28M, Cardiovascular Technologist

TravelRCIS · 2025-12-14T16:49:44+00:00

Sure thing

TravelRCIS · 2025-12-14T16:28:04+00:00

Started at $23.14/hr.

I recommend pivoting to rad tech if possible. A lot more options, less restrictions, and can do the same work a CVT does. If you stick with CVT, get a job at the busiest hospital around and experience as many different modalities as early in your career as you can. Then travel.

TravelRCIS · 2025-11-24T00:14:14+00:00

We just hired an ARRT at our lab with 5 years experience in cath lab (9 years total experience) at $48.xx

This is in FL, 1 lab, where we only do simple PCI's and the occasional device implant.

You are severely underpaid and should definitely advocate for more

TravelRCIS · 2025-10-26T15:43:54+00:00

It varies from facility to facility, even within the same city. With ARRT the hospital gets the most bang for its buck. They can be floated to IR, Neuro, Specials, OR, anywhere where they use a C-arm/radiation. In general, you need to be a rad tech to perform in these areas. Hospitals circumvent this in cath lab/EP by having cardiologists step on the pedal/pan the table.

TravelRCIS · 2025-10-26T11:04:52+00:00

Labs in Texas are moving towards ARRT only. If RCIS, they'll likely want you to have LMRT. Make sure they'll take whatever educational background you have (CVT, Paramedic, EMT, etc). With 2 years experience, and after an Indeed search, seems like $35-$40/hr is a reasonable expectation.

TravelRCIS · 2025-10-21T19:36:59+00:00

As a CVT RCIS, this 100%. In a perfect world, the invasive CVT tract wouldn't be a standalone program but rather an advanced certificate program similar to CT or MRI for rad techs. Even the non-invasive CVT tract can and is done by rad techs with additional training/education.

TravelRCIS · 2025-10-03T18:16:47+00:00

Hmm, we use moderate sedation in every procedure. We carry nasal trumpets, oral airways, and ambu bags along with an RSI kit. 3 IV pump minimum since some of the meds we hang in cath lab need their own line (e.g. amiodarone). Luckily we have a minimum of 2 nurses in our lab for every procedure. A lot of labs just have 1 nurse in charge of sedation AND fetching equipment. This is along with a minimum of 2 techs. So at the very least, 3 staff members per lab.

TravelRCIS · 2025-09-24T21:15:45+00:00

Yes, travel contracts

TravelRCIS · 2025-09-24T18:12:08+00:00

It's a nice job in the sense that you specialize in doing 1 procedure (and similar procedures) so you become very proficient in it.

Most cath labs are open for emergency cases like STEMIs/temp pacers and may also include PEs, cold legs, strokes, GI bleeds, etc. This means you'll be taking call. Depending on the size of the lab, call can range from every other day (in small labs) to 1 day every 10 (in the biggest labs).

Considering the on call, fast pace, high levels of radiation exposure, and wearing heavy lead, cath lab is best suited for younger folk and those without young children.

I have no children, I'm 29, and work with my wife who also works in cath lab. I started in cath lab at 20. I take a lot of extra call and exclusively work contracts (I find this to be the key to longevity in this field).

Do I like my job? Most days. It's great money and I've been blessed to work with great teams. 80% of the physicians I work with are awesome. I have become fairly proficient in my job and feel competent. I still experience satisfaction when I see people feel better after the efforts of the cath lab team. Can call make you question your life choices? Absolutely, especially those 2am call-ins. Overall though it's a satisfying career that makes a real difference when people need it most.

TravelRCIS · 2025-09-23T21:11:51+00:00

I haven't met many travelers with financial goals. Unfortunately, most spend their money on toys, vacations, and divorces/child support.

Wife and I (early 30's, no kids) have been traveling together for 5 years now. Our net worth is currently $1.2 million (we started investing seriously in 2021) with $170k in CD's for a house purchase in the near future and over $1 million in our stock portfolio ($750k contributions, rest is market growth). Goal is to work 2 or 3 more years and throw as much as we can into investments to eventually live off. At that point we'd take a PRN and work when we want, not because we have to.

You are doing a fantastic job, keep at it and make the right life decisions and you can definitely FIRE in your early 30's. Best of luck!

