Cath Lab Digest - January 2008 - (Page 20)

20 SPOTLIGHT JANUARY 2008 William Skinner, MD, Cath Lab Medical Director, BHVI Board Member David Cassidy, MD, BHVI Board Member orientee is assigned to a preceptor based on licensure and training needs. The average timeline to complete orientation is twelve weeks, but is evaluated at intervals to meet the employee’s needs. Each orientee is required to obtain basic life support (BLS), complete and pass a 2-day basic dysrrhythmia course and exam, as well as the American Heart Association’s advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). We employ only RNs and RT(R)s in the cath lab. Critical care experience is preferred. Radiologic technologists are required to be registered. We have employed RCVTs (registered cardiovascular technologists, now the RCIS credential) in the past, but none currently. The registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) is not required, but recognized. Skill competencies are designated annually, either on the job or via simulation to maintain the highest level of competency. What type of continuing education opportunities are provided to staff members? Central Baptist has a well-developed and active education department. The hospital has routinely held annual symposiums for stroke care, cardiac services, med-surg nursing, oncology and women’s care. Central Baptist also offers online learning modules that include the annual mandatory topics. The Baptist Heart and Vascular Institute offers cardiac “Grand Rounds” each month for our physicians and staff, which has been very well attended. The hospital provides CEU/CME certification for attendance. The interventional cardiology department has a designated nurse educator for the cardiac cath lab and pre and post interventional units. We are fortunate to have an education center within the heart institute building, complete with auditorium, classrooms, audiovisual center with designated staff, and a kitchen/ bistro to cater our events. How do you handle vendor visits to your lab? We do not allow company vendors in the lab unless there is an educational need. Staff in-services must also be provided when a vendor is present in the lab. Several vendors have supply contracts that include access to the cath lab for various days per month. All vendors must check in to the purchasing department for badge access when they arrive at the hospital. How is staff competency evaluated? Competency is evaluated by the orientee’s preceptor during that process. Annually, skill sets are chosen for staff to do hands-on demonstration in order to prove competency. ACLS is required of all staff and a rhythm/ waveform test is required before staff is deemed competent to monitor cases. Does your lab have a clinical ladder? Our facility does support a clinical ladder called “Professional Practice Model” for nurses. It is based on years of experience in nursing as well as year of expertise in your area of practice. The ladder promotes clinical skills, knowledge, committee service and continuing education. The Nursing Leadership committee governs the “Model” and has staff nurses, educators, and administrative representatives. We do not have a clinical ladder for RT(R)s. How does your lab handle call time for staff members? The cath lab stock area. The call team consists of one RN, one RT(R) and a third person, either an RT(R) or RN. We have multiple shifts of 8, 10 and 12 hours. We do not have a cardiologist on site. Within what time period are call team members expected to arrive to the lab after being paged? Our call team has a response time of 30 minutes from time of being paged. Do you have flex time or multiple shifts? Employees have time off during slow periods. We use slow periods for cross-training staff in other roles and scheduling competencies, staff meetings, etc. Does your cath lab do electives on weekends and or holidays? Yes, we do elective cases on Saturday. We have 3 staff members and one transporter that are scheduled for hours of 7am to 5pm on Saturdays and an on-call team as well. All staff are required to rotate working Saturdays. We do only emergent cases on holidays. Has your lab undergone a Joint Commission inspection in the past three years? Yes. Our first unannounced survey will be in 2008. Where is your cath lab located in relation to cardiac surgery, the emergency department (ED), and radiology department? Our cath labs are located on the second floor, directly down the corridor from the operating room and cardiac intensive care unit. Because CBH is a tertiary facility, many of our transfers are received directly into the pre-procedure area of the cath lab CVOU. Our ED is located on the first floor of the hospital, directly across from the radiology department. In emergent situations, our ED staff and cath lab staff have access to an elevator for immediate, non-stop transfers to the cath lab. What trends do you see emerging in the practice of invasive cardiology? With the drug-eluting stent market expanding, the number of choices

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cath Lab Digest - January 2008

Cath Lab Digest - January 2008 Central Baptist Hospital Contrast Media Use in High-Risk Patients An Ergonomic Survey of Cath Lab Repetitive Stress Injuries Contents Clinical Editor’s Corner Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, a.k.a., Transient Left Ventricular Apical Ballooning Syndrome: An Acute Coronary Syndrome Imposter Searching for the Key to D2B STEMI Intervention News STEMI Interventions: Commentary The Massachusetts Stent Study The Value of Educating Staff Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A Column for Those New to the Cath Lab SICP* Chapter Updates The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals Holds an RCIS Review Course at New Cardiovascular Horizons 18:20 To Denver — One Student’s First Clinical Experience CEU Education Center Meetings Calendar What Do You Think? Clinical & Industry News Classifieds The Ten-Minute Interview with…Heather Vardon, RN Advertisers Index

Cath Lab Digest - January 2008

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