Patient Care and Safety
Focus on safe, patient-centered care across cardiac testing and monitoring. Candidates should understand informed consent, patient identification with two identifiers, privacy, and clear communication. Know infection-control basics: hand hygiene, clean versus sterile technique for invasive procedures, and site care after catheterization.
Safety content includes fall and injury prevention, monitoring after sedation, recognition of contrast allergy or reactions, and post-catheterization assessment of the access site for bleeding, hematoma, and pulses. Know when to escalate: chest pain, shortness of breath, syncope, or rhythm changes require prompt reporting. Understand basic emergency response - calling for help, starting CPR, and using an AED - and the difference between a code and a routine concern.
Traps: forgetting to verify allergies before contrast; dismissing a small complaint that is actually a red flag; assuming consent can be obtained after a procedure; and failing to check distal pulses and the access site after catheterization. Another common trap is choosing "document and monitor" when the correct action is to report immediately.
Rule of thumb: "Assess, act, escalate, document - in that order." If a finding could be life-threatening, act and escalate first; documentation follows.
Worked example: after a femoral catheterization, a patient reports back pain and the site is swelling with a falling blood pressure. Do not simply reassure - assess the site and pulses, notify the provider immediately, and prepare for possible bleeding complications.