Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse – Career and Education Profile

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Cardiac catheterization lab nurse work with patients to measure how well the heart is working. Typically, this kind of nurse assists a doctor or team of doctors with the cardiac catheterization process, but can also perform other nursing tasks.

Job Responsibilities

While a cardiac cath lab nurse most commonly deals with the catheterization process, but you could also help with angioplasties, valvuloplasties, implanting heart devices, and more. The exact tasks you’ll do depend on your level of education, but you could do things such as preparing the patient for his or her procedure, assisting the doctor during the procedure, and teaching the patient about home care. You could also help perform research tasks in a true lab setting, working with researchers to examine the results of a patient’s tests.

Salary and Career Options

The salary you can expect depends on the type of nurse you become – the more education you have, the more money you will make in most cases. You can also make more money by working with a specific group of people, such as infants, or working in a specialized hospital. On average, cardiac cath lab nurses make $81,000 annually, according to Indeed.com.

Educational Requirements

Your first step to becoming a cardiac cath lab nurse is to become an RN, which requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the field. Once you have a BSN, you can go on to get your master’s degree, which allows you to learn more about this specific medical field so you’re better prepared to work with heart disease patients. Your classes will focus on both general nursing skills and more specialized skills that you need for catheterization, and you’ll also participate in hands-on learning through clinical work at a medical facility with real cardiac patients.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.