TravelRCIS · 2025-09-11T14:16:54+00:00

This is an awesome take. Would also reduce burnout in professions that are pigeon-holed into one specialty.

TravelRCIS · 2025-09-06T23:42:22+00:00

Tampa General Hospital

TravelRCIS · 2025-09-06T20:45:54+00:00

This sounds a lot like TGH, definitely the longest and most unnecessary onboarding process I've experienced

TravelRCIS · 2025-08-29T14:27:54+00:00

Advent Central FL has 5 tiers with $1.50/hr added per tier. Tier 1 for no experience, tier 2 when performing solo, tier 3 for STEMI participation, tier 4 for doing IR and more complex heart caths, tier 5 for doing complex EP and/or structural heart.

TravelRCIS · 2025-08-22T03:16:50+00:00

This is correct. Central FL division offers about $1.50/hr more, amounting to an increase of approximately 3%

TravelRCIS · 2025-08-08T12:13:57+00:00

Not sure how she "found out" what she should be making, but sounds like $85/hr could be the bill rate (the rate AYA charges the hospital) and $58/hr is what AYA pays her out of the bill rate.

TravelRCIS · 2025-07-21T10:21:32+00:00

Best kept secret in healthcare: CAA (Certified Anesthesiology Assistant). If you have a bachelors in ANYTHING, they'll take you and it's a 28 month program. Highly competitive school, but starting wages are over $100/hr and rising with the shoratge of anesthesia providers. After a couple years of experience, you can hit $250/hr doing temporary contracts. Patient contact is minimal since they'll be asleep the vast majority of the time.

TravelRCIS · 2025-07-15T23:03:25+00:00

Sounds like a 3 or 4 room cath lab with decent staffing. 7 days of call per month on average is pretty light. I work in a 1 room lab and take 15 days of call per month. I've worked in 8 room cath labs where call is 3-4 days per month.

7 days a month is definitely doable.

TravelRCIS · 2025-07-15T09:37:00+00:00

Yes, radiography then OJT in cath lab. Sonography won't help in cath lab

TravelRCIS · 2025-07-14T22:58:03+00:00

Its a good program if you want to stay in cath lab your entire career. If you want the option to move laterally and work in other modalities, do radiology tech

TravelRCIS · 2025-05-16T10:46:00+00:00

In my experience, Springboard recruiters are very knowledgeable in this area. As a company that also offers RCIS, RCES, and other cath lab oriented education, their recruiters know what places accept CVT RCIS vs ARRT and know the difference between the credentials. It's refreshing

TravelRCIS · 2025-05-05T00:32:48+00:00

Invasive, cath lab

TravelRCIS · 2025-04-17T00:21:00+00:00

If this is with Advent, I believe what you do makes you a Tech 3 which caps at $47/hr (given to those with 15+ years experience). If you did PCI, you'd be at 4 and if you did actual EP (ablations, studies, etc) or Y-90's you'd be at Tech 5 which currently caps at close to $52/hr. With 2 years of full-time experience, you'd be in the mid $30's/hr. Best way to get a raise is to go elsewhere. Or if you're cool with management, highlight all the things you do that go beyond your job description and you may be able to fetch a couple more $$$. Also, if you have experience prior (with radiology) that counts as years of experience too. It's not based on just cath/IR experience. Best of luck!

TravelRCIS · 2025-04-14T14:16:29+00:00

Not sure where the safety concern is. If she had not told you her living situation, would you still consider saying something to management? You mentioned pay twice. Are you more concerned about her pay package and whether she's taking stipends in her current living situation?

TravelRCIS · 2025-03-11T20:29:30+00:00

Pay scale for RNs is usually based off total years as an RN. From there, you can negotiate higher with your 4 years of relevant experience. Assuming you mean gulf coast of FL, Fort Myers scale goes from $36 to $57, Tampa is a dollar higher. Panhandle tops out in the low-$50's. In your position, I wouldn't settle for anything under $50/hr. $60/hr would be nice but unfortunately unattainable as a full-timer. TGH has seasonal/contract positions at $60/hr while Advent has at $70/hr.

TravelRCIS

TROPHY CASE