[FutureRN2008]

Im a senior in high school, graduate on May 24th. Ive already been accepted to VSU. Would it be wiser to get a BSN and then get a 2 year degree in Radiology or just get a 2 year degree in Radiology?? Would I be paid a higher salary for a BSN and a 2 year degree?

[dianah]

Are you trying to choose between taking a 2-yr program to become a Radiologic Technologist or taking a 4-year BSN program???

Wiser to choose one over the other?? Depends on your interest.
Do you want to work as a Radiologic Technologist or an RN? Very different fields, different duties, different responsibilities, different scope of practice, different advancement.

You might want to shadow a Rad. Tech. for a day or two, and then shadow an RN for a day or two as well.
That said, there is a LOT of difference within each profession.
If you shadow a Rad. Tech. who is "just" taking routine chest x-rays, you won't get an idea of what a CT or MRI or PET scan tech does, or a Nuc. Med. tech, or a special procedures tech (interventional Radiology or IVPs or myelograms) or a tech who specializes in Radiation Therapy.
If you shadow an ER RN, you won't get an idea what an ICU RN or a Med-Surg RN or an OR RN or a PACU RN or a Radiology RN or a Geriatric specialist or a Nurse Practitioner or a CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist) or a Peds nurse or a NICU Nurse do.
It still boils down to the question of whether you wish to work as a Rad. Tech or an RN.

Good luck checking things out and with your choice.
(congrats on being accepted to VSU, BTW! )

[FutureRN2008]

Thanks for all of that information........I know I want to go into radiation. But my question is should I just get a 2 year degree in radiology? Or would it help me to get a Bachelors degree in nursing and then also get a 2 year degree in Radiology?
Would the salary improve with the BSN and the 2 year degree vs the 2 yr degree?

[dianah]

The facility you work in would most likely pay you for either working as an RN or working as a tech -- not both.
You could get a BS (in Health Science or Business or ? ? ?) after getting your 2-yr Rad. Tech. One of the programs in our area offers that pathway (for teaching, admin, etc).

[elkpark]

Originally Posted by dianah

The facility you work in would most likely pay you for either working as an RN or working as a tech -- not both.
You could get a BS (in Health Science or Business or ? ? ?) after getting your 2-yr Rad. Tech. One of the programs in our area offers that pathway (for teaching, admin, etc).

Agreed. Again, these are two entirely different disciplines/occupations. A BSN won't help you as a radiology tech, and a radiology tech degree won't help you as a nurse. If you want to be a radiology tech, go into that and then get another degree that will actually benefit you in that field.

[FutureRN2008]

Then what is a 4 year degree that would help with radiology that I could get first?

[elkpark]

Why would you not just complete a radiology tech program, if that's what you want to do??

[Spidey's mom]

The op is probably listening to his mom, who thinks a college education is very very important.

I admit to being such a mom - my daughter is interested in being a hairdresser (and actress) and I've convinced her to go to college too. Now she is looking at an MBA and running her own hair salon. Oh, and she loved working in the dental clinic in Vietnam last summer . . . .

College is a great experience.

Ok - the cheerleader is done now.


steph

[FutureRN2008]

Yes I want a 4 year degree........but see the problem is i "think" I want to go into radiology. And my mom does not want me to get just a 2 year degree.

[elkpark]

Well then, get a four year degree in whatever interests you, and then get the two year degree that will equip you to do what you say you want to do ...