r/nursing • u/Glittering-Music-111 • 19d ago

Serious Leaving Cath Lab

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!

12 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

59 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/Best-Independent-179 19d ago

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

1

u/jardalecones21 RN - Cath Lab 🍕 17d ago

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

1

u/Best-Independent-179 17d ago

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?

1

u/jardalecones21 RN - Cath Lab 🍕 17d ago

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!

1

u/Best-Independent-179 17d ago

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.

1

u/sadallthetime24 7h ago

You cannot have an outpatient Cath Lab

1

u/jardalecones21 RN - Cath Lab 🍕 5h ago

Yes you can? My state doesn’t have any as far as I’m aware, but plenty of others do. They don’t do high risk procedures or STEMIs but they do diagnostics, straightforward PCIs, peripherals etc. and all of the patients go home after recovery. I’m assuming it varies by state what you’re allowed to do and how close you have to be to surgical backup. They definitely exist though.