Job Summary

The Specialist Nurse Cath Lab is an expert in Cardiovascular nursing, responsible for providing advanced care to patients undergoing diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab). This role involves preparing patients for complex procedures such as coronary angiography, angioplasty, stent placement, electrophysiology studies, and other minimally invasive cardiac interventions. The Specialist Nurse Cath Lab ensures that patients are fully assessed and informed, explains procedures, and obtains consent while preparing the Cath Lab environment to meet the highest safety and quality standards. During procedures, the Specialist Nurse Cath Lab assists the cardiologist by preparing and handling specialized equipment, administering contrast media, and monitoring the patient’s hemodynamic status, electrocardiograms (ECG), and vital signs. They are trained to recognize and manage potential complications, such as arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, or adverse reactions to medications, and are skilled in emergency interventions, including defibrillation and advanced life support. In addition to direct patient care, this role involves coordinating with a multidisciplinary team, including cardiologists, radiographers, anesthetists, and other nursing staff, to ensure smooth workflow and seamless patient transitions between pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedure phases. The Specialist Nurse Cath Lab also takes a lead role in educating patients and their families on post-procedure care, medication management, lifestyle changes, and follow-up appointments to optimise recovery and prevent future cardiac events. This role contributes to the continuous quality improvement of Cath Lab services by participating in audits, research, and protocol development to ensure that practices are evidence-based and patient-centered.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Provide clinical leadership within the Cath lab, supporting colleagues in delivering safe and effective care.
• Act as a mentor and role model for junior nurses and support staff, promoting best practices and patient safety.
• Participate in the training and development of Cath lab staff, including the orientation of new hires.
• Lead or participate in daily briefings and debriefings to review procedures, outcomes, and areas for improvement.

Strategic Development

• Contribute to the development of Cath lab protocols and guidelines, ensuring alignment with current best practices and evidence-based care.
• Support initiatives aimed at enhancing Cath lab efficiency, patient flow, and procedure outcomes.
• Participate in clinical research and audits to evaluate and improve Cath lab services.

   

• Identify opportunities for innovation and advancement in Cath lab practices, including new technologies and techniques

Governance

• Ensure compliance with hospital policies, procedures, and regulatory standards related to Cath lab operations, including radiation safety and infection control.
• Maintain accurate documentation of patient care, procedures, and outcomes in accordance with professional and legal standards.
• Participate in quality assurance activities, including audits and incident reporting, to improve patient safety and service quality.
• Support the implementation of changes in practice following audits, guidelines updates, or safety alerts.

  Other Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for cardiac procedures, including obtaining informed consent, conducting pre-procedure assessments, and administering necessary medications.
• Assist cardiologists during procedures by preparing equipment, monitoring patients, and responding to any complications.
• Monitor patients’ post-procedure, providing care until they are stable and ready for transfer or discharge.
• Educate patients and families on procedures, post-procedure care, and lifestyle modifications to manage cardiovascular health.
• Ensuring clinical practice is based on validated research, and participating in quality assessment, research and clinical audits

  Equality and Diversity

  Act as lead for Equality & Diversity in the Estates and Facilities department to ensure the development and effective implementation of a strategy, set of policies, procedures and monitoring and c Ensuring clinical practice is based on validated research, and participating in quality assessment, research and clinical audits ontrol systems are in place.

Personal and Staff Development

• Work with HR to undertake recruitment, retention, performance management and development of staff in the team.
• Work with the Recruitment Manager to establish connections with appropriate local, international and online communities to nurture a pipeline of talent to support the growth of the company.
• Responsible for development of high potential employees, providing a structured approach to mentoring and developing critical talent at all levels of management.

  Communications And Working Relationships

• Work closely with cardiologists, radiologists, anaesthetists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated patient care.
• Communicate effectively with patients and their families, providing clear explanations of procedures, risks, and post-procedure care.
• Collaborate with other departments, such as inpatient units and intensive care, to ensure seamless patient transfers and care continuity.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and case discussions to optimize patient outcomes.

  Line Management

• Support the Cath Lab Manager in managing staffing, including scheduling and resource allocation.
• Supervise and mentor junior nurses and support staff, providing guidance and feedback on performance.
• Assist in conducting performance appraisals and identifying professional development opportunities for Cath lab staff.
• Participate in the recruitment and induction of new Cath lab nursing staff.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Report to the Cath Lab Manager or Head of Cardiology Nursing, contributing to the strategic development of Cath lab services.
• Represent the Cath lab in hospital committees related to patient safety, clinical governance, and quality improvement.
• Support the hospital’s accreditation processes by ensuring compliance with Cath lab standards and protocols.
• Engage in initiatives aimed at improving patient care, safety, and efficiency within the Cath lab.

Confidentiality

The post holder must be aware that Confidential Information and data to which the post holder will have knowledge and access to in the course of their employment with the AMCE is to be kept confidential, and this confidentiality is a condition of employment. The duty to maintain confidentiality continues even when the post holder is no longer employed.

This information is not to be shared with anyone outside of the AMCE under any circumstances, except to the extent necessary to fulfil any duties and responsibilities required within the role. Furthermore, upon termination with the AMCE Abuja, the post holder will return to the AMCE all confidential information held.

General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well-being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of AMCE together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients, staff and visitors.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the commencement of its African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) project in Abuja, Nigeria. It will provide world-class care to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent. The AMCE in Partnership with King's College Hospital London will be located in Abuja, which is a hub for travel in Nigeria and West Africa, enabling it to attract patients across the region.

The African Medical Centre of Excellence will be implemented in four phases over a six-year period, starting with a 170-bed specialist hospital before expanding to a 500-bed facility. The centre will have the potential to provide services to over 200,000 patients in Nigeria and a further 150,000 patients from neighbouring West African countries within its first five years of operation.

The clinical areas the centre will specialise in are Cardiology, Haematology and Oncology. A range of businesses providing relevant health support will support this facility and provide commercial services to its patients and staff, thus creating a healthcare ecosystem sustainably designed to deliver long-term value to its community and region.