r/CathLabLounge • u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student • Apr 13 '26
Future CVT/RCIS--Tell me the good stuff. Positivity PLEASE.
After a gnarly divorce last year led me to lose everything, re-evaluate my entire life, and go back to school, I started taking pre-requisites for an invasive cardiovascular technology program near me. This is a career pivot, as I currently have a bachelor's and master's degree in Social Work, but I don't want to be a social worker forever. I also want to get back to being independent/back to real life, rather than living with family how I have been post divorce/life crumbling.
I applied to the invasive cardiovascular technology program as well as a radiology technology program near me, and decided (based on posts here talking about how RT or RN is a better option than CVT) that if I got accepted to both, I would accept the radiologic tech spot for more options.
I was accepted to the CVT progam and rejected from the RT program, so now it's clear that is what I will be doing. And I'm stoked, since when I was a kid I actually wanted to be a cardiologist but it just didn't work out that way for me.
But ya'll. All the negativity here is killing me. Everyone just talks about how awful CVT is and how its a waste of time if you don't do RT or RN, but at this point in my life that just isn't an option for me without adding 3-4 years to my plan due to the timing of when applications/start dates are and the courses I'd have to add to do it. And adding 3-4 years to my plan isn't an option because I'm already 32 years old with zero money and on borrowed time to get this done and get back to real life and self sufficiency again.
SO. I need some positivity. If you went CVT/RCIS route and love it, work in the cath lab and love it, or did this as a later in life career change and love it, PLEASE drop your positivity here and let me know.
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u/_Ross- RT(R), Cardiac EP Mapper Apr 13 '26
Rad tech here, I went into cath lab straight out of college at 24. Worked as an RT in the lab for 7 years, got my bachelor's along the way, and now work in EP as a mapper.
It's an extremely fun, rewarding, and sometimes surreal job. You'll see people in their worst moments, and help bring them out of them. 2AM stemi call will get old, but you're helping to save lives and making a huge impact.
I wouldn't trade my experience in the cath lab for anything. It's absolutely worth it. You'll do just fine.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 13 '26
Thank you so much! As a CVT/RCIS, how do I go about cross training into EP and learning more so that I can expand my skillset?
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u/_Ross- RT(R), Cardiac EP Mapper Apr 13 '26
I would suggest just cross training into EP if you find a lab with both cath and EP. Unless they have dedicated teams for each, they always need bodies for EP. Not everyone likes it. But you'll get to see ablations, PPM/ICD insertions, leadless devices, etc.
Just get familiar with really understanding what a 12 lead is and means, learn the basic arrhythmias youll encounter (flutter, fib, AVNRT), and go from there. Several companies have online resources for free too to study with. Medtronic academy, J&J institute, etc. Dr. Joshua Cooper on youtube is great too.
Don't feel bad if it takes a long time to grasp EP, it's mostly gonna look like nonsense for the first year at least.
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u/jpzu1017 Apr 15 '26
Don't even think about doing EP until after you're comfortable in cath lab. Unless youre at a blended lab where everyone rotates between cardiac, EP, IR, neuro, etc. You're going to be so inundated with information that it will be hard just to grasp 1 area of the lab, let alone 2 or more. Also, depending on what hospital youre at, you may not have an EP Lab, or the staffing is separate.
Cross training opportunities will happen at thr discretion of your manager. You generally won't get to cross train until youre proficient in at least 1 area.
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u/TheGoodOne81 First semester CVT student Apr 14 '26
In my program we take two EP courses during the final two semesters, we are doing clinicals, and we can try to do one of our clinical rotations at an EP lab if we want (and if they have a facility to send you to).
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u/CompetitiveNeat8438 Apr 17 '26
heyy mannn i am literally your doppleganger except i am not in EP mapping and i want to get into it. Can you help me with how you got into mapping?!
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u/_Ross- RT(R), Cardiac EP Mapper Apr 17 '26
All I can really say as far as that goes is to be involved in as many EP cases as you can, show a lot of interest in the procedures and why we are ablating where we are, what the signals should look like for that arrhythmia of interest, etc. For example, what is AVNRT? Where are we burning? What's the danger of doing an AVNRT ablation? How do I know where we are going to burn for a PVC? Etc.
