GUIDE
January 3, 2022
By:Nurse.org Staff
Medically reviewed by: Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC
Cardiac cath lab nurses specialize in working with patients undergoing cardiac procedures in a catheterization lab. During cardiac catheterizations, these specially trained nurses assist the medical team and perform in distinct roles.
This career guide will explain what a cardiac cath lab nurse is, how to become one, the current outlook, and the pay available to this specialty.
A cardiac cath lab nurse is a Registered Nurse who specializes in assisting with catheterizations. They monitor and examine patients prior to procedures, as well as during and after. They also administer medications and assist the medical team in whatever they may need during the procedure.
Cardiac catheterizations can be used strictly for diagnostic reasons or for invasive procedures that do not require operating rooms. They take place in a catheterization lab -- an examination area of the hospital that specializes in procedures where doctors visualize specific aspects of the heart.
According to the American Nurses Association,Society for Vascular Nursing,cardiac cath lab nurses generally perform the following:
- Administer patient medications
- Assist in diagnostic procedures
- Assist in interventional procedures
- Be prepared for emergency situations
- Circulate and scrub during cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology procedures
- Discharge teaching with patients and families including procedural, medications, activities, and dietary
- Educate patients and their families before discharge regarding medication, lifestyle, and care of the surgical site
- Ensure consent paperwork is accurately completed
- Examination of the patient pre and post-catheterization
- Manage administrative aspects of cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology patients
- Monitor and document patient vital signs
- Monitor for signs and symptoms of infections or side effects of the procedure
- Monitor patient sedation levels during and after the procedure
- Prepare patients for procedures
- Update patient charting and document on the procedure
Patients may receive cardiac caths for a variety of reasons including:
- Diagnose heart disease of the heart muscle, valves, or coronary arteries
- Heart muscle biopsy sample
- Look for defects in the valves or chambers of the heart
- Measure the pressure and blood flow in the heart
- Perform a coronary angiography
- Procedures such as heart ablation, balloon valvuloplasty, valve replacement, balloon angioplasty, and stent placement
- Take blood samples from the four chambers of the heart to measure oxygen levels
Nurses interested in working in the cardiac cath lab should first ensure they have the proper experience to be considered for the position.
- Become a Registered Nurse:The first step is becoming a registered nurse by earning either yourAssociate Degree in Nursing (ADN)or yourBachelor of Science of Nursing (BSN)through an accredited nursing program.
- Gain Experience:Your next step will be to find a position at a trauma hospital or major cardiac hospital in your area.
- Build Relationships:After obtaining the proper experience, it is vital to build a strong working relationship with cardiac intensivists and cardiologists. This will enable a smooth transition into the cath lab.
- Find a Job:Cath lab nurses can work in the hospital setting or in a freestanding cardiac center. These centers are generally found in large cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
Nurses in this field are expected to maintain their RN licensure as well as their Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and any other certifications required by the hospital. Classes for these certifications will be offered by your employer and are generally set up by a hospital or unit-based educator. Furthermore, they are general requirements of employment.
Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification
Cardiac Cath lab nurses are highly encouraged to obtain additional certifications. One of which is theCardiac Vascular Nursing Certificationthrough theAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible nurses must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country.
- Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as a registered nurse.
- Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in cardiac-vascular nursing within the last 3 years.
- Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in cardiac-vascular nursing within the last 3 years.
Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification Exam
The exam consists of 175 questions (150 scored plus 25 pretest questions) and must be done in 3.5 hours. The certification is good for five years and can be renewed online. The cost of the exam is $350 for non-members but discounted for members of the American Nurses Association ($250), Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association ($295), and Society for Vascular Nursing ($295).
CCRN Certification
Another less common certification is theCCRN (adult)through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
CCRN Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible nurses must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country.
- Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients during the previous two years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application OR
- Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
The CCRN exams are 3-hour tests consisting of 150 multiple-choice items. Of the 150 items, 125 are scored and 25 are used to gather statistical data on item performance for future exams. The exam is $245 for AACN members and $360 for nonmembers.
Cardiac cath lab nurses typically earn a higher than average pay. Because of the specialization, it is difficult to substitute other nurses from other units and this drives up the hourly wage.
