Email Discussion Group: November 2006 / AHA Edition

Questions:

Pay Scale Differences

Since the EP/Cath lab is a multidisciplined venue, we have a multi-talented group that consists of a variety of different credentialed personnel. I would like to recruit answers/input from the EP Lab Digest readers to my question: What is the pay scale(s) or pay ranges for CVT, RCIS, RCIS, and RNs? For example, here is the approximate pay scale we have at our institution: RN: $29.00 - $32.00; RCIS: $25.50 - $28.50; CVT: $23.50 - $25.50; On call: $4.00 per hour. Patricia C. (To reply to this question, please type Pay Scale Differences in your subject line.)

Competency in the EP Lab

Can anyone give suggestions on how to start a competency program in the EP lab? We have RNs, CVTs and RTs in the lab. I need to get everyone up to speed on stimulating, scrubbing and troubleshooting. Any suggestions! Ronnie Sparrow, RN, CVRN, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas (To reply to this question, please type Competency in the EP Lab in your subject line.)

Discharge Instructions Post EP Studies/Ablation/ICD and Pacemaker

We just started our new EP program. I am searching for discharge instructions for these procedures. If anyone has these documents, do you mind sharing with me so we can tailor our documents to the needs of our patients? Thank you for sharing! Celi Mateo, Director, Cardiovascular, Diagnostic & Treatment Services, Rush North Shore Medical Center, Skokie, Illinois (To reply to this question, please type Discharge Instructions in your subject line.)

Conscious Sedation

I would like to discuss with other labs the boundaries, or lack thereof, of procedural sedation and analgesia. For prolonged cases such as atrial fibrillation ablations, which last varying amounts of time between 4 to 6 hours, are the majority of labs resorting to general anesthesia? Or are they attempting to deeply sedate the patient for this length of time? Melissa Forsyth, RN (To reply to this question, please type Conscious Sedation in your subject line.)

Safety

How do you prevent or reduce the risk of scatter radiation during your procedure? Also, how important is it to you and your staff? K. Russell, Richmond, Virginia (To reply to this question, please type Safety in your subject line.)

In our labs, we use the following to help reduce exposure to scatter radiation: 1. Full length/height lead shields whenever possible; 2. Lead aprons/shields custom made to conform to the shape of the head of the table, which reduces exposure to the sedation provider; 3. Removable lead shields, which attach to the side rails of the table; 4. RadPads that are placed on the field; 5. Leaded eyeglasses; 6. Routine lead suit patency checks; 7. Monthly radiation badge readings. Shawn Heffernan, RN, Clinical Coordinator, Electrophysiology Department There is a product called a RadPad, which is applied to the surgical field, that cuts down on radiation scatter. Go to KOL Bio-Medical Instrument's website (www.kolbio.com/products.asp), and scroll down through the listing of products that this company sells. The last company listed, Worldwide Innovations & Technologies, Inc., manufactures the RadPad. This site will show all the products made to cut down on radiation scatter. You can also use a couple of these RadPads to make a mini drape and apply it to the exam table in hard-to-protect places. Dana St. John, RN, RCIS