Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse Provides High-Tech Patient Care
One of the things Mary Bubash loves most about her job is that it’s always changing. As a nurse for more than 36 years, she’s witnessed several changes in health care.
Bubash, who began her career in the 1960s, remembers the old-fashioned way of doing things. Today, as a cardiac catheterization lab nurse at SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, Bubash works with the latest cardiovascular technology available to patients.
“By far, the advent of modern technology has had the greatest impact in changing how I’ve done my job over the years,” Bubash said. “The advancements definitely have made it much easier. The opportunity to constantly learn new and better ways of doing things for our patients keeps the work exciting and fun.”
Cardiac catheterization has become an important approach in evaluating the anatomy and function of the heart. Performed in a special X-ray room in the cardiac cath lab, it allows cardiologists to examine the various chambers, valves and coronary blood vessels.
“The advancements definitely have made it much easier," Bubash said. "The opportunity to constantly learn new and better ways of doing things for our patients keeps the work exciting and fun.” |
Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure in which a long, thin tube called a catheter is guided into the heart through an artery in the leg or arm. The catheter is used to measure pressures in different areas of the heart, as well as to inject contrast dye so X-ray images can be captured of the patients’ valves, coronary arteries and heart chambers.
Cardiologists use cardiac catheterization to:
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evaluate heart muscle function, as well as confirm the presence of heart disease of the coronary arteries, heart valve or aorta
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measure blood flow across blockage using pressure wires
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determine the need for further treatment, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery
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perform interventional or therapeutic procedures to open blocked arteries, including balloon angioplasty, atherectomy and drug-eluting stents
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view inside coronary arteries using an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), which aids in stent size and expansion
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place pacemakers and implantable defibrillators
As a cardiac cath lab nurse, Bubash is responsible for assisting physicians during the procedure, assessing and monitoring patients in the cath lab and collaborating with physicians and the cath lab team to ensure continuity of patient care. She also may perform clinical tasks, such as administering medication, performing IV therapy interventions and documenting information in a patient’s medical record.
Her role also involves communicating with patients and patients’ families, cath lab staff and cardiologists. Bubash informs patients and their families about risk factors associated with heart disease, and she is available to answer their questions.
Cardiac cath lab nursing positions require a nursing degree, and one to three years of previous critical care experience is preferred. Nurses also must have appropriate licensure and certification to be eligible. Cardiac cath lab nurses typically receive one to three months of on-the-job training.
Bubash received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Maryville University in St. Louis. She also is licensed by the Missouri State Board of Nursing and is certified in CPR and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).
After beginning her nursing career as a general floor intern, Bubash has served in several different areas. She has worked as a surgical nurse, psychiatric nurse and also worked in open-heart and cardio-thoracic intensive care. Bubash feels her diverse nursing background has been beneficial to the job she has today at St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, where she has been a cardiac cath lab nurse for more than 10 years.
Despite the many changes Bubash has seen over the years, one favorite aspect of her job has remained the same.
“I love working with the patients,” Bubash said. “The interaction I have with my patients on a daily basis is the most personally satisfying part of my job.”
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