Xray tech~ more $$$ than RN???

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2004

.In a cath lab the techs, which are usually XRAT with OJT make about $60K-$70K per year with on call. Sounds like a lot for 2 yr ed and OJT. But RN's make about $90-$120K with on call. so it all depends on what you do. of course if your a med surg RN you're going to make less than a CT, Nuc Med tech....you have to get the skills and then you will come out on top.

I searched a bit online and couldn;t find anyone offering that sort of salary for an RN in a cath lab. 90 -120k for being a cath lab RN? are you sure about these numbers? can you show me an example?

this is what i have been able to find:

http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/Jpmoreinfo.aspx?JobID=1617995

http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/JPMoreInfo.aspx?JobID=1626128&cboJobTitle=6&sState=WI&Keyword=&Zip=

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobs/AZ/Phoenix/Healthcare/J0DLJ469K

i know that on-call may be more, but could it really be that much more in a city that pays med surg nurses 16/hr?

midnightkk · Nov 9, 2004

I work as an RN in Medical Imaging In British Columbia. We have a cath lab and Interventional suite, the RN's start the IV's for CT Scan and inject the contrast (or whoever is free does this). I know the x-ray techs, with about 20 years of service make about $33.00/hour, and the RN's make approx $31.00/hour. I do not complain, as we work as a team. I can see occasionally that there is a lack of understanding the clear role of the nursing duties, but generally we all get along. We have some type A personalities, and I know everyone does not want to keep the scanner table empty for one minute, but sometimes we need to slow down and listen to the patients concerns. I am getting off topic, but just a little venting. In BC, nurses go to school for four years to get their BSN (there is no longer a 3 year diploma program), and I believe it is also four years to be a radiology tech, so I think we should make equal pay. After all we both are saving lives.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 9, 2004

I sometimes tell people to do the checking on their own. A lot of braggarts out

RN

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_compresult.asp?zipcode=&metrocode=242&statecode=KY&state=Kentucky&metro=Frankfort&city=&geo=Frankfort%2C+KY&jobtitle=Staff+Nurse+-+RN&search=&narrowdesc=Healthcare+--+Nursing&narrowcode=HC05&r=salswz_swzttsbtn_psr&p=&s=salary&geocode=&jobcode=HC07000001there

Radiology Technologist

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_compresult.asp?zipcode=&metrocode=242&statecode=KY&state=Kentucky&metro=Frankfort&city=&geo=Frankfort%2C+KY&jobtitle=Radiologic+Technologist&search=&narrowdesc=Healthcare+--+Technicians&narrowcode=HC02&r=salswz_swzttsbtn_psr&p=&s=salary&geocode=&jobcode=HC07000097

So at least in that scenario the RN is up. This came from salary.com

Generalizations true, but some small idea of what's out there.

Riseupandnurse · Nov 17, 2004

I started out in health care in the 1970s as an RT and then got my BSN in 1990. After 12 years of nursing practice I earned my MSN and now I teach as well as continue to work in hospital nursing. I could fill a book with the things that RTs and RNs don't understand about each other. Neither job is easier than the other and you can make about the same amount of money depending on where you live, whether you're willing to be a traveller, and how much additional training/education you have. There's a lot of judgement in both professions, the education difficulty is about the same (no nurse knows anatomy like an X-ray tech), and the aggravation level is very similar as well. Although it's a little worse in nursing because you have to deal with more physicians and because the RTs can do their thing with the patients and sent them on their way whereas the RNs have to keep on dealing with the same ones for 8 or 12 or more hours at a time. There is a shortage of both RNs and RTs and I get recruiting letters that address both licenses. I even got one from the hospital I work at as an RN, to recruit me as an RT; that was strange. :coollook:

Both RNs and RTs get exposed to germs and nasty patient situations. The RTs get radiation; the RNs get more of the irate families and doctors. (I'd trade the latter for radiation any time.) There is a code of ethics for both and it is the national Radiology registry, not my State Board of Nursing, that insists on yearly CEUs. I tried to put my RT license on inactive status (I sure would never give it up), and the ARRT refused. They told me that since I was still involved with patient care, my RT license had to stay current, and so did my CEUs. The fact that I had to keep my RN license didn't matter, they said, because they weren't responsible for what the requirements were to be an RN; if I wanted to be an RT I had to prove I had continuing education and wasn't getting into trouble with the law. :chuckle

You will find individuals in both professions that are arrogant and rude. But the majority in both professions are there for the patient and have similar frustrations and discouragements with health care as it is today. As well as similar rewards and encouragements when you can really do something helpful for a patient. We all need to focus on our common bonds and not on whether one profession is better or should get paid more than the other.

NewEnglandRN, RN · Nov 17, 2004

But the majority in both professions are there for the patient and have similar frustrations and discouragements with health care as it is today. As well as similar rewards and encouragements when you can really do something helpful for a patient. We all need to focus on our common bonds and not on whether one profession is better or should get paid more than the other.

Excellent post, Jan!

Riseupandnurse · Nov 17, 2004

Excellent post, Jan!

