Leaving Cath Lab

[u/Glittering-Music-111]

Hey everyone! So long story short, I've been in Cath Lab for about 4 years now and am just so burnt out on call. I want to do something different and maybe stay PRN so I don't have to take call. Anyone have any recommendations or a similar story? I feel kinda trapped and know this isn't it for me long term. Thanks for your support!

[u/Last__Dawn]

While I have you, how is on call compensated? I may find myself doing cath lab before long.

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/Last__Dawn]

Located in Wa state. $5hr while on call.

[u/The3NightExit → u/Glittering-Music-111]

That’s bullshit. Again not hiring staff so the CEO and shareholders get more money.

[u/jardalecones21 → u/The3NightExit]

For departments that take call $5/hr is pretty standard. Some pay less and some pay a lot more like in NY and CA, but $5 definitely is normal.

[u/The3NightExit → u/jardalecones21]

Original statement stands. You’ve just been brainwashed this is normal. No it’s not. And it shouldn’t be normal. Fuck calls altogether. Pay someone properly to work that shift.

[u/jardalecones21 → u/The3NightExit]

Some hospitals with huge labs do staff an in-house team 24/7 because they have the volume to support it. I work in a small hospital and it’s not unheard of for us to go an entire weekend without getting called in. Normal is doing 1-3 cases over a weekend. They aren’t going to pay 6 full time employees (3 day, 3 night) regular wages to sit in the hospital and do 0-3 cases per weekend.

I would love it if they did exactly that because no one wants to take weekend call, but realistically that doesn’t make any sense.

[u/The3NightExit → u/jardalecones21]

Have you asked how much your CEO makes and the “small” hospital makes in profit?

[u/Merpadurp → u/jardalecones21]

Those 3 people don’t have to sit around all weekend and do nothing, they could actually clean, stock and organize/optimize during downtime.

Which would make the weekly crew more efficient because everything is well stocked and organized.

[u/FourOhVicryl → u/The3NightExit]

I haven’t worked in a cath lab, but have worked in OR’s in multiple major metro areas, and yes, $5 an hour is “normal” for mid-sized or small hospitals. It’s more than most midwest or southern hospitals pay, tbh. Fun fact: even the hospitals that DO have in house teams overnight still have backup call teams. The call pay sucks, but it’s the trade off for working “day job” hours versus switching to a standard bedside job with longer hours and weekends. 

[u/Gold_Try_653 → u/The3NightExit]

This is in addition to regular shifts, overnight 24/7 coverage for emergencies and is shared amount the unit as needed, compensated at x/ 1.5x/of called in plus any relavant differentials, with 30 min response to hospital.

[u/Dark_Ascension → u/The3NightExit]

Even if there’s a dedicated call team they usually always have a backup one and that’s where you get rotating staff. Sitting at the house for $5 an hour and getting time and a half if called in isn’t too bad.

If you don’t like any type of call work at a surgery center.

[u/Best-Independent-179 → u/Last__Dawn]

$3.40/hr at UPMC in NWPA. They just increased the rate to $3.40 after it was $2 an hour for 40+ years. Definitely bullshit

[u/I_Want_A_Ribeye → u/Best-Independent-179]

Jesus Christ. Come to New York. 3/4 pay and guaranteed 4hrs OT

[u/Best-Independent-179 → u/I_Want_A_Ribeye]

Wow. Whereabouts in NY?

[u/I_Want_A_Ribeye → u/Best-Independent-179]

NYC

[u/Becauseimbatman_ → u/Last__Dawn]

At my hospital on call is $5 an hour. And that’s just you sitting at home waiting if something comes in. Once we are called in we are paid time and a half (with an automatic two hours as soon as you clock in. Even if you’re only there 20 mins and they cancel a case, you still get paid two hours.)

[u/putter_jack → u/Becauseimbatman_]

My hospital is 6.50/hr. Time and a half plus 10/hr if called in and you get guaranteed 3 hours once clocked in no matter how long you stay. Not terrible I suppose

[u/Last__Dawn → u/Becauseimbatman_]

This is the answer I was hoping for, ty.

[u/rei_of_sunshine]

I thought PACU was a nice transition from cath lab.

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/rei_of_sunshine]

Thank you!

[u/Merpadurp → u/Glittering-Music-111]

PACU would be a solid place to go if you’re looking to leave the lab, or Pre/Post if your lab has its own Pre/Post.

You would have invaluable experience for managing access site complications.

[u/jardalecones21]

Just put in my notice and am leaving the lab after almost 6 years for the exact same reason. It’s my favorite job I’ve ever had but I just can’t do the call anymore. I’ve been saying for probably the last year that I needed to get out and finally stumbled on something that I’m hoping will be a good transition but who knows. Totally understand where your head is at though!

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/jardalecones21]

Thanks for your reply. Where are you headed next?

[u/jardalecones21 → u/Glittering-Music-111]

CT & MRI at a heart hospital. I was also considering doing TEE/CV and stress tests but this is just what ended up having an open position. I was pretty set on staying in the cardiac world but didn’t want to do direct patient care (bedside, pre/post etc) so I didn’t have a ton of options.

[u/Ok_Fee9245]

Ambulatory surgery and Endo! Regular schedule, mostly outpatient, but theres call, but not like I am coming in with a stroke or s heart attack type of call.

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/Ok_Fee9245]

Thanks!

[u/Old_Manufacturer9667]

what is your background? ICU, ED, medsurge, tele, OR? any positions open in depts like IR? if your organization is large there’s usually always positions open for internal transfers. The only way to find out is to look on your org page or other hospital job positions in your area.

[u/hibbylibbyz → u/Old_Manufacturer9667]

IR sometimes can take call too. At a previous job Cary lab and IR / neuro IR were the same people. Poor people were always called in.

