Cath Lab Salary Question

suzanne4, RN · May 5, 2006

The salary is not any different than a nurse working in the same facility with the same amount of experience. Units do not normally pay differntly in most cases. Whether it is cath lab, or OR, or ER, or med-surg, the salary is the same.

The years of experience that you had before getting your license, usually will not make a difference. They may start you slightly higher, but your previous experience was not in a nursing role, and only because you have been in the same facility. But that does not happen all fo the time either.

OSU_NS_13 · May 6, 2006

The lab is a freestanding outpatient cath lab, separate from a hospital. I didn't really think that being an MA would qualify me for a higher salary as an RN, I just mentioned it is all...

Thanks.

icucharge · May 8, 2006

Unfortunately today most facilities have a standard pay rate for a set level of experience. So in your case, you would be considered a new graduate RN, so what every the normal starting salary for a new grad should give you a ball park figure. Secondly, most cath labs require at least a year experience with some of that being some sort of critical care nursing.

zn3boys · May 8, 2006

The years of experience will always help you be a more competent/safe nurse. The salary is the same in cath lab as in any critical care setting in the hospital. As for outpatient it may be slightly lower, unless you take call. I work part time, 15years of experience, about 100 hrs of call every 2 weeks, and make 70,000+/yr. in Southern California. My average productive hours a pay period, 30 hrs.