What Do You Think?

New Questions

Cross-Training Duties
In a cross-trained lab, do RTs and CVTs document equipment only and the RN separately handles the moderate sedation and patient care documentation?
Thank you,
Diane Cronin, BSN, RN
Clinical Educator Invasive Cardiology Lahey Clinic
Email: Diane.M.Cronin@lahey.org Cc: athlabdigest@aol.com

Manual Pressure
I work in the cath lab. My main job is to hold manual pressure on all post cath patients. I am trying to find out how many cath labs use manual pressure compared to closure devices. Do any other cath labs have one person that is responsible for holding pressure? Thank you!
Tim Boylan
Email: hematomas69@verizon.net Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com

Cross Training with Recovery Unit
Due to some staffing issues in our cath lab and recovery units, our director of nursing wants cross-training between the areas. We are a 2-room cath lab that also does electrophysiology studies as well as pacer and ICD implants. In the lab, we have 3 full-time (FT) RNs, 1 part-time (PT) RN, 3 FT RTs and 1 PT RT. The 12-bed recovery area has 5 FT RNs and 3 PT RNs. Does anyone cross-train with their recovery area?
Our cath lab RNs do cover recovery for lunches and breaks. I am concerned about the constant changes within the lab and keeping the recovery staff up to date. Thank you!
Sue Irwin, RN, Cardiac
Interventional Educator St. Lukes Hospital, Maumee, OH
Email: susan.irwin@stlukeshospital.com Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com

Staffing with Case Fluctuation
I am doing some research into how to handle staffing when the census/# of cases fluctuates in the cath lab. Any suggestions about how to keep employees’ schedules relatively stable when the case load bounces around so much?
Lois Roorda, RN
Human Resources Business Partner Banner Heart Hospital
Email: Lois.Roorda@bannerhealth.com Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com

Normal Caths & Standard Ambulation Times
How does your institution handle the following items?
1) Do you track normal cardiac cath numbers? If so, how? If yes, what is the criteria in place that defines a normal cardiac cath (i.e., no blockages greater than 15% in any major artery greater than 2mm diameter)?
2) What are the standard ambulation times after a diagnostic cath using 5 or 6 Fr sheaths, when the patient has not received heparin. How long do you keep patients on bedrest after hemostasis is achieved? (Manual holds only, no devices used for closure.) For those responding to this question, do you know of any studies or articles/research that supports this ambulation time?
Thank you!
Annie Ruppert
Email: Annie.Ruppert@sharp.com Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com

Data on Pre/Post Beds per CCL
I am looking for data or research that supports the number of pre/post beds per cath lab. Are there any guidelines on recommendations ratios? Thanks for your help. Kind regards,
Melissa A. Muller
Cardiovascular Service Line Administrator
Bronson Methodist Hospital Kalamazoo, MI
Email: mullerm@bronsonhg.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com