Do you envy the techs in your hospital?

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2008

I do not envy the techs. However, this is because I have no desire to be a tech. I personally like nursing. I like the ever-changing, adrenaline rushing variety that I get to have. I also like the fact that if I ever get tired of that variety, I can easily move on to a slower-paced world, with or without pt contact.

To me, being an US tech would be very routine and mundane. Not to say that it is, I don't know, that's just how it appears to me. I would also think that your choices are much more limited than in nursing.

Only you can make the decision, as only you know what you are like. I tend to get bored easily, so I need nursing as a means to keep me "entertained" if you will. :nurse:

cupcake25 · Aug 19, 2008

Yes, somedays I do envy the techs in my hospitals. I see the x-ray techs come up to the floor and shoot an x-ray. I think to myself that looks like a nice job. The starting pay is more than a new nurse. I've been a nurse for almost 30 years now. Sometimes I wish I would of chosen another field in health care. If your heart is really in nursing then go for it. If you have any doubts then go for the ultrasound tech job. Nursing is very demanding. I fequently talk to new nurses and they tell me they absolutely hate nursing.

Mulan · Aug 19, 2008

I would go for the ultrasound tech in a heartbeat.

You could always go back and do nursing later on if you wanted to.

MoriahRoseRN · Aug 19, 2008

I have thought about if I wanted to I can always go back to nursing. I think I would be more valuable with the two areas. What I don't want to do is go into US, and feel the same way about it as I do nursing. Do any of you know any US techs personally, and what they have to say about their career choice?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Aug 19, 2008

If I had the opportunity to take the course, I would do it. It does look interesting. One time, I asked about the courses and noticed that the schedule doesn't work well with my nursing hours. I wish I did it years ago. It's not that I would not have become a nurse (I probably would have still became one), but that I wish I had been able to see both sides and make a more educated choice.

angel337, MSN, RN · Aug 19, 2008

Hi everyone,
I don't know, but have you seen very many unhappy Ultrasound techs in your hospital, and most importantly does it appear to you that US techs enjoy what they do? It seems to me that nurses have one of the most toughest jobs both physically and mentally. I love helping others and doing for them what they can't do for themselves, but not at the cazy pace nurses have to work at.
I am finishing up my last two prerequisites so I can apply to an Ultrasound school that is one year in length (very compeitive btw, so I don't know if I will get in). Should I be happy with nursing and make the best of it, or should I pursue Ultrasound? Nursing for the most part has left me quite frustrated, but I don't know if I gave it my best shot. I only have this next few months to apply to the US program since all of my prerequisites will be worthless, because of the 5 year cut off. There is no way I am repeating all of those prerequisites again. If it were you, what would you do? I am so confused about what I should do at this point. Any advice is welcomed, and thanks everyone.

you sound like you would be happier as an ultrasound tech. your observation of the nurses in your hospital is probably correct---we have more responsibility of the patients than anyone in the hospital (besides the MD) so naturally there is going to be more stress. if this is not what you are looking for and you desire a position that doesn't require as much accountability as nursing does then i think you have answered your own question. keep in mind though that at least with the RN degree you are very mobile and can explore different job options that are not available to other professions. good luck in what you decide.

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2008

I have a good friend who is an ultrasound tech and she used to be a nurse. She said every job has it's frustrations but being an ultrasound tech is much less stressful physically and mentally because they only deal with one patient at a time and no family issues to deal with and no doctors to argue with except an occasional radiologist. The pay is better than a graduate nurse. The schools generally choose the candidates with a medical background first since they feel like they will remain in the field as opposed to say someone in accounting who may decide they don't like it :nurse:

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2008

The starting pay is more than a new nurse.

x-ray techs do not make as much as nurses unless they specialize in CT, MRI, etc... :nurse:

MoriahRoseRN · Aug 19, 2008

I have a good friend who is an ultrasound tech and she used to be a nurse. She said every job has it's frustrations but being an ultrasound tech is much less stressful physically and mentally because they only deal with one patient at a time and no family issues to deal with and no doctors to argue with except an occasional radiologist. The pay is better than a graduate nurse. The schools generally choose the candidates with a medical background first since they feel like they will remain in the field as opposed to say someone in accounting who may decide they don't like it

Thanks for the information. I have so many questions, and I know you can't answer for your friend, but maybe in conversation your friend might have mentioned this. How long was she a nurse before the switched, was the US program harder then the nursing program and does she regret making the switch? Thank you for your comments and to all who have replied. Everyone has been so helpful.

neatnurse30 · Aug 19, 2008

I would go for Ultrasound tech, if you don't like it, you can always go back to nursing, but I think you might regret big time having an opportunity to go for ultrasound tech and not take advantage of the program. :twocents: