In the heart of modern medicine, cath lab techs are vital players in cardiovascular care. These professionals work alongside cardiologists in high-tech environments, with the American Heart Association reporting that over 1 million cardiac catheterization procedures are performed annually in the United States.
Cath lab techs typically work under the supervision of another medical professional, and they may be called on to perform a range of duties. An individual with this title may be responsible for preparing patients for procedures, which may include making sure they are reasonably comfortable; cleaning and shaving the area in which a heart catheter will be inserted; and monitoring vital signs, such as blood pressure. Often, a person in this field is responsible for assisting with both invasive and non-invasive procedures. In some cases, a cath lab tech may even administer some forms of anesthesia or assist with the implanting of pacemakers.
A cath lab tech is usually trained to recognize signs of trouble in patients and provide emergency care when needed. For example, a person with this title has usually been trained to use emergency equipment to resuscitate patients. Sometimes a cath lab tech will also assist nurses with caring for patients after procedures. For example, a person with this job may help a head nurse with necessary tasks for patients who have been placed in recovery rooms after cath lab procedures.
The requirements a person has to meet to become a cath lab tech may depend on where he wants to work and the preferences of his prospective employer. Typically, however, a person who wants to pursue this career has to start out by graduating from high school or earning a general educational development (GED) diploma. In many cases, employers may prefer to hire job candidates who have earned associate’s degrees in a related major. Some employers may also prefer those who have earned related certification. In fact, there may be some employers who will only hire individuals who have earned certification, and there are some jurisdictions in which cath lab techs are required to seek licensing.