pre-Nursing student interested in Radiology

Radnurse54 · Mar 18, 2009

Radiology and Interventional Nursing is one of the fastest growing specialities right now. With all the newer technologies and advances being used instead of open procedures in the OR it is a booming "business" in most hospitals. However, because it is also a fairly new specialty as specialty nursing goes it is still growing and there are many hospitals who dont have any nurses or only one or two. Because of the unique nature of Radiology and the fact that you are working with MD's who quite frankly "dont take care of sick people" you need to have a good knowledge base with critical care experience behind you. If you work in a hospital that has a good orientation program and many Radiology nurses, it might be easier for a newer nurse to orient in that environment.

If you are interested in doing this kind of nursing, talk with your nursing faculty and see if you can get them to allow you to do an internship in a Radiology environment. I have worked with students in the past as interns and it was very rewarding for both of us. Encourage your nursing faculty to consider looking at the Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Heart Cath areas asa good place for nurses to get exposure to another side of nursing that is fast-paced and technology centered.

Good Luck

arikat90 · Mar 27, 2009

I am very interested in this field too; im going into an undergrad nursing program next fall as well; i was wondering if it was still easy to get a job if you choose this specialty, even though it is "fast growing?"

Radnurse54 · Apr 21, 2009

The truth is, you are more likely to get a job if you are working in a teaching hospital environment. A smaller hospital would most likely require you to have some Radiology experience and if you were able to get a job as one of a few or the only nurse, there may be little or no resources for you as a new nurse.

Work in an area that does procedures, or ER or get experience in critical care all of these would make you more marketable for a radiology position. If you are still in school talk to your program director about an internship in Radiology/Interventional Radiology.