Description
Provide specialized nursing care for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology procedures, including pre-, intra-, and post-procedural management. Monitor hemodynamics and rhythms, administer moderate sedation, operate invasive cardiac equipment, and respond to cardiac emergencies to optimize outcomes.
- • Triage and prepare patients for cath lab procedures, verifying consent, labs, NPO status, and contrast or latex allergies.
- • Analyze indications, contraindications, and risks for cardiac interventions; participate in procedural time-outs.
- • Initiate and titrate moderate sedation and analgesia; monitor sedation scores and airway patency.
- • Continuously interpret ECGs and invasive hemodynamics to detect ischemia, arrhythmias, or instability.
- • Scrub, circulate, or monitor during angiography, PCI, and related interventions while maintaining sterile technique and radiation safety.
- • Set up, operate, and troubleshoot hemodynamic recorders, power injectors, ACT analyzers, IABP, Impella, and temporary pacemakers.
- • Prepare and manage anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy; monitor ACT and manage reversal per protocol.
- • Assist with vascular access and device exchanges; manage and secure sheaths throughout the case.
- • Achieve hemostasis for radial or femoral access; apply and manage closure devices or compression.
- • Assess for and respond to complications such as bleeding, hematoma, dissection, perforation, stroke, contrast reactions, renal injury, or tamponade.
- • Activate STEMI pathways and coordinate door-to-balloon workflows.
- • Perform BLS and ACLS, defibrillation, cardioversion, or pacing as indicated to stabilize patients.
- • Collaborate with interventional cardiologists, anesthesia, cardiothoracic surgery, and ancillary teams to plan and deliver care.
- • Obtain and handle specimens; coordinate STAT labs, EKGs, and imaging per protocol.
- • Administer IV fluids, vasopressors, antiarrhythmics, and other medications; titrate based on patient response.
- • Adjust settings on mechanical circulatory support and temporary pacing under provider direction.
- • Educate patients and families about procedures, risks, recovery, access-site precautions, and cardiac medications.
- • Document assessments, sedation, medications, device parameters, radiation dose, contrast volume, complications, and outcomes.
- • Plan post-procedure recovery, monitoring, and disposition; deliver thorough handoffs to ICU, step-down, or recovery units.
- • Monitor access sites and distal perfusion; identify and manage vasovagal responses.
- • Implement infection prevention, contrast nephropathy mitigation, and pressure-injury prevention measures.
- • Participate in quality improvement, registry submissions, and process audits for the cath lab.
- • Maintain readiness of rooms, emergency carts, and supplies; perform equipment checks and calibrations.
- • Contribute to protocol development and staff education; precept new team members.
- • Stay current with interventional cardiology advancements through continuing education and professional activities.
- • Support structural heart or peripheral vascular interventions as service needs dictate.
- • Coordinate patient transitions, referrals, and follow-up appointments after interventions.
- • Perform administrative tasks to facilitate admissions, transfers, recoveries, and discharges.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