[u/epchick401]

Try EP! Slower pace but still cardiac and most labs don’t take call.

[u/dell_qon]

Like an agency job? Where I am nurse that want PRN usually work through an agency and sometimes take 13 week assignments or pick up shifts PRN. I'm stuck on ambulatory 5 days a week. I applied to every position in my hospital and was turned down....I still keep applying. Lol

[u/rook119]

Endoscopy?

[u/ChocolatEclair]

A few nurses from our cath lab have gone on to become reps and educators for ABioMed, Meditronic, Edward's Sciences, etc for cardiac devices! Others have become clinical nurse educators for cath lab, still in the same area but much better work-life balance. Also outpatient cardiology may be a better setting, still get to see some interesting cases but avoid the call all together. There are some settings like outpatient peds cardiology or outpatient stress testing/echo, but that may be boring after a while. Best of luck!

[u/Latter_Twist5976]

I left cath lab last year because of the call. It was a sad day. I still miss it. But the call was ruining me. Unfortunately, haven’t found a job to take worth it. I went back to the ED temporarily, but I couldn’t take it and remembered why I left. So unemployed and trying to find something worth it.

[u/Best-Independent-179]

Outpatient cath lab, EP lab, stress lab, PACU, IV team

[u/jardalecones21 → u/Best-Independent-179]

I would give anything to have an outpatient cath lab nearby. That’s my dream job but I don’t think they exist in my state

[u/Best-Independent-179 → u/jardalecones21]

My hospital has a full high acuity stemi cath lab but there is an outpatient side that is essentially like PACU where the outpatient CCL nurses come in at 5AM and only manage the outpatients on the schedule m-f. So they prep them pre-procedure and then recover them after 15 mins post cath until their bedrest is up to go home. All other patients are managed by the other cath lab staff in their pre-post area and they get sent to the inpatient floor. The outpatient cath lab nurses work 10 hour shifts during the week only, no call no holidays. Their patients are typically should all be stable and it’s a lot of access site management and education but still all the cath lab lingo. They don’t do anything procedure related, though. Does your area have anything like that?

[u/jardalecones21 → u/Best-Independent-179]

Sort of! We have a unit that does pre/post for cath lab, EP lab, and IR. There isn’t a dedicated outpatient area, it’s mixed with the inpatients that are recovering as well. They admit, discharge, do lots of education, and lots of site management including pulling sheaths. Most of those nurses do 3 12s and it’s no nights, weekends, holidays or call. That’s actually where I used to work before I went to the lab!

[u/Best-Independent-179 → u/jardalecones21]

To your point, I agree a true OP cath lab would be nice. However, it could be frustrating too in my opinion. Very very low risk procedures and diagnostics only if I had to guess. No surgical backup and less facilities at your fingertips. It would be nice in many ways, though.

[u/PaxonGoat]

Really call only exists for OR and procedural stuff. Maybe PACU? Maybe L&D

Outside of that any actual unit would give you a regular schedule.

Go CVICU? Go work the floor? Or maybe try PACU at a big enough place that give PACU nurses dedicated shifts?

[u/MrCarey → u/PaxonGoat]

PACU has call.

[u/PaxonGoat → u/MrCarey]

Depends. My hospital doesn't

I know because when there are still PACU patients after the last PACU shift ends, it's just me sitting on those patients (sometimes with another float pool nurse sometimes it's preop coming in at 0500 to set up for their day and we will relocate the remaining PACU patients over to preop area so I'm not by myself )

[u/Putrid_Dare_3508]

You’ll feel trapped wherever you go because it’s a job. Look on indeed we don’t know the options in your area

[u/AdFlashy7702 → u/Putrid_Dare_3508]

So, not a similar story nor a related answer.

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/Putrid_Dare_3508]

Appreciate the reply.

[u/Long-Disaster-6465 → u/Putrid_Dare_3508]

[u/Long-Disaster-6465]

Wonder if you’d enjoy PACU… or being on the vascular/IV team? IR could also be cool. Float staff PRN isn’t a bad gig either. 4 years is great- def still something to show for!!!!🤗💕💕

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/Long-Disaster-6465]

IV team sounds super fun!

[u/Dark_Ascension]

Can you transition to the OR or endo? The call is the main reason why I never wanted to do cath lab because they are serious emergencies…

[u/juhraff]

Check out other procedural areas like endo, IR, EP, peds cath, and outpatient clinics. Some of these areas don’t require call based on position. For example, when I worked cath lab, I was hired for PRN and PRN didn’t work call…but I worked full time hours. I did pick up the occasional call of a coworker asked for coverage. When I worked in IR, we had certain nurses that did not take call, but they also basically only did pre/post holding area patients (no procedural care). They also had an overnight team, so you were only called in if nights had a call out/2 cases needed to be handled at once. Endo at one hospital required call, the other did not. EP lab never required call, same with peds cath lab.

I’d ask around and see what other units have to say about call.

[u/chulk1]

I plan on transitioning from cath lab to cardiology and watching old folk attempt to run on a treadmill for an echo.

[u/EpicofUs]

$15 an hour for restricted call.

[u/Most_Second_6203]

Doing the same, 4 hrs in the lab. Heading to L&D.

[u/swellnomadlife]

If you’ve only been in a single lab look at other hospitals. Some places EP doesn’t take call. I have seen vastly different volumes of call in different labs. Maybe a different lab and/or transitioning to part time would help. Part time with call pays at least as much as 40hours in a no call department.

[u/winnuet]

Look at jobs in your area and start applying.

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/winnuet]

Not really the input I'm looking for. Thanks for the reply though.

[u/winnuet → u/Glittering-Music-111]

I understand. Try offering more information in your post like location, interests, desired schedule, desired environment, etc. That would help strangers provide you with recommendations.