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Cardiac catheterization labs diagnose and treat heart problems. Nurses counsel patients, administer medication, and assist physicians during procedures. To become a cardiac cath lab nurse, one must complete a nursing degree, obtain registered nurse credentials, attend in-hospital training, and pass a certification exam. Training involves classroom studies and supervised nursing in real cath lab environments. Certification exams are available to improve credentials.
A cardiac catheterization laboratory is a specialized department in a hospital where patients undergo procedures for diagnosing and treating heart problems. Doctors, technicians and nurses work together to ensure patients receive quality care. Nurses are responsible for many important duties, including counseling patients, administering medications and assisting physicians during delicate procedures. A person who wants to become a cardiac cath lab nurse needs to complete a degree program, obtain registered nurse credentials, and attend an in-hospital training program. After receiving training, an individual can take a certification exam and begin working independently.
The first step in becoming a cardiac cath lab nurse is to obtain a nursing degree from an accredited school. An individual can earn a two-year associate degree from a community college or vocational school or a four-year degree from a university. Most future cath lab nurses choose to pursue bachelor’s degrees as the longer program provides students with more in-depth instruction. During nursing school, students learn about anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and basic nursing techniques. Most schools allow students to participate in practical internships so that they can gain experience in the field.
After completing the course, an individual can take a licensing exam to obtain registered nurse credentials. The registered nurse exam, written or computer-based, tests a person’s knowledge of patient care, common tasks, medical terminology, and hospital ethics. Most new registered nurses begin their careers in general hospital intensive care centers to gain experience in a fast-paced nursing environment. After working as a registered nurse for several months or years, a person may seek out specialized programs at local hospitals and heart clinics.
Cath lab training programs in most hospitals involve classroom studies and several hundred hours of supervised nursing in real cath lab environments. During training, a nurse is introduced to different heart conditions and learns about the tools and techniques used to remedy them. The length of training can vary, but a person who wants to become a cardiac cath lab nurse can usually expect to spend at least six months in a program before being able to work unsupervised.
Many new cardiac cath lab nurses choose to take voluntary certification exams after finishing their training to improve their credentials. Certification tests are administered by respected regional and national boards of directors to ensure nurses are fully prepared for the complex responsibilities of cardiac care. A newly certified nurse usually enjoys many job opportunities in general hospitals and specialist clinics.
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