Radiography vs. Nursing

ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA · Dec 9, 2009

I had this dilemma. I changed my major about 4 times before sticking with nursing. Initially, I was attracted to rad tech because my aunt is one and for the most part it is not a very stressful job. You can also become a radiation therapist and make some pretty decent $$.

After speaking with quite a few people, I chose nursing because there is a lot more opportunity in it. With nursing, you have job security, and you're not limited to working in a hospital. I know a few people who own registries or home health companies, and they make $$$$$$$$$. You can also do NP, CRNA, etc. Unless you're willing to pull out student loans or fork over 60k on a private school, nursing is not easy to get into. I have awesome science grades and still..Here in Cali, I ended up having to start off in a 12 month LVN program at a community college before I could go straight into the RN program. I'm hoping to start the 2 semester LVN-RN program in February or next September! Get your foot in the door however you can! Good luck!

bluebirdlx · Dec 9, 2009

I am in this situation right now, so I'm not sure I have advice, but at least I know where you're coming from. I'm currently taking my prereqs for nursing, which are luckily mostly the same prereqs for radiology. Next fall I will have to make a decision which school to apply for. I would LOVE to go for radiology. My only concern is when I browse job postings at hospitals, there are multiple jobs for RN's and I never see jobs for rad techs. With new grad nurses having such a hard time finding jobs already, is it really smart to pick an occupation with even less job openings. I don't know?

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Dec 9, 2009

I debated between the two when I was thinking about a career change over the past year. Ultimately I decided to go for nursing because the wide variety of career options. I'm excited about the possibility of working in mental health institute or a correctional facility. I also thought, if I ever get sick of that setting, I can switch to working in other settings (hospital, hospice, school systems, army hospitals, foreign countries etc.) Or if I get tired of direct patient care later in my life, I can teach or get into research (I plan on getting the MSN degree). There are so many possibilities compared to Rad, in my opinion. The traveling option is icing on the cake. I see nursing as a job that lets me to help people, some of whom are underserved and decrepit, in the most direct way and, at the same time, offers adventures.

ok2bme · Dec 9, 2009

I think if I could do it all over again..I'd choose sonography. The pay is at least as good as nursing, the job outlook is at least as good, it's 1:1 patient contact, they're specialized experts, don't deal with the call light "my cable is out", "the food is bland" servant bs nurses are subjected to, less poop, etc. I don't hate nursing, I just think sonography is the best kept secret in healthcare.

KKB243 · Dec 10, 2009

I think if I could do it all over again..I'd choose sonography. The pay is at least as good as nursing, the job outlook is at least as good, it's 1:1 patient contact, they're specialized experts, don't deal with the call light "my cable is out", "the food is bland" servant bs nurses are subjected to, less poop, etc. I don't hate nursing, I just think sonography is the best kept secret in healthcare.

My ultimate goal is to do sonography. The schools that offer it where I live only offer it to people who are already RN's or xray techs etc. I am trying to figure out which one to do so I can then go on to school for sonography.

ruralgirl08 · Dec 10, 2009

Hi, nursing is a profession with a lot of opportunity, flexibility, decent pay. But if I were to chose again, I'd go for radiography, another allied health role, or even teaching. But that is completely my own opinion, I think it all depends on your goals & personality. I went into nursing because I felt a calling, really wanted to help people, wanted to learn how to save someone's life, and I love biology (still do). But I think I had a romanticized idea of what nursing is. Now that I have settled down in life, been nursing in the real world, I personally would have chosen another career. I would prefer to have a less stressful job with the same pay, more autonomy, see one patient at a time but not have to get super involved in their lives and family dynamics, better hours: overall, less of nights/weekends/missing holidays. To me nursing can be very rewarding at times, but radiography seems like a more life/work balanced career, which also is very rewarding for your personal life. But it completely depends on what is important to you. It is possible to find some of these qualities in nursing, but a lot of times you need...a lot of experience, education or seniority to land that job.

ruralgirl08 · Dec 10, 2009

Yes...sonography would be a great job!

KKB243 · Dec 10, 2009

Yes...sonography would be a great job!

Which would be better to start out with if I am going into sonography? Radiography or nursing?

ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA · Dec 10, 2009

Do rad if your ultimate goal is sonography.

dishes, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

An education in radiology will provide more of the basics needed for sonography than a nursing education will.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 10, 2009

Has anyone looked into it or have insight they can share with the AA degree in Radiation Therapy? I have a friend thinking about it but there really doesn't seem to be much info. Thanks!