The Cath Lab Registered Nurse is responsible for providing and managing effective nursing care to patients undergoing cardiac procedures, using the nursing process and current standards of care. He/she provides patient education pre and post cardiac procedures. He/she is able to establish IV access, use IV infusion pumps and prepare and administer drugs necessary for procedure and monitors physiological patient responses. Duties include, but are not limited to: Aseptically prepares patient and the surgical field, selects required instruments, catheters, guide wires and ancillary equipment necessary for the prescribed procedure. Preps and drapes patient according to protocol Provides venous access via initiation of an intravenous line and sets IV pump to ordered drip rate and medication dosage. Prepares and administers cardiac medications as directed by the attending cardiologist for all emergency and non-emergency situations in the cath lab and echocardiography. Administers and monitors patients receiving anxiolysis or moderate sedation for all cardiac cath procedures or transesophageal echo procedures. Provides critical care level nursing to critically ill patients which includes maintaining a patient on the ventilator, adjusting critical care medications, critical assessments and notifying staff of changes. Sets up computers in order to acquire, reconstruct and analyze data using various computer software and peripheral devices (digital imaging, and video formatters) to quantitate coronary lesions and to generate ventricular analysis reports, cardiac output, gradients, valve areas and other diagnostic parameters for patient reports. Assists in intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) by calibrating the machine and correlating the mechanics of the IABP with the cardiac cycle and/or pressure waveform. assists in maintaining sterile field, helping with catheter exchanges, injections, and balloon dilatation. Circulating responsibilities include providing supplies, administering medications, monitoring the patient and responding to emergencies, hemodynamic and ECG monitoring, and ensuring optimal performance of radiological equipment. Removes arterial and venous sheaths and achieves effective hemostasis. Assists in collecting blood and expired gas samples to determine Fick and thermodilution cardiac outputs. Dopplers patients with suspected peripheral vascular disease to determine: a) the best approach; and b) document peripheral flow post cath Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1800 (10 hour shifts), on call weekend and off tours required. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Recruitment / Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized PCS Relocation: Not Authorized This is an open and continuous announcement until August 2, 2021. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This vacancy announcement may close at any time after the initial open period once all vacancies have been filled. Benefits Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: Annual leave at the rate of eight (8) hours per biweekly pay period; Sick leave at the rate of four (4) hours per biweekly pay period; 10 paid Federal holidays per year. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years' vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
We believe that good health is the cornerstone of progress. We are firm in our resolve to make exemplary health care accessible and affordable to all, dedicated to lowering the high rate of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, in minority populations and committed to advocacy and diversity. We are guided by ethical principles in all transactions and strive for excellence in our training and skills.
