Cath Lab Digest - December 2007 - (Page 31) 31 to be known as an “Extender” (the docs will have a ball with this one). We need to stay with “specialist,” “technologist,” etc. We have to sustain the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) credential credibility. AS could be: Registered Cardiovascular Physicians Specialist. Registered Cardiovascular Technologist. BS could/should be something like: Registered Invasive Cardiovascular Physician Assistant. Respectfully, Ron V. Boswell, CVT (soon to be RCIS) Salt Lake City, UT Email: rvboswell@cvty.com Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com ■ Our job description now includes that within one year an RN or RT(R) must obtain the RCIS credential (graduates of cardiovascular programs must obtain their credential within 3 months of hire date). cath lab technologist/RN, or CVCC or CRU RNs who have demonstrated competency according to the MHMH competency criteria. Circumstances under which the RN should not pull a sheath are listed in the policy/procedure. If the RN is asked to remove a sheath when a limiting factor is present and feels comfortable in doing do, a note should be written on the flow sheet. The medical back-up outlined in Part I, Section VI will be utilized if problems are incurred when RNs pull the sheaths. 2. Compression device is maintained and released by RNs according to the MHMH policy/procedure. C. Arterial Sheath Removal Protocol 1. Do not feed patient until stable after sheath is out. 2. Check ACT q 1hr until <220 seconds, then q 30 min. until <200 seconds. 3. Pull sheath when ACT <200 seconds. D. Venous Sheath Removal Protocol 1. Pull venous sheath after arterial sheath is pulled and patient is stable. 2. If only venous sheath in place, pull when actual (or estimated) ACT is <200 sec. Right now, we also have to wait until the ACT is 200 to pull venous sheaths, but we are looking at that policy and will be conducting a trial of pulling at higher ACTs. If you’d like any further information or if I can interest you in our Hypotension Protocol (which has saved lives), please let me know. Pamela McLaren, RN, BSN Cath Recovery Unit Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Hospital Lebanon, New Hampshire Email: Pamela.A.McLaren@ hitchcock.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com RCIS Mandatory? We are thinking of making it mandatory for our staff to be RCIScertified. Are there labs that have done this? What has been your process to implement this change? Anonymous Email: cathlabdigest@aol.com Approximately two years ago, we required personnel working in the cath lab (RNs and RT(R)s) to obtain the RCIS credential. We felt it was the one way to measure the knowledge levels pertinent to the cath lab. Surprisingly, it was accepted as a challenge by the staff. Our job description now includes that within one year an RN or RT(R) must obtain the credential (graduates of cardiovascular programs must obtain their credential within 3 months of hire date). Upon passing the examination, the individuals were given a 3% raise and the cost of the test was reimbursed. Some of the people took a semester class online from Wes Todd through Spokane Community College. The only people disappointed were the RCIS people because there wasn't an additional test for them! Good luck! Debbie Herndon, Manager Cardiac Cath Lab Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center Email: debohern@sarmc.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com “Cc” cathlabdigest@aol.com to have your response published in the next issue of Cath Lab Digest. New questions are welcome. Coming next month in CLD*… CATH LAB CAREER The 2007 Annual Cath Lab Digest Salary Survey Results (postponed from Dec 07 publication due to last-minute entries!) Interested in writing for Cath Lab Digest? Contact Rebecca Kapur, Managing Editor, for author guidelines. Email: RKapur@hmpcommunications.com, Tel. 800-459-8657 *Note: Articles subject to change at the editor’s discretion. Personnel Announcements Re: The ongoing discussion regarding the possibility of an Advanced-Level Cardiology Physician Extender Program I am all for the advanced training programs for cath lab professionals. However, “Certified” is less of an accomplishment than “Registry.” “Extender” is confusing in every aspect of the profession. I don’t want Congratulations to Stephanie O’Dell, Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) and Tina Martin, RCIS, who recently passed the Cardiovascular Credentialing International RCIS exam. They work at Parkwest Medical Center Cath Lab in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is in the process of getting all of its cardiovascular technologists (CVTs) registered. Team member Jennifer Vittatoe, CVT, shared the news and noted, “We are very proud of them!” Pass the CCI RCIS exam? Get promoted? Have you changed facilities? Cath Lab Digest welcomes notification of personnel changes for cardiac catheterization laboratories as well as RCIS certification or other licensure announcements. Send your announcement to managing editor Rebecca Kapur at rkapur@hmpcommunications.com, and we will publish it in the next available issue.
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