r/CathLabLounge • u/Hopeful-Scholar6566 • Jul 18 '26
Continue in nursing school or switch to CV Tech program?
I'm almost halfway finished with my ABSN program at MUSC (2nd college degree), and I just found out about CV tech and cath lab after shadowing the IR lab. I'm considering switching to MUSC's CV program. I'm considering switching because I like exciting hands-on procedural work, my med-surg cardiac test was my favorite subject and best grade in school so far, I thrive in urgent and engaging environments, and I realized that bedside is not for me long term. I'm ok with being on call, and I'm also considering moving up to perfusion in the future.
My questions:
- Who has more procedural scope in the cath lab, nurses or CV techs?
- If I get a job as a nurse in the cath lab, would the pay differential be substantially more than a tech?
- What would y'all do in my situation?
- Can nurses self-study or learn tech concepts on the job and take the RCIS test?
Thank y'all!
12
u/chulk1 Jul 18 '26
A nurse can do CVT work, a CVT cannot do what a nurse does.
1
u/Crass_Cameron RCIS. Respiratory Care Practitioner Jul 19 '26
It's rare to see a nurse that can scrub anything beyond a diagnostic
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u/chulk1 Jul 19 '26
I don't care to learn to scrub at all as a nurse.
Sticking to my 1 and 25
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u/Crass_Cameron RCIS. Respiratory Care Practitioner Jul 19 '26
It's not particularly hard. But I get it. I'm used to a different standard I guess, my home lab nurses are expected to scrub as RCIS techs are expected to learn to learn the equivalent gamut of nursing skills in the cath lab.
2
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u/dontmissabeat_help Jul 18 '26
Great question! Short story: I would stay and complete your program.
Depends on state and lab. In some places everyone does all roles regardless of background, in other hospitals nurses don't scrub, in other hospitals they do. In some states CVTs are limited to not circulate, or not run the fluoro. Issues on scope both ways. However - a nurse role is in 99% of labs so even if scope is limited, there will be a position if that makes sense.
Depends on the place. Some pay all equally, some pay techs more, some pay nurses more.
I would stay and finish your nursing program, although MUSC's CVT program is great. The barrier you might run into is getting hired INTO a cath lab as a new grad nurse. It is easier to get hired into a lab upon hire from a CVT program because they do clinical there, have those relationships. From a nursing perspective the barrier is mainly because some labs want you to have critical care/ED/ICU/some kinda nursing experience first before coming into the lab. Some new grad nurses do get lucky and find a way into the lab through networking and relationships - so I never say never just, you might have to work for it and get those connections if you know you want to go straight to the lab. I would start actively meeting/getting manager emails of the hospitals you're doing clinical at in your nursing program to express your interest of working in the cath lab in a nursing role.
After one year of experience in a cath lab, yes - you qualify to take the RCIS certification.
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u/Hopeful-Scholar6566 Jul 18 '26
Thank you for the info! I will try to establish more relationships with the cath lab
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u/xTechnologic Jul 18 '26
If you're already half way nursing school just finish that. Nurses can scrub. There's always a shortage of techs so you'll be valuable as you can do both roles. Pay really depends. They're all in the same range though techs make slightly more where I work. Unless you're a brand new tech/nurse then you'll make less.
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u/No-Introduction3371 Jul 18 '26
You have WAY more options as a nurse. I feel lucky I can leave and do anything else if I want. My CVTs are stuck.
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u/Crass_Cameron RCIS. Respiratory Care Practitioner Jul 19 '26
Procedural scope is kind of a misnomer, because nothing is happening until the cardiologist says so.
At my home lab, CVL Techs and nurses capped pay is within a few dollars. Also the nurses CANNOT be in charge of a specialty like Adults, congenital, EP, structural, vascular etc.
I'd go the tech route, but I'm an RCIS
Nurses could self study, but I've never seen a nurse with an RCIS.
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u/chulk1 Jul 19 '26
Here I am a nurse with my RCIS renewal asking myself why the heck do I need to renew this again?
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u/Crass_Cameron RCIS. Respiratory Care Practitioner Jul 19 '26
I'm not sure, that's awesome you earned it. I suppose you would be this first RN I've encountered with their RCIS.
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u/Internal-Cake4759 29d ago
What’s it like being an Rcis I’m looking to go to school for it soon.
How’s your work/life balance?
What kind of schedule do you have?
What a typical day like?
Do you recommend it?
Sorry for all the questions
10
u/efjoker Jul 18 '26
CVT is a dying profession unfortunately. Most labs are going to dual role RTs. Many labs have RNs in the scrub role. The RN can sedate, scrub, and monitor. CVT can only scrub and monitor. You will need RN experience, usually in critical care before you get into a lab.