According toPayscale.com, cath lab nurses earn an average wage of$35.46 per hour or $76,910 per year. The lowest-paid nurses earn approximately $61,000 per year. The highest wages were $97,000 per year. Experience can also increase salary opportunities.
- Less than 1 year of experience earn an average hourly salary of $28.88
- 1 to 4 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $31.40
- 5 to 9 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $34.29
- 10 to 19 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $38.24
- 20 years or more of experience earn an average hourly salary of $41.00
Cardiac Cath Lab Salary by Region
A study done bySpringboard Healthcare Staffing, a leader in placing cath lab nurses, does an annual evaluation of pay for cath lab nurses. This report breaks down the pay of cath lab nurses into different regions of the country.
- The Westwas the region with the highest average income, at $47.74 per hour.
- The Northeastregion was second, at $38.52 per hour.
- The South and Midwestwere nearly identical, at $33.63 and $34.79 per hour, respectively.
Cardiac Cath Lab Salary by City & State
TheU.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsprovides salary figures for all registered nurses combined rather than for particular specializations. As of the May 2021 BLS report, the mean hourly wage for registered nurses was $37.31 while the average annual salary was $77,600, though conditions vary by area.
The BLS identifies the following as the highest paying states for nursing:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | $59.62 | $124,000 |
| Hawaii | $51.22 | $106,530 |
| Oregon | $47.42 | $98,630 |
| District of Columbia | $47.38 | $98,540 |
| Alaska | $46.74 | $97,230 |
In the same year, the BLS ranked the highest mean annual salaries for nurses, and the top ten were in California. The top five from the list are as follows:
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74.63 | $155,230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $72.90 | $151,640 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $70.37 | $146,360 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $68.00 | $141,440 |
| Napa, CA | $67.15 | $139,680 |
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse
Salary vs Hourly Pay
Most healthcare systems pay nurses on an hourly scale while others have a fixed annual salary, such as nurses in a free-standing surgical center.
Those paid on an hourly scale are able to earn overtime pay whereas salary employees would need to discuss that with the hiring committee. Furthermore, cath lab nurses have the potential to earn on-call pay which can boost weekly income.
Location
Overall, pay generally correlates with the cost of living for a specific geographical area as is evident in the pay in various parts of the country. Areas where the cost of living is higher will see a higher hourly rate than areas with lower costs.
Experience
As with all jobs in the nursing field, earning potential increases with additional education and experience. Nurses typically are awarded a raise during annual employee performance reviews. Certifications can give nurses an additional bump in their paycheck.
Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse Benefits
Regardless of the workplace setting, full-time, and part-time cardiac cath lab nurses enjoy similar benefits. While actual benefits may vary depending on the institution, most include the following:
- Health insurance
- Retirement Options
- Family Leave of Absence
- Maternity Leave
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Discounts
- Certification membership benefits
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Attendance at nursing conferences
Show Me RN-to-BSN Programs
Nurses working in this field are expected to have a great deal of experience working as a bedside nurse in either the Cardiac Unit or the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. It is extremely rare that new nurses with no experience are hired into the cath lab.
Nurses are expected to have proficiency in cardiology nursing procedures, cardiac arrhythmia and dysrhythmia interpretation and extensive knowledge of the cardiovascular anatomy.
Due to the specialization of the cath lab nurses, there is a remarkably high demand for them throughout the country.
With the increasing number of hospitals obtaining trauma certifications, as well as vascular certifications, the number of cath labs is increasing. All cath labs are required to have a full team of nurses in order to be fully operational.
TheU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)expects nursing careers to expand by 9% from 2020 to 2030. While there is not an exact number for the growth of cath lab nurses, is it inferred that the need for cardiac cath lab nurses will actually be higher than this figure.
Cardiac disease accounts for approximately a quarter of all deaths in the United States. With the increasing age of the baby boomer generation and the rise of sedentary behavior and poor overall diets, there is an increasing number of cath lab procedures done each year.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health estimates there are over million cardiac catheterizations done annually. As previously mentioned, this number will only continue to rise, making cath lab nurses in high demand!
