Career Advice?

I figured I'd get lots of wisdom from this forum so I'm posting my question here. I'd appreciate any guidance or insights you have to offer.

I'm re-entering the workforce after being a home-based medical transcriptionist for 14 years. I want to go back into the real world in a hospital setting, but defintely not transcription. I'm very interested in radiology tech. I realize the schooling is rigorous and I'd have to go to a technical school, which is probably $25,000 minimum. But I could come out in 18 months or so with an associates and go another year to specialize, ie. ultrasound, MRI, etc.

The other option is go to the local community college program to become an LPN in, (they say on their website) 2 semesters for $2,700. Then, according to everything I've read, you can test or do online classes to get the RN. I don't know how hospitals view obtaining your RN that route and if it is as valuable.

I don't know which to do. I feel like rad tech would be closer to what I want to do. On the other hand, I have been a medical asst in the past and I think I could learn to love nursing again too. Nursing would be the pratical choice as far as tuition.

Knowing my goal may help you to advise me - I'm 45 and husband is self-employed with up and down income that changes with the economy. It's late in life for me, so I need to pick a career and stick with it and earn as much as I can between now and retirement to fund my 401K. Also need to work 3/12's in a hospital to accommodate my children's lives.

Thanks in advance