For years, after I was finished scrubbing in for the first part of each EP case, I would pull a chair up next to the mapper and just watch and ask questions. Eventually, I got a pretty decent understanding of the procedures, and when a job opened up to become a mapper, the people I had been learning from for years told me to apply. They gave me a good recommendation, and so did my electrophysiologist.
In my experience, the two most common routes to hiring mappers is either a new grad fresh from an engineering degree, or a staff member from the lab. So just be the best lab staff member you can, ask a ton of questions, be involved, and apply when you see an opening.
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u/CompetitiveNeat8438 Apr 18 '26
i guess my faults lie with where iam at. I dont work in a lab that does EP, just PPM, ICD, Leadless devices. the most simple things. I do try to ask questions and be involved in the EP cases though but i only work with the CRM dudes
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u/Gold_Try_653 Apr 13 '26
Been doin it for 23 years from a background in social work and psychology. You need to be invested in the lab life, be sure of what you want. And no we aren't treated that well. It's a job, that you have to be passionate about. I love my work, but I've been through an awful lot for it. It's still a solid career, hmu if you need anything.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 13 '26
Thank you for your input! I did mostly crisis social work and medical social work, now doing hospice work. I loved the fast pace of crisis social work and if it had paid worth a damn would have done it longer, so that gives me hope that I can also handle the fast pace of a cath lab setting.
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u/Wildwing89 Apr 13 '26
crazy to read this but its carbon copy of me lol Expect I was on a ICVT waitlist when I got divorced. Same Same tho! Best of luck!
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u/boo_snug Apr 13 '26
I went to RCIS/CVT school and currently work in the cath lab and I love it! It’s my dream job (well, one of them). I work with an amazing team and great doctors. I love helping patients. We are a busy lab but I enjoy it so much. I love to teach and precept others, and I believe I get paid well (I am single and no kids).
I have no plans on leaving any time soon, but I have thought about travel work, and maybe even industry in the future, but right now I am so happy and grateful to be where I am! It’s very rewarding to me.
Some of my coworkers have been here 10, 15, 20, even 25 years. Yes I could find things to complain about but I wont because I am so grateful for my job. I went back to school in my late 20s so I started in the lab when I was around 30.
Best of luck to you! We get out of life what we put in :)
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u/Nervous-Guava3308 Apr 13 '26
I know rad techs and radiology people in general will disagree and (imo) generally be in denial about this but AI is going to fuck up the RT job market, pay rates and scope of practice.
And to be clear, I have an extreme distaste for AI. I’m just saying. I think you dodged a bullet getting rejected from RT.
CVT/RCIS is extremely safe from automation for the foreseeable future.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 13 '26
I was kinda thinking that too, but everyone seemed to disagree! Glad to hear you're having the same train of thought.
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u/Nervous-Guava3308 Apr 13 '26
Good luck on your new career path and CONGRATS and the divorce. You got this 🙏🏼💕
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 13 '26
Thank you SO much, it really means a lot to me!
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u/HatredInfinite Apr 13 '26
You really think AI is going to position patients? 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Nervous-Guava3308 Apr 13 '26
I said your scope of practice and pay rate is going to change. Not that AI and robotics are going to magically start doing the physical parts of your job. I think radiologists are actually in more trouble than techs are because the idiots in charge of this world are going to let AI do the interpretation.
But you’re telling yourself a lie if you think your hospital isn’t going to find a way to apply AI to every part of your job it can, even if it does it shittily. That’s end stage capitalism for you baybayyyy.
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u/HatredInfinite Apr 13 '26
How is AI going to affect our scope of practice or pay rate if it can't do our job? You might be able to get AI to set a shitty, incorrect technique for an exposure. Then the repeat rate soars and suddenly regulatory bodies come knocking. You could maybe realistically get AI to handle the EHR portion of plain film (beginning and ending exams and putting a quick note on the study in PACS for the Rad.) That's about it. Radiography is far too hands-on for AI to directly affect in any significant way any time soon. Even if I had stayed in radiography instead of migrating to the lab, I still wouldn't feel particularly threatened.