Nurses interested in a career in the cardiac cath lab should reach out to their hospital's hiring department and clinical educators for additional information. Helpful information can also be found on the following websites:
- American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- American College of Cardiology Foundation
- American Nurses Association, Society for Vascular Nursing
- Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
- Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
- Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing
- Society for Vascular Nursing
FAQs
How long does it take to be a cath lab nurse? ›
Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill adult patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
Is it hard to be a cath lab nurse? ›It is a stressful job, especially during difficult medical procedures and treatment plans. That is why having good stress management skills is often required in this position. What is the difference between a Cardiac Care Nurse and a Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse?
What is the highest paying cath lab RN? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $230,500 and as low as $49,000, the majority of Cath Lab Rn salaries currently range between $88,500 (25th percentile) to $146,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $200,500 annually across the United States.
Are cath lab nurses in demand? ›Cath lab nurses are among the most specialized nurses. And as a result, the demand is extremely high.
Can you work in a cath lab without ICU experience? ›While not all cath lab positions require ICU experience, nurses should first consider working in a cardiac ICU or step-down unit. Elie says having been a Cardiac Transitional Care Unit (CTCU) nurse for 6 years was a valuable prerequisite for joining the cath lab team.
Do cath lab nurses start IVS? ›At UCSF, the Cath nurse will start a peripheral IV in the pre-op holding area, usually 20 gauge. An additional large bore gauge IV is recommended. However, remember that the introducer sheaths placed by the proceduralist may be used for central venous access.
What do RN do in cath lab? ›A registered nurse in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (shortened as Cardiac Cath Lab) assists cardiologists during the entire catheterization process. They prepare the patient before and after the procedure to stabilize their health status.
What skills do you need to be a cath lab nurse? ›- Be able to communicate effectively with the patients and with the healthcare team.
- Keep the environment sterile.
- Be able to make quick and effective decisions based on patient's best interest.
- Have sufficient knowledge of the field.
- Understand the medical equipment and operate it.
Cath lab nurses in Texas earn an average of $85,430 per year (or $41.07 per hour).
What is the highest-paying RN field? ›The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist consistently ranks as the highest-paid nursing career. That is because Nurse Anesthetists are highly skilled Registered Nurses who work closely with medical staff during medical procedures that require anesthesia.
What is the highest-paid cardiac nurse? ›
- GHR Healthcare. 3.9 $3,110per week. 247 reviews6 salaries reported.
- Nomad Health. 3.3 $3,033per week. 43 reviews506 salaries reported.
- Cariant Health Partners. 4.4 $3,027per week. ...
- RNnetwork. 4.2 $2,841per week. ...
- Trusted Health. 4.2 $2,753per week. ...
- Show more companies.
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
California tops our list of the highest-paying states, where registered nurses make $124,000 per year on average. Following it is Hawaii, at $106,530, and Oregon at $98,6300.
In general, the cardiac catheterization lab is a self-sufficient critical care area. All equipment and drugs are available for complete cardiovascular support and in some labs, even open heart surgery can be performed. Most cath lab nurses are highly skilled at both routine cath patient care as well as critical care.
Are cath labs only in hospitals? ›A cardiac catheterization lab, also known as a “cardiac cath lab,” is a specialized area in the hospital where doctors perform minimally invasive tests and advanced cardiac procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.
Do all nurses do catheters? ›Generally, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers may insert a catheter. In some cases, catheters may be inserted by professional caregivers, home health agencies, and nursing home workers. Nurses are most commonly tasked with inserting and removing catheters.
How much do cath lab nurses get paid in Las Vegas? ›How much does a CATH Lab RN make in Las Vegas, Nevada? As of May 4, 2023, the average annual pay for a CATH Lab RN in Las Vegas is $109,461 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $52.63 an hour.
Does cath lab count as critical care for CRNA? ›The following experience is not considered adult critical care: emergency room, post anesthesia care unit, step down unit, cath lab.
Is cath lab a cardiology? ›A cath lab is where tests and procedures including ablation, angiogram, angioplasty and implantation of pacemakers / ICDs are carried out. Usually you'll be awake for these procedures. A cath lab is staffed by a team of different specialists, usually led by a cardiologist.
