Why the South May Have the Busiest Cath Lab Nurses in the U.S.
By Anita Wong, contributor
High rates of cardiovascular disease in the United States are creating increased demand for healthcare professionals in this field. As a cath lab nurse, your specialized skill set opens doors to tremendous opportunities.
A cath lab nurse is a critical part of a multidisciplinary team, helping cardiologists and technologists to diagnose and treat conditions in patients with heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 610,000 deaths due to heart disease in the United States every year, with a particularly high rate of mortality in the southern states.
The role of cath lab nurses
In a cardiac cath lab, doctors thread tiny, flexible catheters through veins and arteries to reach a patient's heart without invasive surgery. A cath lab nurse prepares the patient, assists in procedures, monitors vital signs, administers medication, helps in emergency situations and cares for the patient after catheterization.
Because of the level of skill required, cath lab nurse jobs typically pay more than other specialties. The average annual RN salary is $63,393, according to PayScale, but cath lab nurse jobs average $74,873 per year. Travel nurses can earn even more.
Heart disease in the United States
The American Heart Association reports that 24.3 million Americans, or 9% of adults in the United States, experience cardiovascular disease in the form of coronary heart disease, heart failure or stroke. This figure increases to 48% of adults when diagnoses of hypertension are included.
Regional variations
If you look at heart disease mortality rates by region, the states with the highest rates tend to be in the southeastern part of the United States.
According to data from the CDC, the top 10 states for heart disease mortality (per 100,000) include Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and West Virginia. Georgia, South Carolina and Texas are the southern states in the top 20.
At the opposite end of the chart, the five states with the lowest numbers of deaths are spread across the country and include Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Massachusetts. The variations are significant. Minnesota has 119.1 deaths per 100,000, but Oklahoma nearly doubles that figure with 237.2 deaths per 100,000.
Similarly, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has observed high stroke mortality rates in the southern states. It has identified 11 states as forming a "stroke belt."
The influence of the Southern diet
If you're a nurse, you're familiar with the risk factors for heart disease. According to the CDC, 47% of Americans have at least one of three key risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking. Other factors that increase risk of cardiovascular disease are diabetes, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol use.
Researchers continue to examine reasons for high mortality rates in the southern states. A 2015 study in the journal Circulation examined a diet characteristic of the southeastern United States and its impact on coronary heart disease. Referred to as a Southern dietary pattern, this way of eating includes large amounts of organ or processed meats, eggs, fried foods, extra fats and sugary drinks.
The study sampled adults across the United States and concluded that those who ate a Southern diet increased their risk of incident acute coronary heart disease by 56%. While the Southern diet is not exclusive to the southern states, the study did find participants following this diet pattern were more likely residents of the stroke belt.
Opportunities to travel as a cath lab nurse
Cardiovascular disease is a significant health concern in the United States and around the world. Your expertise as a cath lab nurse is extremely desirable to employers.
Consider a travel assignment and take your skills to cardiac cath labs across the country. You can make a difference helping patients in regions experiencing high incidents of heart disease or choose to work with specialists at research hospitals. You can also select assignments based on where you'd like to travel, meeting new people and exploring different cities as you care for patients.
The unique skill set of a cath lab nurse creates exciting opportunities for RNs in this field. Learn more about becoming a travel nurse and find out where your skills are needed right now.