Ultrasound vs. Nursing

[Yannie021]

hi, i am in a last minute funk, so to speak...i am scheduled to start school at a local community college to begin studies for my adn. i have always had a great interest in nursing but lately have started to dig into the idea of diagnostic ultrasound, looking up everything i could and finding that this too, is of great interest to me.

my mom seems to think ultrasound would be a better fit for me, as i am generally quiet and shy. she seems to think ultrasound isnt as 'fast paced' as nursing and that it may be more 'calm' hence suiting my sometimes bashful behavior. she is not a nurse, or anything in the medical field so her ideas are simply opinion and assumption. but her words have caused me to second guess myself and my abilities (not nice on her part, in my opinion)

anyway, my questions are now, if anyone knows...

1) what is the job outlook for ultrasound vs. nursing? are techs just as needed as rn?

2) is the nature of ultrasound really more 'calm' than rn? to an extent of noticable difference?

i guess i want to make the best decision for me. i am 21 years old and have a 17 month old daughter so i am trying to pick what will benefit the both of us. from what i have looked up, both careers are supposed to pay roughly the same (?) and the associate degree is suitable for both also (?)...i guess i am mainly wondering if the job outlook for ultrasound is as promising as nursing and if the nature of the job is as fast paced as i assume nursing to be...

i figure most of you work near/with ultrasound so perhaps may have an idea of the details pertaining to that particular job.

any advice would be great, thank you so much!

janel

[jjjoy, LPN]

If you decide that nursing isn't for you, maybe you want to take a step back and get a job in a hospital or health facility to see what direction you'd like to head - as opposed to jumping into another program. Since you've already started a nursing program, you may have enough skills to be a CNA or unit secretary or the like. Another suggestion is to hold out another semester and see if it improves. Whatever you end up doing, the skills, the interpersonal relations, the rigors of nursing school will benefit you.

[dnw826]

There are many more nursing positions available. Additionally, ultrasound positions are difficult to come across and don't pay very well.

It depends on the area, I suppose. I always see ads for ultrasound techs. They get paid *very* well, too. Much higher than starting salary for RNs at my last hospital. I know several who were nurses and then got certified in US to make more money and have more flexible hours. Not to mention that many fields of US (except if you are on call for ER, of course) are much slower paced and laid back.

[dnw826]

If you decide that nursing isn't for you, maybe you want to take a step back and get a job in a hospital or health facility to see what direction you'd like to head - as opposed to jumping into another program. Since you've already started a nursing program, you may have enough skills to be a CNA or unit secretary or the like. Another suggestion is to hold out another semester and see if it improves. Whatever you end up doing, the skills, the interpersonal relations, the rigors of nursing school will benefit you.

I agree. It really pays to get your feet wet in an actual hospital. You get to see so many different facets of the different areas.