In a pediatric cardiology clinic, RNs typically help with both patient care and clinic flow. Common responsibilities include:

• Triage patients— assess symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, fainting, shortness of breath, or swelling.
• Take vital signs— blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, height, and weight.
• Obtain a health history— medications, allergies, symptoms, past cardiac history, family history, and recent changes.
• Perform basic assessments— observe breathing, circulation, activity level, skin color, and overall appearance.
• Prepare children for cardiac testing— such as ECG/EKG, Holter/event monitors, echocardiograms, and sometimes exercise testing.
• Assist with procedures— depending on the clinic, RNs may help with blood draws, IV placement, medication administration, or other procedures.
• Provide patient/family education— explain diagnoses, medications, activity restrictions, procedures, and warning signs to watch for.
• Medication management— reconcile medications, provide instructions, and communicate medication questions or refill requests to the cardiology team.
• Coordinate care— communicate with cardiologists, primary-care providers, hospitals, pharmacies, schools, and other specialists.
• Follow up with families— relay test results or provider instructions and answer questions within their scope.
• Care for children with complex heart conditions— including congenital heart disease, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and patients who have had cardiac surgery.
• Document everythingin the electronic medical record.
• Recognize emergencies— identify a child who is becoming unstable and initiate appropriate emergency interventions.