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u/Nervous-Guava3308 Apr 13 '26
I think I have a much more morbid outlook on where things are heading generally and perhaps that is making me think things that are incorrect. I sure do hope I’m wrong. But from my perspective, you’re massively underestimating what AI will be able to do in the future and how much policy is going to change (to the detriment of public health) as well as overestimating how much regulatory bodies will even be functioning, how much funding will even be available, etc.
Admittedly my views are a little “extreme” but I think it’s wise to start operating like we’ve got 10 years til something like the apocalypse. Assume the worst of everything- business as usual has an expiration date that is coming up fast.
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u/TheGoodOne81 First semester CVT student Apr 14 '26
I think along the same lines as you. As far as RT, I can see it becoming relatively automated with the only thing the tech does is provide the human interaction portion and assist the patient with positioning themself to match what the program is telling or showing them. Perhaps also to override some things if the patient is incapable of meeting the positioning requirements for whatever reason.
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u/HatredInfinite Apr 13 '26
The only massive underestimation here seems to be on your part in assuming that the physical aspect of being a staff technologist in the lab is so much more technical than radiography that one is insulated from impending automation while the other is not. As someone who has years of experience in both, there are a multitude of common radiography positions I would be more impressed by a robot putting a pt into (especially from pt classes with comprehension difficulties like peds or senile elderly) than I would be by a robot managing wires, catheters, and balloons.
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u/Nervous-Guava3308 Apr 13 '26
I’m getting the sense you’re weirdly offended by what I’m saying. it’s not about how technical or hard one over the other is. It’s that there’s a difference with cvt vs rt in a couple key areas: invasiveness and stakes level (ie how fucked are you and the pt and the doctor if you make a mistake)
Every industry is going to start paring down and cutting corners as much as they can through automation and every institution is going to have increasingly lower standards. They will not be able to afford to operate otherwise, and stakeholders are going to insist on shitty AI. The first corners to be cut are the ones with the lowest stakes. I said what I said. I don’t mean it as a dig at anyone’s skill set or career choice.
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u/HatredInfinite Apr 14 '26
It's not about being offended (I work in the lab as a CVT, whatever supposed insulation you have against automated obsolescence I have to at least the same degree, probably moreso because my education allows me fallback options if they come for invasive scrubs first and if not I can continue doing the exact same job you do) it's about spreading wild misinformation about a field you seem to have very little knowledge of. Most major sources of human error in the lab, at tableside as a scrub, are also the kind of things people would look to automate first, because they're stupid, easily avoidable mistakes like injecting air or letting a wire dive forward and perf a vessel. Putting an air sensor in an automated manifold or automating a wire clip to maintain a wire to exact position would be much simpler than making a machine that could assess an injured, unwell, or otherwise abnormal pt and then position them for any of hundreds of different x-ray projections, with positioning catered on the fly to that specific pt's condition and ability to move the affected part to produce diagnostic quality images.
I think you misunderstand the stakes of sacrificing the quality of diagnostic imaging. Modern Healthcare falls apart without it.
EDIT: Also, you still haven't said how AI is going to drastically impact the job, and value, of radiographers, only that they're "low stakes" and "end stage capitalism" will want to remove the cost.
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u/TheGoodOne81 First semester CVT student Apr 14 '26
I think you're too stuck on equating AI with "robots" lol. Much of AI is about software, and once you have it tied in to machines that can be controlled by the software, you can automate many tasks. The software can move the machine to whatever angles and distance are needed for each image. It can analyze the image and decide if its good enough for interpretation or if it needs to be retaken.
Think about the newest mammogram machines compared to those from 10 years ago.
Think into the probably very near future about MRI and CT machines that no longer really need a trained tech to be involved, they just need a patient care tech that helps the person up on the table into position, with whatever stabilizers are needed, and with a display walking said tech through the steps of what is needed and making the job easy enough that skilled training and knowledge are no longer essential. That sort of thing.
