Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A column for those new to the cath lab

You should pay attention to everything. Not the answer you wanted to hear, I’m sure, but it’s true. While it’s true that schoolwork is a lot of theory, you need to have the theory from which to work. Not every case is going to be the same, so if you can refer to theory, you can apply the knowledge you do have as situations change. You also need to stay up to speed in clinical and get as much experience as possible. Get into every case you can and participate as much as possible. Hands-on experience is invaluable, and this is the kind of experience you are more likely to remember than if someone just told you about their own experience. It will be hard and will probably feel overwhelming sometimes, but what we do is serious and requires us to be our best all the time. Hang in there. I need some CEUs. I still have a while before I have to hand them in, but I don’t want to wait until the last minute. Where can I get some...preferably free? Check out the CCI website at cci-online.com. They have a whole list of acceptable CEUs. I also use medscape.com for my CEUs. [Ed. Don’t forget www.cathlabdigest.com. We have several CEU activities online, and notices of upcoming live webcasts where you can also obtain CEUs as well.] I feel so useless in the lab. I’m new and I feel like I’m doing everything wrong. Any advice? Most everyone feels that way at the beginning. You want to do a good job, but nothing seems to come out right. I think a lot of us learn by falling on our faces and not making the same mistake again. Keep participating and getting yourself into the mix. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to be wrong. It’s better to say something and be wrong, than to not say anything and never have the right answer. Working in the cath lab shouldn’t feel natural to you right away anyway, unless you came from a vascular lab or similar setting. Relax it takes time. The cath lab will become your home before long and you’ll be guiding someone else through the process. NEW to the Cath Lab? Your questions are answered here! Submit your question to: Jason Wilson, RCIS Ellis Hospital Clinical Instructor Schenectady, New York hrtfixr7@yahoo.com

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