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Short abstract:

This paper takes up STS perspectives to explore how the gender, knowledge constructions, nursing practice and management of the cardiac catheterization room in Taiwan shape the cardiac catheterization room nurses into technicians and rebuild their professional identity.

Long abstract:

Nursing is a highly feminized profession. Performing a cardiac catheterization is a teamwork. In addition to the cardiologist who performs the cardiac catheterization, the nurses and radiologists in the cardiac catheterization room are called technicians.

The nurses who do this job must have at least two years of working experience in an intensive care unit or cardiac ward. They are not only able to interpret electrocardiograms accurately, but also they need to understand the patient's condition, monitor the cardiac catheter image screen, and comfort the patients. When a patient needs first aid, the nurse must immediately assist the physician in providing first aid. In addition, she must remember each cardiologist's "habits" for performing the techniques, such as what kind or brand of catheter or guidewire that cardiologist is accustomed to using. It is also the nurse's responsibility to manage the purchase of various medical equipment in the cardiac catheterization room. They receive on-the-job training at Taiwan Society of Cardiovascular Interventions, where they hold discussions with cardiologists.

Methodologically, this paper will interview nurses who have worked in cardiac catheterization room with more than 5 years’ experience and will analyze data and use text analysis with reference related to literature as well. Meanwhile, this paper will take the perspectives of "apprenticeship learning", "tacit knowledge, and "learning knowledge" to explore how the gender, knowledge constructions, nursing practice and management of the cardiac catheterization room shaping the cardiac catheterization room nurses into technicians and rebuilding their professional identity.