Organization Overview, Mission, Vision, and Values
Our mission is to improve the health of people in the communities we serve through compassionate, high-quality care, prevention, and wellness education. Washington Regional Medical System is a community-owned, locally governed, non-profit health care system located in Northwest Arkansas in the heart of Fayetteville, which is consistently ranked among the Best Places to live in the country. Our 425-bed medical center has been named the #1 hospital in Arkansas for five consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. We employ 3,200+ team members and serve the region with over 40 clinic locations, the region’s only Level II trauma center, and five Centers of Excellence - the Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute; Washington Regional Walker Heart Institute; Washington Regional Women and Infants Center; Washington Regional Total Joint Center; and Washington Regional Pat Walker Center for Seniors.
Position Summary
The Registered Nurse – Cardiac Cath Lab reports to the Assistant Director, Cardiac Cath Lab and provides specialized nursing care for patients undergoing diagnostic, interventional, and electrophysiology procedures. This position is responsible for pre-procedure assessment and preparation, intraprocedural monitoring and support, post-procedure recovery coordination, patient and family education, and accurate documentation in accordance with nursing standards, regulatory requirements, and departmental protocols. The RN collaborates closely with cardiologists, advanced practice providers, technologists, anesthesia and procedural support teams, and other members of the cardiovascular care team to promote safe, efficient, high-quality, patient-centered care.
Essential Position Responsibilities
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Perform comprehensive nursing assessments for cardiac catheterization, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and related cardiovascular procedures, including review of history, medications, allergies, laboratory results, procedural risk factors, and readiness for sedation or intervention.
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Provide safe, evidence-based nursing care across the pre-procedure, intraprocedure, and post-procedure phases, including patient preparation, vascular access site assessment, medication administration, procedural monitoring, recovery care, and discharge readiness.
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Monitor hemodynamic status, cardiac rhythm, vital signs, level of consciousness, oxygenation, pain, and overall patient response during and after procedures; promptly identify changes in condition and communicate concerns to the procedural physician or appropriate provider.
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Assist with emergency response in the cardiac cath lab, including STEMI activations, arrhythmia management, procedural complications, rapid clinical deterioration, and other urgent cardiovascular events in alignment with ACLS standards and department protocols.
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Administer and monitor medications, anticoagulants, antiplatelet therapy, contrast-related interventions, moderate sedation support, reversal agents, and emergency medications within scope of practice and organizational policy.
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Maintain sterile technique and infection prevention standards while supporting procedural setup, patient positioning, room turnover, equipment readiness, and safe workflow in collaboration with cath lab technologists and procedural team members.
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Complete timely, accurate, and thorough documentation of assessments, interventions, medications, procedural events, patient response, education, handoff communication, and discharge instructions in the electronic medical record.
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Educate patients and families regarding procedure expectations, post-procedure care, access site precautions, activity restrictions, medications, follow-up instructions, and symptoms requiring medical attention.
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Participate in departmental quality, safety, regulatory readiness, competency validation, call coverage, and process improvement activities that support high reliability, patient safety, and efficient cardiovascular service delivery.
Qualifications
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Education: Must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program
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Licensure and Certifications: Current Arkansas Registered Nurse license, required. CPR/BLS required. ACLS required within 90 days of hire. Annual dysrhythmia competency required. Additional department-specific competencies, including moderate sedation, radiation safety awareness, and cath lab procedural competencies, must be completed as assigned.
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Experience: Previous nursing experience in cardiac cath lab, critical care, emergency services, procedural services, cardiovascular services, or a comparable high-acuity setting preferred.
Work Environment: This position has exposure to body fluids, radiation, and communicable disease. This position spends the majority of time standing and/or walking of short distances, with frequent pushing, pulling, and lifting of up to 100lbs as well as occasional carrying of up to 25 lbs. This position will serve a culturally and linguistically diverse patient population including infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics, with the majority being adults and geriatrics.
Notice: This job description is designed to provide an overview of the essential and principal duties and responsibilities of the position. The job description is not designed or intended to cover or set forth a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Washington Regional reserves the right in its absolute discretion to change duties, responsibilities or activities or assign new duties, responsibilities, or activities at any time with or without notice. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
