support. They provide sterile assistance in coronary angiography, PTCA, right heart catheterisation, biopsies and structural interventions, as well as in electrophysiology studies and device implantations. They also act as circulating staff, record and evaluate haemodynamic measurements, document and manage materials. In emergencies they assist with resuscitation, intubation and ventilation and care for patients on organ support. They use medical devices according to the instructions for use and observe radiation protection.
Profession by country
Fields of use and typical tasks
Herzkatheterlabor
Evidence from: DE, AT, CH
- Preparation and follow-up of cardiac catheterisation
- Sterile assistance in diagnostic and interventional procedures
- Monitoring patients throughout the entire process
- Documentation of procedures
- Operating the medical devices in the lab
- Contributing to myocardial infarction care during on-call duty
Specializations
Devices and systems they use
- Haemodynamic recording system (cath lab)
- Electronic health record (EHR)
- Intra-aortic balloon pump
- Emergency trolley
- Point-of-care testing analyser
- Angiography system
- Electroanatomical 3D mapping system
- External temporary pacemaker
- Intensive care ventilator
- Intravascular imaging system (IVUS/OCT)
- Cardiovascular Information System
- Medical registry and quality assurance documentation system
- Fixed X-ray system
- Radiation protective apparel (lead apron)
- Telemetry monitoring system
Who they work with
- Interventional cardiologists
- Medical technical assistants
- Surgical technical assistants
- Anaesthesia teams
- Ward and intensive care nurses
Frequently asked questions
Who operates monitoring and the recording workstation in the cath lab?
The assistant and nursing staff record and evaluate haemodynamic measurements and document the procedure.
In which roles do nurses work during a procedure?
As circulating staff and organisers, at the recording and measurement workstation, or as sterile table assistants.
Which devices do they work with in emergencies?
Ventilation, ECMO, ventricular assist systems and intensive care haemodynamic monitoring, plus resuscitation and intubation assistance.
When do they work outside regular hours?
After induction they join the on-call service at night, at weekends and on public holidays.
Which prior experience is considered helpful?
Intensive care experience with clinical understanding and emergency routine, plus a basic understanding of medical technology.
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Related target groups
Same work area
Same specialty
Sources
- Arbeitsplatzbeschreibung Herzkatheterlabor, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (DGK), Sektion Assistenz und Pflegepersonal in der Kardiologie (DE)
- Perfekte Voraussetzungen: Intensivpflege im HKL (Cardio News, Cardio DGK intern), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (DGK), Cardio News (DE)
- Funktionsbereich Eingriffe: Herzkatheterlabor (HKL), Universitätsklinikum Münster (UKM), Pflegedirektion (DE)
- 30 Jahre Herzkatheter und Elektrophysiologie, Ordensklinikum Linz GmbH Elisabethinen (AT)
- Kardiologie: Team, Ordensklinikum Linz GmbH Elisabethinen (AT)
- «Wir versuchen, den Patienten die Angst zu nehmen und Sicherheit zu vermitteln», Hirslanden AG, Hirslanden Klinik Aarau (Hirslanden-Blog Karriere) (CH)
- OP und Interventionsräume, Hirslanden AG, Hirslanden Klinik Aarau (CH)
- Adult Cardiac Catheterization Lab, unit scope, UF Health Shands Hospital (Gainesville, Florida) (US)
- Nurse, Cardiac Catheterization, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Northern California Health Care System (US)
- Heart Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab), nursing departments, INTEGRIS Health (Oklahoma) (US)
- Cardiac Catheterization Nurse, job description 9347, Cook County Health (Chicago, Illinois) (US)