Meet Liddy and Sarah, two of Peninsula Health’s dedicated nurses working in the Cath Lab at Frankston Hospital, a specialised unit within the Cardiology department that treats patients with heart-related conditions.
Working side by side, Liddy and Sarah are essential in ensuring each procedure runs smoothly, taking on key roles as either the scrub nurse or scout nurse.
“As a scrub nurse, you’re surgically scrubbed in with the proceduralist doctor, aiding with contrast injections into the coronary arteries to help identify blockages. You’re also responsible for preparing and assisting with catheters, balloons, and stents,” explains Liddy.
“While the scout nurse monitors and responds to the patient’s needs in consultation with the proceduralist, administering medications including those required for sedation, pain relief, and heart arrhythmias. Alongside managing defibrillation if required, and providing emotional support, as patients are often awake and understandably anxious.”
On any given day, Liddy and Sarah work on a mix of scheduled day procedures, in-patient ward cases, and emergency interventions for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients, a severe type of heart attack requiring immediate treatment.
“Contrary to popular belief, the Cath Lab is not limited to coronary angiograms, the procedure that uses X-ray imaging to show blood flow through the heart’s arteries,” says Sarah.
“We also perform a range of procedures, including the insertion of permanent pacemakers, temporary pacing wires, loop recorders, as well as pericardial taps, transesophageal echocardiograms, and direct cardiac resynchronisation therapy.”
All of which are cardiological interventions used to diagnose or treat heart-related conditions.
However, the work of Cath Lab nurses extends far beyond the confines of the lab.
“Each shift, we’re either allocated to the Lab or the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU). In the Lab, we rotate through scrub and scout roles, directly assisting the cardiac interventionalist during procedures. If assigned to PACU, we prepare patients for their procedure and care for them afterward,” says Liddy.
Both Liddy and Sarah find their roles incredibly rewarding, knowing they make a real difference to patients’ lives every day.
“Witnessing the positive outcomes and transformation in a patient from the beginning to the end of a case is incredibly rewarding. Patients often arrive at our lab on the brink of death, and being able to help them recover is something I consider a privilege,” Sarah reflects.
“Working together to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient is also crucial. A patient experiencing a heart attack is critically ill, so knowing that you’ve contributed to a positive outcome as a team is incredibly satisfying,” adds Liddy.
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