Well I am an RN, RVT, CVN and will tell you what I know.

I think the RVT certification and the CVN certification compliment each
other. Having a CVN does not mean that you can perform a vascular study in
a noninvasive vascular lab, in other words, you do not have to have an RVT
to take the examination for the CVN.

CVN (certified vascular nurse)..this certificate is administered by the
Vascular Nursing Certification Board, a subsidiary of the Society for
Vascular nursing. If I am correct there have only been three examinations
given thus far and only a handful of CVNs out there. The board is a
volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the pulblic
interest by providing a service to those vascular nursed who choose to
become certified in the specialty practice of vascular nursing.
Credentials are indicatore of vascular nurses' capacity to practice
according to the profession's standards.

"Nurses in vascular practice care for individuals who have a known or
predicted physiological alteration of the vascular system or complications
associated with vascular disease. Their practice considers all influences
on health status, and related social and behavioral problems arisisng
because of the patient's physiological condition."

Certification eligibility requirements
Current active RN license
Practiced as a RN a minimum of 2000 hrs in vascular nursing within the past
3 yrs
Currently practice vascular nursing an average of 8 hrs/wk.
30 hours continuing education applicable to nursing care of vascular
patients.

Test content includes much of the same material covered in the RVT exam-
anatomy, physiology, pre & post operative care, ethics, management of care,
psychosocial care etc..

You ask why a job posting would be looking for a RVT, CVN? Well my guess
would be trying to kill two birds with one person. The RVT will be able to
perform the vascular testing and the CVN/RN will be able to perform a
variety of other duties in a pysicians office or a hospital setting,
including assisting with case management or any other procedures which
would require a RN.

Hope this helps. Most of the information I have supplied comes directly
from the CVN guidelines for certification and recertification.
----------
> From: Tony Ayo <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Please inform me.
> Date: Tuesday, December 29, 1998 10:37 PM
>
> Dear Flownetters,
>
> I recently received a job posting for RVTs and a Certified Vascular
Nurse.
> I'm perplexed...I thought the RVT was the highest level of credentialing
for a
> person practicing vascular technology, so why is there an employer
seeking a
> RN-CVN at a much higher rate of pay? What are the qualifications for a
CVN?
> Who endorses these credentials? Are the CVN credentials considered
higher
> that the RVT in the vascular lab?
>
> Trying get things straight...
> Tony