Brenda Rechtman, RN, BSN, is the Manager of the EP lab at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Virginia. She recently was one of only 11 Carilion Clinic nurses to receive the prestigious ‘Healthcare with a Human Touch’ Award. In this interview, she talks about her career in nursing.

Why did you choose to work in the field of electrophysiology (EP)?

Truthfully, EP chose me. I was looking for a job in cardiology, having worked primarily in that area for many years, including CCU. I was called by a friend to interview for a position in a new department called electrophysiology. I had not heard of EP at that time. At my interview, I heard my first description of the EP lab from the new medical director, Dr. William Welch. He decided to give me the opportunity to work in the lab. I have been here 17 years, primarily in the role of staff RN, team leader and manager.

Describe your role in the EP lab. What is a typical day like for you?

Our lab has grown from 1 to 3 electrophysiologists and from a staff of one to a staff of 10. I still work in the rooms with EP studies and implants, but find management responsibilities take consistently more of my time. I manage staffing, including hiring, work schedules and performance; supply and equipment purchases; and device inventory. I work closely with hospital coders and the billing department. We are a Magnet hospital, and I am responsible for helping my staff with educational and career development. I also oversee Joint Commission and other regulatory standards in the lab. I have recently been involved in the initiation of a system-wide electronic medical record. I serve on various committees in our hospital, develop and update policies, and coordinate our AICD Support Group. I was also involved in the construction of our EP lab 12 years ago, and a few years ago, the addition of our second invasive room.

What is one of the more unusual EP cases that you have ever been involved with?

We have had many challenging cases. Some of these involve venous access, especially during bi-v implants. We have also had sedation challenges during procedures. Nurses have to be resourceful in the EP lab.

What aspects of your work do you find most rewarding and/or challenging?

It has been challenging, but very exciting to be part of the changes that have occurred within the scope of electrophysiology. We treat many rhythm disturbances through ablation or device implants that could not be treated until a few years ago. I love patient contact. Developing and working with our AICD support group for the last 16 years has been a wonderful experience. I have made countless friends among our patient population and hopefully we have simplified their lives with their AICD implant.

Describe your work with the AICD support group at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. What patient concerns do you most often hear?