Can an LPN work in a cardiac cath lab? ›Facilities prefer when Cath Lab LPNs have a minimum of 2 years of on-the-job experience.
Can nurses scrub in the cath lab? ›What are the nurse's duties? Speaking of the duties, there may be some adjustments for a travel nurse who's new to the cath lab. One of the roles in the cath lab is scrub person, who assists in catheter insertion and stent exchanges, usually alongside the doctor.
Can an ICU nurse work in cath lab? ›
I have found that emergency room registered nurses (RNs) usually are a good fit in the cath lab. These RNs are used to a fast pace and are able to adapt to different situations. Intensive care unit (ICU) RNs are great, too. They have all the knowledge needed to be a good cath lab RN.
What is an IR nurse? ›An interventional radiology nurse is a highly specialized, trained, and experienced radiology RN that assists the physician in minimally invasive radiology treatments and diagnostic testing.
Can nurses perform catheterization? ›Catheterization is a fundamental skill for all nurses. Training in inserting, removing, and caring for catheters is a part of all programs necessary for becoming a licensed registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
How do you interview for a cath lab? ›- Can you tell me about yourself?
- What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?
- Why are you interested in working at this facility?
- What are your biggest strengths as a cath lab nurse?
- Why did you decide to become a cath lab nurse?
Cath lab technicians, also known as cardiac catheterization technologists, are cardiovascular technologists who work in facilities that run tests on heart health. They assist with the insertion of catheters into the heart, and are responsible for measuring and administering special fluids.
What type of patients go to the cath lab? ›Cath labs are an important part of treating heart conditions. A doctor may send a patient to a cath lab to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease, heart attacks, chest pain, congestive heart failure, peripheral (limb) vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension and even pulmonary embolisms, also known as blood clots.
What is the highest paid nurse in Texas? ›A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is one of the highest-paid nursing specialties.
How much does an RN get paid per hour in TX? ›Average Nurse Salary in Texas
The registered nurse salary in Texas is $74,540 per year. This means that nurses in Texas earn an average of $35.84 per hour. On the other hand, the national average for registered nurses is $77,460 per year. This annual salary is approximately $37.24 per hour.
PICC Line Nurse Salary in Texas:$73,591 - ZipRecruiter.
What is the lowest paid RN? ›For example, according to the BLS, the bottom 10% of registered nurses report a median annual salary of $59,450. The top 10% of registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $120,250.
What is the hardest type of nursing? ›
Possibly one of the most difficult nurse practitioner specialties, a critical care nurse practitioner has to learn to deal with life and death situations daily due to treating the most acutely ill or traumatized patients.
What are the lowest paid RN jobs? ›Licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) are some of the lowest-paid nursing roles, but that is due to the fact that the educational requirements are less than most other types of nurses.
What unit of nursing makes the most money? ›Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) earn a nationwide average of $202,470 per year according to the BLS; this makes CRNAs the highest-paying type nursing job by a significant margin.
Which hospital pays highest salary for nurses? ›- Government Hospital Nurse Salary - ₹3.1 Lakhs per year.
- Manipal Hospitals Nurse Salary - ₹3.0 Lakhs per year.
- Fortis Healthcare Nurse Salary - ₹2.8 Lakhs per year.
- Hospital Linen Nurse Salary - ₹2.6 Lakhs per year.
- Apollo Hospitals Nurse Salary - ₹2.4 Lakhs per year.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $161,500 and as low as $48,000, the majority of Male Registered Nurse salaries currently range between $79,000 (25th percentile) to $120,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $144,000 annually across the United States.
What type of nurses are most in demand? ›What type of RN is most in demand? All RNs are in demand more than other occupations. The BLS projects 6% job growth for all RNs between 2021 and2031, compared to 5% job growth for all occupations. Some specialties that are in especially high demand are neonatal nursing, surgical nursing, and critical care nursing.
How can I make the most money with an RN degree? ›- Earn an advanced degree. ...
- Get certified in a specialization. ...
- Consider a leadership role. ...
- Become a travel nurse. ...
- Become a private duty nurse. ...