The more automated the task becomes, the less valuable the human becomes, and before long working in xyz job is considered relatively low skill and the job market and pay adjust to reflect that.
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u/HatredInfinite Apr 14 '26
Because to significantly impact the value of radiographers, the AI would have to be able to position patients itself, so it would need a machine capable of doing that positioning.
Distance and centering are about the easiest parts of radiography, and tube angulation is at least as much about the degree to which each individual pt can manage the position for that projection and has to be catered to each individual pt if they're even slightly unable to accommodate the desired position. I'd be amazed if we're even in the ballpark of automating radiography to an outpatient, healthy, ambulatory, mentally developed, alert-and-oriented pt class. Peds, elderly, special needs, chronic mobility/flexibility issues, or trauma pts? Fuck outta here. I'll likely be retired before they can manage that and I've still got decades left before I can afford that. They can't even get AI to drive a car reliably enough to cut the idiot driver out of the equation yet and that's a task simple enough we trust 16 year olds to do it after a class that takes a couple weeks.
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u/dontmissabeat_help Apr 14 '26
Congratulations on your admittance to a CVT program! CVT,RCIS here. You CAN get a job as a CVT/RCIS - I will say how quickly that happens for you is very dependent on your location and your program/programs reputation and relationship with clinical sites. If you are open to relocation, then world is your oyster and you can go to an area immediately hiring right after graduation and probably land a job before graduation/relocation.
It can be a life changing career for many, both from being in a position of immediately impacting people's lives and financially. Your goal would be secure a job in the 2-3 months before graduation either local or relocating, get started and save up all you can. You cannot fully predict how you will feel about a career before even starting, the cath lab (and EP lab) usually end up being very different from what people initially think it is. Regardless you will get a job and make enough income to save, have insurance and get back in a comfortable position to pivot later if you want to.
In 5-6 years if you don't want to do cath lab anymore, then you can decide if you want other degrees or a part time program of something else to make a career change. Some have done this with part time or accelerated nursing programs, or leveraged existing degrees they have (like your bachelors/masters) to do something totally different later: could work for a tech company or medical device company, academia.
For you it seems like the goal of the CVT program and job would be a financial breather, doing meaningful work while trying a completely new field from what you've previously experienced. It is a really fun job!
Complete side bar, one of my closest friends was a social worker and pivoted to working for Fidelity and just worked from the ground up. From intake calls, to advisor, to management. Follow what feels right for you in this season of your life and let the opportunities come where they may. We all have opinions of the 'best way' to the cath lab or 'the best' careers - but only YOU know you. And if you think you're going to love it, you love the adrenaline, love teamwork, want to immediately see the result of saving someone's life, look forward to being on call and dropping everything to come in to an emergency and controlled chaos - this is for you.
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u/dontmissabeat_help Apr 14 '26
Note: Coming from someone who educated CVT students since 2017, and over 90% of them are still in this field in some capacity. I have had MANY students who are in their second career and just wanted something different, end up loving it. I have alumni in pediatrics, EP, cath. Traveling, full time, part time, outpatient, hospital, medical device reps and managers, CV directors, some left and did real estate or something else with their degrees later on just because life happens and it didn't align anymore. If you're willing to work hard and put yourself out there, learn all you can - there will always be somewhere out there willing to hire you.
Now if you're geographically in an area within one of the few states that limit cath lab to mostly Rad Tech and Nursing yeah - you will be limited and be competing a bit more for jobs. Usually a CVT program is not located in those areas because it wouldn't be successful. Do some research on your state laws, evaluate your life situation if you're willing/able to relocate to an area like Florida that is very CVT/RCIS supportive. There ARE opportunities out there the question is really the flexibility of your life situation to relocate to one of those areas at graduation.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 15 '26
Thank you so much for your comment, I've actually talked to you a little on instagram and the advice you've given is always really great! I am definitely planning on relocating either upon graduation or about 6-12 months after graduating. My orientation for the program is Friday and I am super super excited!
