What Is a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse?
A cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse works in the cardiac catheterization laboratory as part of a multi-disciplinary team that cares for patients who are undergoing cardiac catheterization for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Common reasons to perform cardiac catheterization include the need to:
Assess for coronary artery disease
Measure hemodynamics in the right and left side of the heart
Evaluate left ventricular function
Evaluate and treat cardiac arrhythmias
Evaluate and treat valvular heart disease
Assess pericardial and myocardial diseases
Assess congenital heart diseases
Evaluate heart failure
There is an increasing array of procedures that are also being performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. As the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI®) notes, “the breadth of procedures performed in the CCL [cardiac catheterization laboratory] continues to expand and includes peripheral vascular and structural heart procedures. In addition, some labs also perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as well as electrophysiological procedures, including diagnostic studies, therapeutic ablations, and device implantation.”
What Does a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse Do?
Cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who care for patients during cardiac catheterization procedures while also assisting the physician(s) and other members of the team.
The cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse’s credentials and state practice laws determine the scope of practice permitted. The setting in which care is provided also influences a cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse’s duties.
The basic duties of a cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse may include:
Assessing and monitoring the patient’s status
Documenting the patient’s medical history and symptoms in the patient’s record
Creating and updating the patient’s plan of care
Collaborating with the patient
Administering medications and treatments
Performing various procedures
Operating and monitoring medical equipment
Teaching patients
Patients who receive care in the cardiac catheterization laboratory may range from those who are very stable and undergoing scheduled diagnostic testing — to those who are critically ill and receiving potentially life-saving intervention.
As such, cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses must possess advanced skills with the ability to effectively intervene in a crisis. A background in critical care nursing and certification in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) may be required.
In April 2021, the SCAI issued an “expert consensus update on best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory,” which was endorsed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). According to the update, “Technologists are strongly encouraged to obtain Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist certification, and nursing staff ideally should have a minimum of 1 year of critical care experience. In addition, nursing, physician assistant (PA), and technologist staff must comply with continuing education requirements for their state(s) or certifying bodies, which may include ongoing certification for ACLS and/or BLS.”
When describing the “optimal catheterization laboratory team,” the SCAI provides a glimpse of how team members work together to care for the patient during a cardiac catheterization:
“A multidisciplinary approach within the CCL [cardiac catheterization laboratory] is necessary.
The primary operators must be adequately trained and credentialed.
They are usually assisted by a physician trainee and/or physician extender (e.g., certified radiology or cardiovascular technologist, PA, or nurse).
Typically, one to two non-physician CCL staff are tableside when there is no physician trainee, with an additional two CCL staff serving in ‘circulating’ and ‘monitoring/recording’ roles, with flexibility on the non-physician staffing ratio depending on the complexity of the case.
For primary PCI [percutaneous coronary intervention], three non-physician staff are required.
Tableside assistants must be trained in the setup of manifolds, automatic contrast injectors, the use and preparation of wires, catheters, balloons, and other devices, as well as in radiation safety and sterile technique.
Appropriate staffing to ensure an adequate nurse-to-patient ratio should be ensured.
A nurse administering moderate sedation during the procedure should not have other responsibilities that could compromise patient assessment.
In cases where more than moderate sedation is used, an anesthesia provider should be present, and policies should be drafted for the administration of medications that are consistent with hospital credentialing and state guidelines.
A nurse, or provider with equivalent credentials, should be continuously present during administration of sedation to monitor for side effects, hemodynamic or electrical instability, and changes in respiration and/or oxygenation.”
Where Do Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurses Work?
Cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses work in either acute care hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that are equipped with cardiac catheterization laboratories.
How Much Does a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse Make Per Year?
According to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for registered nurses was $81,220 in May 2022—with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent averaged $61,250. Wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent averaged $129,400.
The BLS does not provide a pay breakdown according to specialty but does provide median annual wages for registered nurses according to general categories of work location. Since cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses care for patients in hospitals and ASCs, the following median wages may apply:
General medical and surgical hospitals: $90,600
Outpatient care centers: $97,200
The salary of a cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Registered Nurses,
at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/map_changer.htm (visited July 8, 2023).
How Do I Become a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse?
The path to becoming a cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse depends upon the credentials involved. Cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses are registered nurses and must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
A cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse can also obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the certification to earn the Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC™) credential. According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), “the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the cardiac-vascular specialty after initial RN licensure. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Cardiac Vascular Nurse – Board Certified (CV-BC™).“
What Are the Benefits of Being a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse?
Cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses can enjoy a variety of benefits, including the ability to:
Do challenging work in an often fast-paced environment
Earn an excellent wage
Be a member of an interdisciplinary team that works together to optimize patient outcomes
Make a big difference in the lives of the patients and families being served
Additional Resources About Becoming a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse
To learn more about becoming a cardiac catheterization laboratory nurse, these additional resources may help:
NursingEducation strives to provide information that is up-to-date and unbiased. By engaging professionals from multiple healthcare perspectives, we ensure our content contains accurate information that helps our readers.
We have combined decades of experience teaching, publishing research, and working with patients in all fields of medicine to create accurate and straightforward online education. Once written, each article undergoes a rigorous peer-review process to bring you the highest quality, most comprehensive content possible.
Our writers receive feedback from reviewers to clarify content, prevent misleading statements, and identify areas that would benefit from more information. Our subject matter experts and reviewers generally work full-time in their professions and work for NursingEducation part-time.
