Responsibilities

As directed by the Invasive Cardiologist and Department Manager, the Invasive Cath Lab Technologist provides direct patient care, including diagnostic and/or therapeutic invasive procedures. May provide other support services, dictated by patient needs, as a delivery team member. On-call hours required for 24/7, after-hours coverage for emergencies and urgent procedures with a response time of 30 minutes.

The Invasive Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist is accountable for assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating care for patients served and collaborates with other members of the healthcare team to achieve optimal patient outcomes. The Invasive Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist practices within the scope of licensure and adheres to standards set forth by Grand View Health policies and procedures.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assists physicians for cases performed in procedure rooms including scrubbing, monitoring and circulating. Understands radiation safety measures and uses proper attire and distance to minimize radiation exposure. Solid knowledge base of hemodynamics, diagnostic/interventional cardiac catheterization and peripheral diagnostic/interventional procedures, which include devices and protocols. Provides any support services dictated by patient needs within the bounds of licensure and certification.
• Responsible for daily preparation, including equipment and stocking of procedure rooms. QC checks are also completed and follows up with appropriate measures.
• Demonstrates the ability to assess cardiorespiratory systems for changes in all patients and is able to treat appropriately.
• Carries out medical/surgical asepsis during procedure.
• Observes behavioral and physiologic changes due to medications; takes appropriate actions and documents.
• Demonstrates competency in performance of skills necessary to provide care to acutely ill adult and geriatric patients by following approved standards to provide safe care.
• Recognizes potential and actual emergency situations promptly and responds within established guidelines to meet the needs of the patient.
• Understands proper function of equipment, recognizes potential safety hazards and reports and documents malfunctioning equipment to maintain a safe patient environment.
• Acts as patient advocate to ensure that patient needs are met.
• Maintains patient confidentiality to ensure patients' rights to privacy.
• Participates in the data collection and in various other activities of the unit's specific and hospital-wide Process Improvement Program to ensure that care delivered meets established standards of care.
• Participates in data collection, review and analysis of quality improvement and nursing research.
• Ensures that care delivered meets established standards of care and follows evidence-based practice.
• Collects subjective and/or objective data systematically and routinely by using physical assessment skills to identify and prioritize the patient's actual and/or potential problems or needs.
• Interprets and correlates diagnostic data with physical findings on an ongoing basis to assess the patient and plan appropriate intervention.
• Establishes goals that are mutually acceptable with the patient and/or significant other to set achievable outcomes.
• Initiates discharge-planning process by identifying post-hospital care needs. Collaborates with healthcare team members to meet those needs.
• Establishes a teaching plan based on identified educational needs of the patient and significant other.
• Coordinates plan of care and collaborates with other members of the healthcare team in order to implement care.
• Assesses and monitors the overall needs of patients and family. Ensures that the required documentation is performed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Develops and utilizes verbal communication skills to obtain and/or provide information regarding adult and geriatric patient/significant other. Communicates effectively with members of the healthcare team.
• Implements accepted standards of documentation on patient electronic medical records and other hospital forms to ensure that information affecting a patient, significant other or member of the healthcare team is properly recorded.
• Accepts assignments in a positive and professional manner.
• Assertively communicates concerns, issues and information through appropriate channels.
• Identifies continuing education needs and seeks appropriate educational opportunities to enhance professional development.
• Assists in the orientation of new employees or employees new to the unit, according to established procedures, to promote education within the Nursing Department and developing personal leadership skills.
• Participates in unit-based/hospital-wide committees/task forces that support the mission of the hospital.