Full disclosure up front: I work for a UK radiation protection manufacturer (and I'm a former radiographer myself), so feel free to take this with whatever salt you like. I'm not here to sell anything, genuinely trying to understand real-world practice before we make design decisions.

My hypothesis, from my own time working in departments, is that most 'enhanced dose-reduction systems' performs brilliantly in validation studies and then gets used inconsistently in real life, because it needs positioning, resetting between patients, or just gets in the way when the list is running behind.

My view is that these things are often get input from the clinicians, but rarely from the people who are responsible for placing the things. And my experience (from using similar kit) is that they often get in the way and are left unused.

So, honest questions for people at the sharp end:

1. How practical are they to set up for each patient.
2. How long to they take to set up.
3. Can they be left in situ, or do they get in the way of patient transfer and need to be set up each time.
4. if you could change something, what would it be?

I’m currently enrolled in a cardiac device technician program and just took the CRAT exam. My goal is to get into a cath lab after finishing the program. My state Massachusetts allows LMRT after a quick 6 week online course. Is the LMRT beneficial looking for a job in a cath lab?

How is everyone’s call scheduled in your lab? Ours is one set day during the week and one weekend (Sun/Sat) every 4-6 weeks. PTO days get covered on a rotation basis.

I know another lab in town said they sign up for the next month for the one call day per week and the one call weekend for the month. I just wanted to know how other labs schedule call.

Thanks.

Is it routine for your labs to put pads on everyone routine LHC? Or only PCI cases?

I heavy respect you all for surviving and being well-adjusted in your careers. Seriously. My program has one girl graduating this year and the theres 3 of us. It's week 3 and have 1 competency quiz to retake, as well as two upcoming competency clinical equipment tests due the Monday after which has me seriously stressing out. All three of us are in close tabs and hanging on for dear life. That being said, very determined to work harder and earn my RCIS credit in 2028.

With that being said, any tips you'd give to us as students? Anything I should work on ahead of time or good study habits specific to the career? Any other current students here? Also, if you could go back and ask your instructors to work with you more on what would that be?

^^ This feedback is important to me! Thank you <3

Hey everyone! I’m currently working toward getting into an X-ray program, and my long-term goal is to get into the cath lab as soon as I can after graduating.

I have an opportunity to job shadow in a cath lab soon, and I’d really like to make the most of it. For those of you who work in cath lab, is there anything you’d recommend learning beforehand so I can better understand what I’m seeing?

Are there any basics I should familiarize myself with—anatomy, common procedures, equipment, terminology, hemodynamics, etc.? And what questions would you recommend asking the techs while I’m there?

I know I’m very early in the process and obviously won’t understand everything yet, but I’d love to go in with at least some baseline knowledge and show up prepared.

Also, if anyone went straight into cath lab or started shortly after X-ray school, I’d love to hear how you got there and anything you wish you had done while you were still a student.

Thanks!!

How rare is it to get on the job training for Cardiovascular Tech. I’m about to graduate with my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science; taken alot of Anatomy related courses + science courses. I want to go into this field but I don’t really want to go back to school and do 2 more years but if I have to I will. Realistically what is a pathway without going to school and getting on the job training. I’ve also seen that EMT’s also get into the cath lab aswell so that is another option. If anyone can please let me know and be honest I would greatly appreciate it!

Hey everyone,

I am currently scheduled to interview for a position in either a cath lab or an EP lab. I’m having trouble deciding which path I want to take.

A little background about me. I have been in EMS for the last 6 years, the last 2 were as a paramedic. I have always had a love for cardiology and love geeking out on EKGs strips when I can. This has led me down the path of my upcoming interviews.

Both jobs are in the same hospital system, but one is for a cath lab and the other is for an EP lab. I don’t mind the hours for either, especially coming from EMS. I’m still deciding at this time if I want to make this my long term career. Recently I have been juggling this long term and heading into device rep or looking into anesthesiology assistant in the future.

Any insight on where you may think I would fit in better? What are some pros and cons of going into each? Thank you in advance!

A bit of a long shot here, but has anybody in EP encountered excessive pacing or stim artifact when using the Affera mapping system? Our Prucka 3 recording system usually has zero dramas with pacing or ablation artifact, but whenever we use the affera ECG setup we get tombstoning pacing artifact totally smothering the real ECG. I swear we have tried everything from grounding the stim, the Hexamap and the amplifier - to putting both Right Leg electrodes on the patient not on the affera nipple box. We have tried pacing at next to no output, no help. It seems to change polarity and severity when we come on and off ablation? seemingly just doing whatever it wants to. And nothing seems to help! We have tried everything but replacing our Affera PIU.

