Home
Blog
How to Become a Cath Lab RN

How to Become a Cath Lab RN

April 30, 2024 2 minute read

Gaining Experience: Your Next Move

Transitioning into the Cath Lab requires more than just basic nursing qualifications due to its advanced nature. Healthcare facilities often prefer candidates with substantial experience over fresh graduates. To pave the way for a Cath Lab position, Registered Nurses (RNs) frequently accumulate years of experience in high-intensity environments like the Emergency Department (ED) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Alternatively, participating in hospital-based training programs can provide the targeted experience and skills needed for this specialized role.

Necessary Certifications, Credentials and Qualifications

While each healthcare facility has its own specific set of qualifications for Cath Lab RNs, some requirements are standard across the board. These requirements include:

An active RN license
Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certifications
Nursing experience, with a preference for critical care experience

Beyond the basic qualifications, some healthcare facilities also look for these more advanced items:

Proficiency in cardiology procedures, medications, and devices
Knowledge of cardiovascular anatomy, physiology, hemodynamic, and rhythm interpretation
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification (RN-BC)

To view our cath lab RN job opportunities, visit our job board or contact us.

Vital Insights

Diverse perspectives and resources for the healthcare community

Meeting the Metrics: How Interventional Cardiologists Are Maintaining PCI Proficiency in Rural America

Choosing to practice in rural America has its benefits and challenges. While some interventional cardiologists may be concerned that they won’t be able to meet the yearly percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) proficiency quota necessary to maintain their credentials, many are finding more than enough volume in underserved areas. In fact, interventional cardiologists practicing rurally aren’t

mature female hospital administrator reviewing paperwork with a female physician

The Stark Financial Impact of Physician Vacancies on Hospitals

It’s not breaking news that hospitals nationwide are facing numerous physician vacancies. But do you know what even a single unfilled role is costing you? Or why you should fill it not only quickly, but carefully? What Physician Vacancies Are Costing Hospitals Amidst post-COVID burnout, many hospitals are seeing long-standing vacancies or a revolving door

Celebrating Nurses Week: An In-Depth Q&A with Cath Lab Nurse Cynthia Sharp

An estimated 1.4 million Americans suffer heart attacks each year with approximately 400,000 of these being STEMIs—a severe form of heart attack that requires immediate and expert medical intervention. It’s within this high-stakes environment that cath lab nurses like Cynthia Sharp, RN, play a pivotal role, often being the first line of defense against the

How to Become a Cath Lab RN

As with any other nursing specialty, the first step to becoming a Cardiac Cath Lab RN is to graduate with an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass your NCLEX-RN to become licensed as a Registered Nurse. Gaining Experience: Your Next Move Transitioning into the Cath Lab requires more than just basic nursing