Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Echocardiography plays an important role in the practice of clinical cardiology. As echocardiographic practice has evolved, the addition of nursing personnel to the echocardiography team has enhanced the assessment and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, nurses monitor patients during transesophageal and stress examinations and establish intravenous access for sonicated saline, microsphere contrast, and medication administration. We describe the involvement of nurses in the practice of clinical echocardiography.