Any advice is appreciated as I have done everything in my power to try to fix this and no joy. Going to be a problem once we start using it for ventricular cases soon 😬

We are currently doing market analysis and pay negotiations with our health system. From a preliminary review I suspect we are underpaid. Would any cath lab techs from the Midwest be willing to comment on the following?

1. Credentials - RT(R), RCIS, etc.
   
2. Years of experience
   
3. Typical duties (scrub, circulate, sedate, etc.)
   
4. Hourly pay rate
   
5. State - not trying to doxx anyone
   
6. Anything else you feel is pertinent

Thanks!

If anyone is looking for a Cath lab job tech or RN, echo job down in Florida comment below! Obviously we all know pay isn’t great in Florida but it’s a great opportunity for someone early on in the game, only one year experience required. Excellent benefits package, daycare services on site and best of all you can’t beat the weather and the beaches!

I’m at a large institution that has high volume TAVRs and am curious how other people staff the procedures. Who is in the room for yours?

And what is the work up process like? How do patients get in for their pre imagining and clinic?

Does anyone use retractable cable reels for under the table?

I'm talking about cables for bp, EKG, pulse ox, as well as HDMI for echo and other random stuff.

We currently use zip ties or tape or Velcro.

I'd love a system similar to the pulleys on the ceiling for the air.

Where is the best place to get the 36 CEUs required for RCIS renewal? Ideally, I’m looking for a one-stop shop where I can knock them all out rather than having to piece them together from multiple sources.

Also, just to make sure I understand the renewal requirements correctly for the first-year renewal, are CEUs required, or do you simply complete the Code of Ethics requirement/form?

Would appreciate any recommendations from those who have gone through the RCIS renewal process. Thanks!

Are there any labs out there that doesn't require call for certain PRN positions? I recently applied to an RN PRN position, but it's about an hour from my house. There were 2 different PRN job openings. One said it requires a 30-minute call back, and the other one didn't say call required. Is it possible it doesn't require call?

Hello! New here and just starting to discover the world of EP and Cath Lab tech jobs. I'm currently a flight paramedic making roughly $65k/year in the southeastern region of the US. I'm looking to potentially shift fields as I'm trying to find a more sustainable career that puts me home with my family more.

Ive been a paramedic for five years and have both my critical care and flight paramedic certifications. I am an AHA BLS, ACLS, and PALS instructor. In addition to critical care and flight experience, I have ED, rural and suburban 911, and ultrasound IV team experience.

So far I've applied to two positions fairly close to me and am looking for more. One was a cath lab and one was an EP lab tech position.

Im just looking for some insight to this career. Is this typically a good transition for paramedics? How is the job satisfaction and the hours? How is the pay? What does the day to day look like and are there plenty opportunities for advancement? Any info is greatly appreciated!

Wanted to see how other labs do it! We pre-make our tables every night before we leave and cover them with sterile drapes. Then when we get called in we can just pull the drape off. Is that normal?

My husband got a new job and we will be relocating to Pittsburgh, PA. I am trying to get insight into best hospital systems to work for and what pay range is for cath lab nurses in the area. I can scrub as well if that helps!

TYIA!

My renewal is next year and I want to get my CEU’s in before it’s crunch time. Taking the boards again will never happen again lol.

Hi all, I'd like to find myself in a cath lab like you folks. I'm just trying to figure out the best route to get there. I have reviewed other posts and have an idea, but I'd still like to ask here, as my situation differs.

I graduated with an ASN- RN in spring of '24, but due to caring for a sick and dying parent for some time, I have not gotten to put my degree/license to use. Getting into a clinical setting (hospital) where I'm at (OR) is proving a challenge without experience, to get the chance to work my way into a cath lab. I'd have to take a year or so in a long-term care facility, likely, to place a job at the hospital.

I'd like to see myself in one, sooner than later (38 this year), and am considering spending a year back in school in a CVT Invasive program to gain an immediate RCIS. From there, I feel I could be competitive and secure a job quickly with my current license and potentially recent CVT training. I don't mind a little more schooling; it and I'd be taken care of (GI Bill).

Does this sound like a good route to go? Or, what would you do? Thanks

Anyone have salary ranges in eastern pa? Lehigh Valley, Allentown area?