Clinical Responsibilities

To care for all patients undergoing procedure in the catheter lab. 

·        Maintains accurate observations of the patient’s condition, in pre-assessment, day case and laboratory, which ever area allocated to work in.

·        To have specific knowledge and experience working in a catheter lab, caring for patients undergoing procedure and supporting the operator.

·         Knowing and understanding of one’s role in an emergency.

·         Preparing and ‘laying up’ sterile trolley in preparation for the cardiac procedures.

·         Complete WHO checklist and pre/post procedure checklist.

 To be the ‘scrub nurse’ and support the operator during cardiac procedures. 

·         Understanding of cardiac rhythms and the significance of changes.

·         Competence at removal of arterial and venous sheaths and supporting operator when managing haemostasis closing devices.

·         Knowledge of the intravenous and intra coronary drugs administered both routinely and in emergency situations.

·         Knowledge to a variety of catheter lab equipment; catheters, guide wires and balloon catheters and their use in different situations.

·         Knowledge of pacing devices, the leads, and modes of pacing.

·         Knowledge of ablations and supporting the operator.

·         Recognition and understanding of disease in the coronary arteries, device implantation and ablations to ensure the member of staff can follow procedures and update patient if needed.

·         To participate and support during cardiac arrest situation in the catheter lab.

·         To carry out safety checks of swabs, instruments, and needles in accordance with local policy and maintain the highest standard of aseptic technique during the procedure.

·         To maintain accurate records through the ICP and Cerner during the procedure.

 To support ‘on-call service’.

Responsibility for patients

·         Maintain and protect the safety, confidentiality, and dignity of the patient.

·         Demonstrate advance competent clinical practice in the management of cardiac patients, have the knowledge and information to share with patient about diagnosis and

treatment as well as lifestyle modification choices to patients and their relatives/carers.

·         Ensure high standard of nursing care is always delivered.

·         Carry out post procedure care in accordance with the local ASPH policy.

·         The possibility to rotate to Cardiology inpatient area as part of personal or service developments/ patient requirements.

 Communication / Relationship Skills

·         To communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patients care both those from within the organisation and those outside to ensure effective multidisciplinary working. This will include discussion of patient care, and patient progress.

·         Establish good working relationships with surrounding wards at St Peter’s to ensure catheter lab runs smoothly and efficiently.

·         To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. This may include patients who will have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g., patients who may be deaf, blind, or other disabilities.

·         To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news relating to their procedure.

·         To maintain accurate records in line with Trust policy.

·         To attend staff meetings and actively participate ensuring understanding of information imparted.

·         To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting, or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.

 Responsibility for Leading and Managing

·     To assist in the assessment and monitoring of staffing requirements and report problems to the appropriate manager.

·         To welcome new staff to the unit and support the Lead Nurse by helping to facilitate their orientation by promoting a positive learning environment.

·         Deliver teaching sessions to junior members of staff within the team, to ensure the catheter lab remains at a high standard.

·         To be allocated ‘shift leader’ and co-ordinate the day-to-day running of the catheter labs to ensure efficiency in all areas.

·         To participate in the audit process for monitoring and reviewing nursing quality.

·         To take an active role in quality improvement projects across Cardiology.

 Health, Safety and Security

 To monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.

• Responsible for identifying and assessing potential risks involved in work activities and processes for self and others
• To ensure completion of relevant risk assessments and associated documentation.
• To take appropriate action, reporting actual or potential problems that may put health and safety and security at risk.

·         To be aware of risks involved as part of delivering clinical care  and manage this within own patients case load.

• To demonstrate a high level of understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk, actively participating in clinical governance groups.
• To be aware of risks involved as part of delivering clinical care and manage this within own patient case load.

 Education, Training and Development Function

 To act as professional supervisor and utilise clinical supervision and reflective practice skills to enhance development of self and colleagues in the inter-professional team to optimise care.

• To act as a mentor for students and other junior staff ensuring learning that is commensurate with education needs.
• To provide patients and their carers with information, ensuring the best level of understanding as appropriate.
• In liaison with the Clinical Practice Educators and the Practice Development team to develop, evaluate and manage education and training programmes relating to the catheter labs.
• In conjunction with the Clinical Practice Educators and the Practice Development team manage the development and review of competencies for the Cardiology unit.
• To participate in education programmes within the trust and local higher education providers as appropriate. Share knowledge with junior members of the team.

·         Continually update and maintain own professional development through attendance at meetings/study days and through the utilisation of appropriate educational and study resources and actively engage with learning and development opportunities

 Research/Audit/Quality

 To regularly participate in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the speciality.

• To participate in and initiate clinical audit and the evaluation of clinical effectiveness in line with Trust Policies.
• To evaluate your own clinical effectiveness.
• To ensure relevant topics are included in annual clinical governance and service plan.
• To undertake and present relevant evidence based projects.