Thanks, Michelle! As you're "bilingual" too, you know just what I'm taking about!

diamondgirl · Feb 17, 2005

:angryfire Anyone that openly says the things she does is a loser! Really so pathetic. Continue w/ your nursing career. It gives you the flexibility to move anywhere in the world!! I hear they pay a small fortune for American nurses to work in Saudia Arabia. And for the amount they pay, I'd gladly wrap my body in one of those cloths (I forget what they're called). And I'm dead serious. Anyway, it also gives you the flexibility to stay in another city for 13 weeeks. maybe during a summer, you and your family might like to try out Ca, NY, Texan, wherever. Don't let some jealous person rain on :lol_hitti your dreams.

Hi everyone. I'm a little confused about something. I know this girl, let's call her Miss Braggart. Anyhow, she's a friend of a friend of a friend and after speaking to her a few times i've come to the conclusion that I don't like her and I like just about everybody and anybody. She and her husband are those obnoxious type people who brag about EVERYTHING. Example- My son wears this brand, what does your kid wear? We have a boat, do you? Etc... Anyway, to my point...she is an x-ray tech (for 3 years, oh and don't let me forget to mention she has a best-friend relationship with all the doc's at the hospital, they all love her and say she's the best ...EVER! ) and when I told her I was going to school to be an RN (I'm taking my pre-req's now) she laughed in my face and said "I'm in x-ray and I make more money then most nurses that work there, besides nurses get no respect" Of course I just smiled because I was so shocked by her blunt comment I didn't know what else to say. This can't be true can it? A big part of me thought she is one of those "try too hards" , you know those people who try so hard to impress they leave the opposite impression? If I remember correctly she said she made $18 an hr. Well, of course I'm not following my dreams for money....BUT...I do have 4 children and a husband who is the breadwinner and I want to know that if something ever happened where I'd have to support my boys I could. I'm sure most of you can relate. My question is....will I go to school and bust my rump for 3 and a half years in nursing school to make less income than someone who finishes school in a lot less time? (Not that an x-ray tech is a bad thing, please don't get me wrong, but money does come into play when you're poor and eating beans and cornbread so you can pay for college.) I live in KY and I'm not sure what the starting salary is for new nurses here. Can anyone shed some light on the average pay for new nurses in your state/area please?
Thanks,
Christy

NurseFirst · Feb 17, 2005

i searched a bit online and couldn;t find anyone offering that sort of salary for an rn in a cath lab. 90 -120k for being a cath lab rn? are you sure about these numbers? can you show me an example?
this is what i have been able to find:
http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/jpmoreinfo.aspx?jobid=1617995
http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/jpmoreinfo.aspx?jobid=1626128&cbojobtitle=6&sstate=wi&keyword=&zip=
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobs/az/phoenix/healthcare/j0dlj469k
i know that on-call may be more, but could it really be that much more in a city that pays med surg nurses 16/hr?

http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/jpmoreinfo.aspx?jobid=1617995

2800 enter * 50 (weeks) enter = 140k bingo!!!!

sockov, ADN, ASN, BSN, CNA, LVN · Feb 17, 2005

I work as an RN in Medical Imaging In British Columbia. We have a cath lab and Interventional suite, the RN's start the IV's for CT Scan and inject the contrast (or whoever is free does this). I know the x-ray techs, with about 20 years of service make about $33.00/hour, and the RN's make approx $31.00/hour. I do not complain, as we work as a team. I can see occasionally that there is a lack of understanding the clear role of the nursing duties, but generally we all get along. We have some type A personalities, and I know everyone does not want to keep the scanner table empty for one minute, but sometimes we need to slow down and listen to the patients concerns. I am getting off topic, but just a little venting. In BC, nurses go to school for four years to get their BSN (there is no longer a 3 year diploma program), and I believe it is also four years to be a radiology tech, so I think we should make equal pay. After all we both are saving lives.

((Speaking of x-ray techs, meaning a tech. not an RN))..

How do x-ray techs save lives? When ever there is a code, they just stand there! When something goes wrong, they look to the RN on what to do!

The RN's do all the work and take responsibility. I think RN's should make WAY more than they do now!

medic1488 · Feb 17, 2005

If it makes you guys feel any better, us EMS people are still making less than all of you:)

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2005

this would mean that the rn would be making 70/hr.there is no way!!!! i live in texas, and if this where the case san antonio would be overflowing with nurses.

http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/jpmoreinfo.aspx?jobid=1617995
2800 enter * 50 (weeks) enter = 140k bingo!!!!

dbsn00 · Feb 17, 2005

I live in NY, approx. 30 miles from NYC. Most hospitals in my area start new grad RN's with at least $23 or more per hour (depending on the shift) LPN's $17-19 per hour (in the hospitals that still hire LPNs). LTC facilities pay LPN's better, some start at $24 per hour :yelclap: as a staff nurse! I know a few RN's that work in NYC hospitals that make over $40 per hour (all with at least 10 years on the job though). Nurses (especially RN's) who have strong peds, vent or dialysis experience can almost name their own price for home care.

X-ray techs make about $16 or 17 per hour in our local hospitals.