- Become an immunization nurse. ...
- Become an instructor. ...
- Become a nurse health coach.
Advice for Creating Wealth
Each method has the potential to generate a million dollars over time. However, the best strategy is to build your portfolio and utilize these strategies to build wealth. Many nurses can become millionaires by saving enough money in their retirement fund monthly and minimizing debt.
Code Blue Hospital. A code blue hospital announcement means that an adult is having a medical emergency, usually cardiac or respiratory arrest. The announcement also tells you where the emergency is. Hospital personnel are trained to respond.
Is a cath lab a surgery? ›Cardiac catheterization is not considered a surgical procedure because your provider won't make a large incision. Also, the recovery time is much shorter than that of surgery. In some cases, your provider may recommend surgery afterward, depending on the results of your procedure.
How long does cath lab procedure take? ›
The test may last 30 to 60 minutes. If you also need special procedures, the test may take longer. If the catheter is placed in your groin, you will often be asked to lie flat on your back for a few to several hours after the test to avoid bleeding.
Is cath lab heart surgery? ›Cardiac catheterization, or cardiac cath, is a non-surgical procedure that allows physicians to diagnose and treat diseases of the heart muscle, valves or coronary (heart) arteries.
How many cardiac cath labs are there in the US? ›Cathlab.com maintains a list of more than 1,700 sites with Cardiac/Vascular/EP Labs in the United States.
Can a nurse insert a catheter without an order? ›A healthcare prescriber's order is required for placement, removal, and replacement of a urinary catheter when it is no longer needed or has become obstructed or requires changing.
Do female nurses insert male catheters? ›Nurses, regardless of gender, insert urinary catheters in patients, regardless of their gender. In medical encounters, marital status of nurse or patient is irrelevant. Many patients are uncomfortable with the procedure and may prefer same or opposite gender nurses to perform it.
Can nurses insert male catheter? ›Competency assessment is required because:
The ability to insert a catheter safely and effectively on a male patient is an essential clinical skill for Nurse/Medical Officer/Student. Competent assessment and education of the patient/client requiring catheterisation is necessary to minimise and prevent complications.
Cath lab nurses assist cardiologists in diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and interventional procedures. They also assess patients and manage patient care in the cath lab, including monitoring patients for improvements or complications and administering medications.
How much do cath lab nurses make in Florida? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $180,827 and as low as $44,609, the majority of Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse salaries currently range between $86,032 (25th percentile) to $165,692 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $180,827 annually in Florida.
What does a nurse do after a cardiac catheterization? ›General patient care after the procedure
A nurse will monitor vital signs, the insertion site, and circulation/sensation in the affected leg or arm. The plastic sheath which was inserted in the patient's groin, neck, or arm will be removed soon after unless the patient requires specialised blood thinning medication.
Proper urinary catheter care is an important skill that all certified nursing assistants (CNAs) should be able to perform. There are different types of catheters. This module will discuss care of patients with indwelling catheters.
Can a CNA flush a catheter? ›
There are many types of patients who require routine straight cathing 4-6 times a day. As someone else mentioned, patients (some who are still children) and their family members are often taught how to do this. A properly trained CNA or HHA can also do the procedure.
Can CNAs clean catheters? ›But, as a CNA, catheter care simply involves cleaning the exposed part of the catheter, the skin around it and making sure the catheter tubing and bag are positioned properly. This is a cleaning skill, not a technical skill. CNAs don't put catheters in or take them out.
What is the highest paid ICU nurse in Texas? ›$66,397 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $128,836 is the 75th percentile.
What is the highest paid cardiac nurse? ›- GHR Healthcare. 3.9 $3,110per week. 247 reviews6 salaries reported.
- Nomad Health. 3.3 $3,033per week. 43 reviews506 salaries reported.
- Cariant Health Partners. 4.4 $3,027per week. ...
- RNnetwork. 4.2 $2,841per week. ...
- Trusted Health. 4.2 $2,753per week. ...
- Show more companies.
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist consistently ranks as the highest-paid nursing career. That is because Nurse Anesthetists are highly skilled Registered Nurses who work closely with medical staff during medical procedures that require anesthesia.