RCIS study guide
RCIS · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) is a credential offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), a credentialing body for cardiovascular professionals. The RCIS designation is aimed at practitioners who work in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and other invasive cardiovascular settings, where they support diagnostic and interventional procedures, hemodynamic monitoring, and patient care before, during, and after cases. The RCIS study guide has 5 sections and about 1,494 words.
01Cardiovascular Invasive Procedures and Patient Care
The invasive-procedure domain tests whether you can move a patient safely through the cath lab: pre-procedure assessment, informed consent, site preparation, intra-procedure monitoring, and post-procedure hemostasis and complication recognition. Know the indications and basic steps of right and left heart catheterization, coronary angiography, PCI with balloon and stent, and structural interventions such as TAVR and ASD/PFO closure.
304 words, about 2 min02Hemodynamic Monitoring and Interpretation
Hemodynamic interpretation is the highest-yield reasoning domain. You must understand pressure waveforms, normal values, and how to derive and interpret cardiac output, vascular resistance, and shunt calculations.
313 words, about 2 min03Cardiovascular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology
This domain supplies the structural and functional background for everything else. Know coronary anatomy: left main bifurcates into LAD and circumflex; the LAD supplies the anterior wall and septum; the circumflex supplies the lateral wall; the right coronary artery supplies the inferior wall and, in most people, the SA and AV nodes.
318 words, about 2 min04Radiographic Imaging and Angiography
Angiography questions test image acquisition, projection selection, contrast handling, and recognition of normal versus abnormal findings. Understand fluoroscopy basics: kVp and mA settings, pulse rate, collimation, and the ALARA principle.
281 words, about 1 min05Equipment, Instrumentation, and Safety
This domain covers the tools and safety systems of the cath lab: catheters, guidewires, sheaths, manifolds, transducers, and radiation and electrical safety. Know catheter characteristics: French size denotes outer diameter (1 Fr ≈ 0.33 mm); larger French means larger bore.
278 words, about 1 min