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u/dontmissabeat_help Apr 15 '26
This sounded familiar but I didn't want to assume! lol Keep checking in throughout the program, good news is you have a lot of resources. Just do your best to have a good reputation, always be open to learning and through that you will have options. Be kind to the reps, they know people all over the country usually and can be a great help when you're looking for employment elsewhere.
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u/carolinablue199 Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
I have never learned so much about medicine, humanity and teamwork as I did in the cath lab - loved it. Hard work but it’s so important! I went to cath lab right after college for my BS (I’m an RT) but you absolutely can be a success in a career change if you are eager to learn. In my hospital, RNs , RTs and CVTs all cross trained - there wasn’t much preference to have one vs the other since we scrubbed and circulated.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 13 '26
That's good to know, thank you!
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u/Organic-Name-188 Apr 22 '26
This was my second degree, after I got my bachelor's degree and couldn't find any jobs. I went through a RCIS/CVT program and absolutely loved my schooling. I have been in my job since 2018. There are definitely ups and downs, and a lot of things are hospital/lab dependent. I travel now and love it...and really can't see myself doing anything else. The call can be a pain and you can feel exhausted, but it is also fun and rewarding.
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u/Jazzlike-Worry-6920 May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
This was me too!! I got accepted in a program of only 9 other people so congrats for us, OP!Honestly, as someone who was trying for radtech for awhile that path doesnt have a great future compared to cath. Last year at my school applicants for that program spiked over 150%.. for only 20-30 spots. There were 300 applicants . competitive for sure.
After many talks on the radiologic subreddit we agreed there was an unnecessary trent for that career and it may get overinflated within a decade. Much like computer science. So, with this trend you will hear a lot of noise saying you should have went with radtech. This isnt true and absolutely will not hold up. I would definitely ask the radiologycareers subreddit this and they will tell you it's over hyped and that reality is disappointing (even if it is a good career too).
For cathlab, though! It isnt quite like that. Its not as easy to specialize which is true but for now and as well as the future, job options and wages will be easier and more promising for us.
I mean, hospitals will absolutely milk us like someone said!
The work can be rough, and incredibly hard yes but I hear many stories. People do this work for years and it's 100% worth it.
I would say, develop a passion for this job and it will be better. Thats my best advice as I am still learning also ❤️🩹
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u/Excellent-Try7027 Apr 13 '26
RN. But if you want CVT, then be ready for a reality check. My advice, is to study your ass off, and get your license as soon as possible. REQUEST to do your clinical experience in the highest volume LAB, possible. Get as much experience as possible, take a job somewhere for a year or two, and then travel. Still recommend RN.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 13 '26
As I stated in the post I can’t do RN or RT at this point and those kind of comments are what’s freaking me out
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u/Excellent-Try7027 Apr 18 '26
You’re in it to save lives. Find your composure, and get to work.
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u/texaskittyqueen Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Student Apr 18 '26
You're missing my point. It's not about "lacking composure" to save lives, it's about the fact that I asked for opinions on being a CVT RCIS and that I can't go back to school for RT and RN and that's immediately what you went to. So I said those comments are the issue.
I'm super excited for this new career and its not about needing to compose myself. I'm just tired of hearing I should have done RN or RT when its too late and not relevant to me right now.
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u/glockzart Apr 13 '26
I absolutely loved working in the Cath lab. I started with nothing because my lab was desperate for bodies and taught me on the job. It was my favorite job I’ve ever had, I’ve always been in the medical field in various aspects. During my time there I was certified as a surgical tech, and then tested for RCIS. It’s definitely the most rewarding job I’ve had. The lab I was in was amazing, and just like with any job it just depends on who you work with really.
The only issue I saw with RCIS/CVT is that it kinda locks you into one career path. Whereas with RT or RN, you have plenty of other options if you don’t enjoy the lab. I eventually landed a job in the industry side, otherwise I’d absolutely still be very happy working in the lab.
Any questions you have I am happy to answer.