Travel EP Nurse Jobs

In the United States, the average salary for an EP nurse is approximately $77,000 per year, according to Payscale. However, this figure can vary widely, depending on factors such as the nurse's experience, geographical location, and the type and size of their employer. For instance, EP registered nurses in large, urban hospitals may earn significantly more than their counterparts in smaller, rural clinics. Additionally, those with advanced skills or specializations may command higher salaries.

An electrophysiology (EP) nurse, sometimes known as an electrophysiology lab nurse, specializes in the treatment and care of patients suffering from heart rhythm disorders. They assist with diagnosing conditions, monitoring patients during procedures such as electrophysiology studies and ablations, and educating patients on their condition. From administering medications to collaborating with the healthcare team to ensure optimal patient outcomes, their role is invaluable in the field of cardiac electrophysiology.

Education & License Requirements

A registered nurse needs to complete their associate degree or bachelor's degree at an accredited nursing program and take the National Council Licensure Exam NCLEX -RN Exam, which is a requirement to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Once the NCLEX exam is passed, you meet the requirements by your state license board, and you obtain your RN license, then all that is left is to do is gain the necessary relevant experience in your specialty and explore additional certifications.

Certifications

Nurses can earn the Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES) certification, which is offered by the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), to gain certification to work in the electrophysiology lab. This certification demonstrates a nurse's proficiency and specialized knowledge in cardiac electrophysiology. Obtaining this certification may enhance a nurse's employment opportunities and potential for career advancement, and it's widely recognized and respected within the healthcare industry. To become certified, nurses must meet specific education and experience requirements and pass an examination. An EP clinical nurse is also expected to enroll in continuing education programs to further their own nursing knowledge.

An electrophysiology lab nurse works predominantly in hospitals, particularly within specialized departments such as cardiac catheterization laboratories, or cardiac cath lab. They may also find employment in outpatient clinics, where they monitor patients undergoing non-invasive procedures or follow-up appointments. In addition, some EP nurses work in research facilities or educational institutions, contributing to advancements in the field and training future generations of cardiac healthcare professionals.

While compensation offers can vary greatly depending on the contract or agency offering, pay packages for a travel registered nurse typically have four major components: hourly taxable wages, meals and incidentals, housing, and travel.

Hourly Pay

Full-time nurses working at healthcare facilities receive a salary, but most travel nursing employers offer hourly wages at a competitive weekly rate. Every pay package for a travel nurse must include a taxable hourly wage, and the amount can vary depending on the shift, location, and specialty required of the assignment.

Housing

Housing payments can be included in a payment from a staffing agency. This is typically offered to a travel nurse in two ways. Either the company is providing housing, or the travel nurse is taking the housing stipend. It is more beneficial for the traveler to take the housing stipend for two primary reasons. First, they will have a choice in where they stay. Everyone’s definitions of comfortable and acceptable are different. The second reason the housing stipend is more beneficial for them is that it can be given as a nontaxable amount.

Meals and Incidentals

Also known as per diems, meal and incidental stipends provide a daily budget for daily living expenses for travel nursing professionals. These standards vary depending on the cost of living in cities and states across the country.

Travel Expenses

Travel is the last portion of the pay package. Many recruiters may not even offer travel and instead put that money into the per diems or housing for their travel nurse so they are receiving the benefits over the entire contract, not just at the very beginning or end of the contract.

While a travel stipend can be used to cover the cost of a flight for the traveler, it is more often than not used to subsidize the traveler's expenses to and from an travel nursing assignment. Travel expenses can be offered as a reimbursement rate per mile, though many agencies will opt to offer a flat rate to and from an assignment.

Many travel nurses find work through recruitment agencies and marketplaces, which means you have better access to job boards to choose your schedule, location, and salary. When you begin browsing for travel RN electrophysiology jobs, be sure to consider the housing options, the benefits, the guaranteed hours' policy, and the recruiting company’s overall reputation.

The good news is that Fusion Marketplace has everything you need when it comes to finding the perfect travel nurse jobs. Here, you have the freedom to compare benefits, packages, and staffing agencies—all in one place. So find your next electrophysiology nurse job and build your travel nursing career today.