Ive decided not to go ahead with nursing school...(Rad tech or RT)

Nurses General Nursing

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After getting my prereqs done and giving it alot of thought, I have decided not to go ahead with the nursing program. I work as a cna now and I just dont think it is for me. Its just so much responsibility and so much knowledge you need to learn on so many subjects (I dont feel confident enough that I can learn all that would be required). I think I would like to be more specialized and narrow down my area of expertise. Thank you everyone here at allnurses. I have enjoyed reading all the posts here over the last couple of years and you guys have given me much to think about. Now that nursing is not a guaranteed job like it used to be, I am even more committed into going into a different direction.

I still want to stay in health care and now since my prereqs are done Im ready to apply to one of the healthcare programs at my community college. In addition to nursing, they offer respiratory therapy or radiologic technology. For those that work in hospitals, can you tell me what the job prospects are for each of those? Do you think one has a better occupational outlook than the other? Im trying to do as much research as I can for both of those programs. Im looking to eventually be able to divorce my husband (he is abusive) and make enough to support my kids on my own.

Thanks so much guys

I loved reading you post Damrcngrl95. You obviously have some insight into each profession. If you dont mind me asking, can you list a couple of reasons why rad tech was not for you and a couple of reasons why you like respiratory therapy so much? I am going to try to shadow a rad tech and RT in the near future.

Thanks to all that responded. You've really given me allot to think about :)

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Have you thought about something like Speech/Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist? They are in demand as well and practice in a wide variety of settings from schools to nursing homes. In my area, Speech Therapists are really in demand. Might be worth looking into. Good luck.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

If I had to do it over again I would go for Occupational therapy asst, 2 yrs, better pay then RN and they are always smiling and relaxed.. Then go on to OT if I ever wanted more.. used to think PT but their college is very hard and now they require Masters.

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hello there:

i am applying to BCC and i took the HESI exam .. i score in all the section higher than 75 % but i keep having problems with the vacab section... can you advice me with something, maybe a book you know or a website with questions that i can pratice.

thank you . : )

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anyone can advice me with something to score higher in the vacab section of the HESI exam ????? please help.

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If I had to do it over again I would go for Occupational therapy asst, 2 yrs, better pay then RN and they are always smiling and relaxed.. Then go on to OT if I ever wanted more.. used to think PT but their college is very hard and now they require Masters.

Im actually thinking of applying to an OTA program this fall along with a nursing program...I cant decide between the two so I thought about leaving it to fate and seeing which one wants me :D ..my only problem will be if neither wants me or both want me LOL

OP- I considered both RT and Rad tech at one point but in my area neither RT or Rad techs are in demand...if there are job listings its usually PRN only. PT assistants are in demand as well as OTA's and both make a really good salary..comparable to a floor nurse and lots of patient interaction.

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jrt71 It was really close on choosing between Rad tech and Respiratory. I guess the tipping point was that there was less of a demand for Rad techs than Respiratory and I felt the future demand would not really improve by much. There are some exciting new demands in cardio-ultrasounds, but you would need to have gone to school for ultrasound too. I also found that even though you did travel through out the hospital the process for actual x-ray was pretty much the same. You would get to see some pretty interesting things on film and that was cool. You could end up needing to put in an IV for some testing, but usually a nurse would/could do that for you. I just felt that I could find myself bored with it after a couple of years.

The things I liked about respiratory is that you could be doing treatments one minute, going to the bronch room the next, and then finding yourself rushing to help with a code. Some days will be easy going and others you are going to be working non-stop. It seemed like on the day to day, I could really enjoy a lot of variety. I do realize they will not be throwing me into a lot of things in my first year. I will probably do mainly treatments, educating my patients, and trach care. If I show that I can handle more responsibility I will be given more. It will be up to me and my performance. I also see a increase in the need of respiratory care because of the increase in COPD and asthma patients and the elderly living longer than previous decades. There are laws coming out that is allowing more responsibility the RRT especially if they have earned a BS degree. Hospitals are recognizing the need for RRTs and allowing for more use and need. It is a young profession that is just starting to be recognized as a profession as apposed to ancillary. It does take time, but I see this field increasing in scope and need.

The people who have posted about PTAs and COTAs are correct. You will make more money and have an easier time finding a job in these two fields and these two fields may be something that you want to consider.

