Travel Cath Lab RN Jobs in Tennessee

Tennessee’s cardiac programs are booming, and the state’s cath labs are feeling the demand. Nashville alone — the Healthcare Capital of the U.S. — has multiple health system headquarters and major cardiac centers that run high-volume interventional programs. Memphis has academic-level cardiology, Knoxville and Chattanooga are expanding their cardiovascular services, and the whole state benefits from zero income tax. If you’re a cath lab nurse who wants serious case volume, strong pay, and a state that respects your take-home, Tennessee should be at the top of your list.

Junxion Med Staffing was founded by a traveling surgical tech who spent years in procedural suites — someone who actually gets the pace, the pressure, and the stakes of cath lab work. We built this agency around that understanding. Browse our full list of travel cath lab RN opportunities across the country, or explore all travel healthcare jobs in Tennessee.

Why Tennessee for Travel Cath Lab RN Jobs?

Start with the money: Tennessee has no state income tax on earned wages. That’s not a minor detail — it means your entire weekly rate hits your bank account without state withholding taking a cut. Over a 13-week contract, that difference is real and meaningful, especially combined with tax-free housing and M&IE stipends.

Tennessee is also part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If you already hold a compact license, you can start working here without a separate state application. For cath lab travelers who want to line up contracts without gaps, that speed is a major advantage.

The clinical side is just as strong. Tennessee’s cardiovascular disease burden is above the national average, which drives consistent demand for interventional cardiology services. Nashville’s concentration of major health systems means high-volume cath labs running everything from routine diagnostics to complex structural heart cases. And the state’s aging population in rural areas means smaller cardiac programs need experienced travelers too. You won’t run out of options here.

Where Cath Lab RNs Work in Tennessee

• Nashville: The Healthcare Capital lives up to its name when it comes to cardiac care. Nashville has multiple major health systems running high-volume cath labs with comprehensive interventional programs — diagnostic caths, PCIs, STEMI activations, structural heart procedures, and EP cases. The city’s music scene, food culture, and nightlife make it one of the most popular travel destinations in the country, and the cath lab contracts match the reputation.
• Memphis: Tennessee’s second-largest city has academic cardiology programs and high case volumes driven by the city’s patient population and regional referral patterns. Cath lab nurses here handle a full spectrum of interventional work, and the clinical intensity builds experience fast. Memphis barbecue, Beale Street blues, and a Mississippi River sunset — not a bad way to spend your off days.
• Knoxville: East Tennessee’s healthcare hub has growing cardiac programs that serve both the city and the surrounding mountain communities. Cath lab volumes are steady, and the facilities here are investing in expanded cardiovascular services. Knoxville puts you at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains with a cost of living that’s easy on your budget.
• Chattanooga: Sitting at the Tennessee-Georgia-Alabama junction, Chattanooga’s cardiac programs draw patients from a tri-state area. The cath labs here run solid diagnostic and interventional volumes, and the city’s outdoor recreation scene — climbing, river sports, hiking on Lookout Mountain — is world-class.
• Johnson City: The Tri-Cities region in northeast Tennessee has an academic medical center with a dedicated cardiovascular program serving the Appalachian region. Cath lab nurses here get a community-hospital feel with academic-level case complexity, and the cost of living is among the lowest in the state.

Pay and Benefits

Travel cath lab RN pay in Tennessee typically averages around $2,900 per week, with a range of $2,500 to $3,800+ depending on facility, shift, and how urgently the position needs to be filled. Call-heavy assignments and high-volume programs tend to push toward the upper end of that range.

Here’s what Junxion includes in your travel package:

• Housing stipend or company-arranged housing
• Tax-free meals and incidentals (M&IE) stipend
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Travel reimbursement to and from your assignment
• 401(k) eligibility
• Not a call center. One person who knows cath lab nursing, knows the Tennessee market, and picks up when you call.

No state income tax is the multiplier that makes Tennessee cath lab pay especially attractive. Your gross rate goes further here than in states that skim 5-10% off the top. Your Junxion recruiter shows you every dollar — base, stipends, reimbursements — before you sign anything.

Licensure and Requirements

Tennessee is a compact state, so if you hold a multistate RN license from another compact state, you’re good to practice here without a separate Tennessee application. If your home state isn’t compact, you’ll need to apply for a Tennessee RN license through the state Board of Nursing.

For cath lab-specific requirements, most Tennessee facilities are looking for:

• Active RN license (compact or Tennessee-specific)
• BLS and ACLS certifications (required)
• RCIS or cardiac cath lab certification (preferred — can boost your pay)
• Minimum 2 years of cath lab experience
• Ability to scrub and circulate
• Experience with conscious sedation and hemodynamic monitoring
• Comfort handling emergent cases independently, including STEMI activations

Got questions about credentialing or what a specific Tennessee facility needs? Check out our employee resources page or reach out to our team directly.

FAQs: Travel Cath Lab RN Jobs in Tennessee

Does Tennessee’s no-income-tax policy apply to travel nurses?

Yes. Tennessee does not tax earned income — period. If you’ve got a permanent resident or a travel nurse on a 13-week contract, there’s no state withholding on your wages. Combined with tax-free stipends, this makes Tennessee one of the most financially advantageous states for cath lab travelers.

What types of cases will I see in Tennessee cath labs?

It depends on the facility, but Tennessee’s cardiac programs cover the full range. Expect diagnostic catheterizations, PCIs, STEMI activations, peripheral vascular interventions, and — at the larger Nashville and Memphis programs — structural heart procedures like TAVR and MitraClip, plus EP cases. Smaller programs in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City tend to focus on diagnostic work and PCI with solid volumes.

What’s the call schedule like for Tennessee cath lab travel nurses?

Call expectations vary by facility and are always outlined in your contract before you accept. Most Tennessee programs run shared call rotations, with travelers typically taking 4-6 call shifts per month. Some higher-volume Nashville programs have overnight teams that reduce call for day-shift travelers. Your Junxion recruiter walks you through call specifics for every contract so there are no surprises.

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Ready to land your next cath lab travel assignment in Tennessee? We’d love to help you find the right fit. Get in touch with Junxion and let’s talk about what’s available right now.

Explore More

• Travel Cath Lab RN Jobs Hub
• Travel Healthcare Jobs in Tennessee
• Travel Cath Lab RN Experience & Jobs
• How to Become a Traveling Nurse
• Employee Resources

Know a cath lab nurse who’d love a Tennessee contract? Junxion pays referral bonuses. Send them our way through our referral program and get paid when they land an assignment.