Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist-Day Shift

Tell me about a time a patient became unstable on the table. What was your part in the response?

What they are checking: Whether they have stayed effective in a real cath lab emergency and understand their role on the team.

The posting describes Tier I, II and III. What experience do you have with peripheral vascular interventions or biventricular devices?

What they are checking: Whether their skill level matches the tier they are applying for and they can describe it honestly.

Where are you with RCIS, and how do you think about that credential for your career?

What they are checking: Whether they are invested in growing in cardiovascular work and moving toward the higher tier the posting describes.

You notice a break in sterile technique by a colleague during a stent placement. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they will speak up immediately in a procedural setting even when it interrupts a senior team member.

This is a per diem day shift role. How do you keep your skills current when you're not in the lab every day?

What they are checking: Whether a per diem tech will stay competent and safe with less frequent hands-on time in the lab.

Walk me through your role when you're scrubbed in on a diagnostic left heart cath.

What they are checking: Whether they know the procedure flow and their duties at each step well enough to anticipate the physician.

You're monitoring hemodynamics and the pressure waveform suddenly dampens. What are you thinking and what do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can troubleshoot a waveform quickly and tell an equipment problem from a patient emergency.

How do you keep radiation exposure low for yourself, the team and the patient during a long intervention?

What they are checking: Whether they practice radiation safety habits like distance, shielding and limiting fluoro time consistently.

What's different about prepping and assisting on a pacemaker or ICD insertion compared to a coronary case?

What they are checking: Whether they understand device implant sterility, equipment and testing steps beyond standard angiography.

How do you circulate a case so the scrubbed physician never has to wait for a balloon, stent or wire?

What they are checking: Whether they anticipate equipment needs and know inventory well enough to keep a procedure moving.