There are plenty of professions where I could make more money than Respiratory Therapy, but I have had to look at what would make me the happiest.

deAnna

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I felt compelled to reply because I am in a similar situation, only opposite. I graduate from rad tech school this summer after a 24 month, 40 hour a week program that was undoubtedly long and at times extremely unpleasant. I just now complete my application for nursing school and will be attending in the fall. Half way through x-ray school I realized I wanted more patient responsibility.

I would tell you to think long and hard about your choices. I warn against rad tech because the job outlook for places in my area and the East coast is bad. Plus new guidelines state you have to re-take your boards ( a modified version, I believe) every 10 years now to keep your certification. Schooling is physics and math intense. Job advancement is unlikely in general radiography, too. Not to mention most techs are so miserable, it's truly a nightmare at first being around them in clinic because they are often understaffed and dealing with a large patient flow and turn-over rate that can be overwhelming. It's not uncommon for a 3-11 shift to have 3-4 techs working when the ER is packed with 15+ exams being ordered, stat portables on the units, and an OR trauma case requiring fluoro!

I hate to sound miserable, because I'm not. I have great respect for rad techs. They are treated often with very little respect but the truth is they do a lot of the crap work other healthcare professionals should be doing for the patient. It can be a rewarding career if you have a positive outlook, though. And if you do go into imaging..specialize right away! Skip gen rad and go straight to ultrasound, ct, MRI, etc. And make sure you know your anatomy!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
I felt compelled to reply because I am in a similar situation, only opposite. I graduate from rad tech school this summer after a 24 month, 40 hour a week program that was undoubtedly long and at times extremely unpleasant. I just now complete my application for nursing school and will be attending in the fall. Half way through x-ray school I realized I wanted more patient responsibility.

I would tell you to think long and hard about your choices. I warn against rad tech because the job outlook for places in my area and the East coast is bad. Plus new guidelines state you have to re-take your boards ( a modified version, I believe) every 10 years now to keep your certification. Schooling is physics and math intense. Job advancement is unlikely in general radiography, too. Not to mention most techs are so miserable, it's truly a nightmare at first being around them in clinic because they are often understaffed and dealing with a large patient flow and turn-over rate that can be overwhelming. It's not uncommon for a 3-11 shift to have 3-4 techs working when the ER is packed with 15+ exams being ordered, stat portables on the units, and an OR trauma case requiring fluoro!

I hate to sound miserable, because I'm not. I have great respect for rad techs. They are treated often with very little respect but the truth is they do a lot of the crap work other healthcare professionals should be doing for the patient. It can be a rewarding career if you have a positive outlook, though. And if you do go into imaging..specialize right away! Skip gen rad and go straight to ultrasound, ct, MRI, etc. And make sure you know your anatomy!

Er, well, from what you have stated from this post, I doubt you'll enjoy Nursing much either.

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Er, well, from what you have stated from this post, I doubt you'll enjoy Nursing much either.

Actually I believe I'll really enjoy it..those issues I listed above are hardly worth the $15.00 they pay you as an RT. I, unlike most in the healthcare, really enjoy being in the hospital and caring for patients.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Actually I believe I'll really enjoy it..those issues I listed above are hardly worth the $15.00 they pay you as an RT. I, unlike most in the healthcare, really enjoy being in the hospital and caring for patients.

So are you going into Nursing for the money? B/c if you are, you will be terribly disappointed. You described a situation MANY nurses face as well.

Not to mention most techs are so miserable, it's truly a nightmare at first being around them in clinic because they are often understaffed and dealing with a large patient flow and turn-over rate that can be overwhelming. It's not uncommon for a 3-11 shift to have 3-4 techs working when the ER is packed with 15+ exams being ordered, stat portables on the units, and an OR trauma case requiring fluoro!

Many nurses are overworked and miserable, have you read through this site? Many are overworked and underpaid, and many nurses leave the profession within the first three years. Some hospitals require nurses to have high patient loads and often don't have the time to have quality one on one time with each patient.

They are treated often with very little respect but the truth is they do a lot of the crap work other healthcare professionals should be doing for the patient.

And nurses aren't as well? Lol. I'm sorry, but I doubt you'll make it through nursing school much less enjoy the field of nursing if this is what you are complaining about.

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics.

What about an SLP? (speech language pathologist). They can work in hospitals, schools, home health, and more. You can work with all ages, although it's usually children or elderly or post-trauma (stroke, TBI, etc) patients. It's a minimum BS degree, but still.

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