RN vs RT

Nurses Career Support

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So here is my story. I am 44, married with 2 kids. My youngest is going off to college this Aug. and now it is finally my time to start my career. For the past 24years I have primarily been a stay at home mom. Our family has been living off my husbands income and for the most part, we live week to week. Im not going to lie, its been tough but we are a happy family and our kids are well adjusted and our marriage is strong so I feel the sacrifices we've made where the right choices for us.

With that said, I am now trying to decide between the RN program at our local community college and the RT (respiratory therapy) program. Does anyone here have experience with BOTH professions? What do you feel the job market will be like for both in the next 5-10 years and if you were my age and know what you know now, which profession would you choose?

Thanks all! Your feedback is so appreciated.

Meadow

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Just to get started:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/rt-vs-rn-939067.html

https://allnurses.com/pulmonary-nursing/resp-therapy-vs-83459.html

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I am a bit younger than you, but my youngest is going to kindergarten next year and I decided it is time to pursue my career now. I am an LPN, but honestly don't think nursing is for me. I enjoy science and technology while making a difference instead. I was recently accepted into an RN bridge program and I don't think I am going to do it. I have been researching allied health programs instead - sonography, radiography, EEG tech and respiratory.

My reasoning? Getting closer to 40, the last thing I want to do for the last 20 years of my working career is work my butt off as a bedside nurse. Opportunities for getting hired into a speciality position are getting increasingly harder and it can take up to 5 years to get a position you really want. With a different career, once you graduate, you will be doing exactly what you went to school for.

I have a previous bachelors and at this point I really regret investing so much into a nursing career. I wasn't a CNA prior to LPN school and had I been, I would NOT have ended up wanting to be a nurse. So, my advice is to work as a CNA before pouring loads of time and money into a nursing program if there is even a hint you are not sure. You can also shadow respiratory therapists at your local hospital to get a feel for that line of work also.

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Hello Meadow..I'm an Respiratory Therapist and I can tell you that both fields are great it just depends on what you want to do.Where I work we all get along very well.Ive been doing this for over 20 years now and I'm recently starting my way into the P.A. program.I get a thrill out of saving people's lives.I don't think you can go wrong with any decision you make.The money is the same and if you like helping people I don't think you can go wrong with either.If you were in Florida I would tell you to shadow me and you'll see how we all work rather it's pediatric or adults..I love the medical field and I wish you luck in whatever you do..

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Depending on location, the salaries vary tremendously for both professions. The equity in pay comparatively between the two professions can also vary from similar compensation to a large gap in pay, with nurses earning more. If salary is a sticking point for you, you may want to do a little research on the market in which you would be working to see what average salaries look like.

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