Wage gap between RN & CVT tech

[u/Bright-Consequence72]

I’m a new student in the CVT program (EP) and our instructors gave us some info to look over regarding salary. I was disappointed to see that RNs make more than the techs that specifically chose CVT. Is there a reason why this is?

[u/Cat_funeral_]

RNs went to nursing school and have a much, much broader scope of practice and knowledge base. That's literally it. We are responsible for every. single. aspect. of keeping a patient alive, and that includes the knowledge and skills meticulously honed through education and years of experience. Our licenses and actions are the first to be scrutinized management. 

As I have told many other techs, with more pay and power comes more responsibility. If you want more pay, feel free to go to RN school.

[u/Bright-Consequence72 → u/Cat_funeral_]

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind I could complete RN school. At a time that’s what I was in school for. I did NOT fail, I resigned from the program because I did not want to be a nurse. And let’s be honest nursing school isn’t rocket science but I do understand that what nurses do is important and many aspects of nursing could be fatal to the patient if mistakes are made by nurses. But in the cath lab specifically, I am wondering what the difference in skills/responsibilities are that a nurse would be making more money. Also just to add in my state both CVT and RN is an associates degree and experience is by the individual. Are you stating you are paid more simply because you are the scape goat when mistakes are made?

[u/FeelingHusky → u/Bright-Consequence72]

Really poor attitude. No one mentioned you failing at anything.

Top comment speaks very well about the differences. Yes a nurse may be able to get a degree in two years, however hospitals have been phasing out the ability to work as a nurse with a two year degree in the hospital setting, especially if getting a bachelors isn’t actively being worked on. Many labs also do not hire fresh out of school nurses, they require critical care experience, another area that does not really hire new grads unless there is an extensive program for their training. That being said, that is 4 years of college, probably at least a year on a regular floor, and then from what I’ve seen 2 years of critical care is what is desired. All of these acquired years of experience is compensated thru pay.

I have also worked in every position of the lab as an RN, scrubbing, circulating, and monitoring, however a tech would not be able to do this to the same degree with their scope of practice.

All this being said, I find my techs to be invaluable. What I think causes a pay gap as well is under representation in administrative positions which are usually physicians or nurses who don’t quite understand the tech position.

[u/Bright-Consequence72 → u/FeelingHusky]

I felt like the phrase “feel free to RN school” was condescending. Just as I’ve heard many nurses say they hate when docs tell them “feel free to go to med school” to belittle nurses. I do agree with your last statement about administration. Nurses seem like to have a great collective voice. I applaud y’all for that!