Indianapolis, said cath lab nurses need to be able to work autonomously but function well in a team. They also should be able to deliver medications competently. The work can be demanding, requiring on-call RNs to arrive at the facility within 30 minutes of being summoned to treat patients. “Cath lab RNs have a reputation for being assertive and direct,” Sercer said. “But they must be compassionate. Cardiac patients are often frightened and anxious, so good communication skills are important.”
Options abound Cardiac intensive care and progressive care nurses, who work in heart hospitals and within cardiac
units, may specialize in diseases like congestive heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. “They’ve got to be patient enough to recognize what’s going on with their patients,” Brown said. “In the cardiac world, taking time to listen is so important.” She advises cardiac nurses to carefully choose their workplace, too. “It’s important to look at what the hospital has achieved,” Brown said. “If you want to be a cardiac nurse, you want to be at one of the best places.” A hospital environment isn’t the only place to pursue a career in cardiac care. Nurses can work in outpatient stress labs, Coumadin
clinics and heart-failure or rehab clinics. “If you are the kind of nurse who enjoys caring for the same patients day after day and watching them progress, you might want to be a cardiac rehab nurse,” Brown said. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association, and it affects males and females of all ages and races. “Heart disease is pervasive in our population,” Sercer said. “You really have the opportunity to make a difference. It is very meaningful work to me.” ●
Indiana Nursing Quarterly
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indystar.com/nursing
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Winter 2013
17