Having doubts... Resp. Therapy vs. Nursing vs. Rad Tech (HELP)

UABsleeperSRNA · Jan 21, 2014

I'm a little biased because i am a nurse and currently in crna school but what i will tell you is go to any hospital website and look at careers their is always a lot more positions open for nurses than RT's or radiology tech's.. prior to starting crna school i worked in the surgical ICU at a pretty large school.. the big question you have to ask yourself is what do you see yourself doing when you get out of school.. are you ok with bight an RT and having maybe 15 or more patients and going from pt room to pt room giving breathing treatments and telling them to take deep breaths?? or if your going to be a radiology tech do you wanna work in a Cat scan room doing 50 to 100 pt's a day? scanning people.. or spend your time going from room to room just shooting X-ray's personally i would prefer nursing doing patient care hands on stuff where b/c of what i'm doing the patients getting better... or be there for the patient or patient's family when there's nothing more we can do.. also you have to look at as what are your chances for growth you start RT your making about 40 thousand.. and aside from raises if your hospital is doing them that year their's not a whole lot of room for advancement except manager later down the road.. where as nursing is limitless.. you start out making about 55 to 60 thousand which is what i made my first year as a new grad then you have the option to get a masters.. teach, be an nurse prac and function pretty much as a doctor or even do nurse anesthesia..

As far as part time during schools.. i don't know of any nursing schools or rt schools or radiology tech schools that allow you to only go part-time.. you have to be able to dedicate a good bit of time studying to all the fields of study because their pretty tough.. i know our schools in the area require you to take certain classes in certain semesters and if you don't pass you can get kicked out of the program so it's an all or nothing thing.. now some work part time and go to school so it can be done you just have to be prepared for a lot of sleepless nights and be willing to commit.. whatever you do good luck!

scrubgirl16 · Jan 21, 2014

I waited on a list for respiratory and decided that I wanted to get into nursing. You just need to decide what you want to do and don't relay on the job market because it can always change. My friend is a Rad tech and loves her job for me it would be doing the same thing everyday that would make it a little boring. In nursing it seems like everyday would be different and challenging. Good luck with you decision follow your heart.

nybsn · Jan 21, 2014

I'm a little biased because i am a nurse and currently in crna school but what i will tell you is go to any hospital website and look at careers their is always a lot more positions open for nurses than RT's or radiology tech's.. prior to starting crna school i worked in the surgical ICU at a pretty large school.. the big question you have to ask yourself is what do you see yourself doing when you get out of school.. are you ok with bight an RT and having maybe 15 or more patients and going from pt room to pt room giving breathing treatments and telling them to take deep breaths?? or if your going to be a radiology tech do you wanna work in a Cat scan room doing 50 to 100 pt's a day? scanning people.. or spend your time going from room to room just shooting X-ray's personally i would prefer nursing doing patient care hands on stuff where b/c of what i'm doing the patients getting better... or be there for the patient or patient's family when there's nothing more we can do.. also you have to look at as what are your chances for growth you start RT your making about 40 thousand.. and aside from raises if your hospital is doing them that year their's not a whole lot of room for advancement except manager later down the road.. where as nursing is limitless.. you start out making about 55 to 60 thousand which is what i made my first year as a new grad then you have the option to get a masters.. teach, be an nurse prac and function pretty much as a doctor or even do nurse anesthesia..
As far as part time during schools.. i don't know of any nursing schools or rt schools or radiology tech schools that allow you to only go part-time.. you have to be able to dedicate a good bit of time studying to all the fields of study because their pretty tough.. i know our schools in the area require you to take certain classes in certain semesters and if you don't pass you can get kicked out of the program so it's an all or nothing thing.. now some work part time and go to school so it can be done you just have to be prepared for a lot of sleepless nights and be willing to commit.. whatever you do good luck!

You bring up some good points. Actually, the school I'm at now (LIU Brooklyn) does in fact offer the BSN for part time track, that's why I mentioned it. So i'm hoping it will help lessen the load.

Shutech · Jan 21, 2014

I don't know much about rad techs or nursing but I do know a whole lot about respiratory. Jobs aren't very easy to come by but if you do well in your clinical rotations you'll make good connections and start per diem. Most places aren't hiring staff therapists so be prepared to have a rotation of two or three places and have your own benefits. Your scope of practice is extremely limited which may or may not be good for you and what you're looking to do. You'll shine in critical care and hopefully in the management of ventilators. On a side note I don't think you'll be required to have a bachelor's degree by 2016, very few schools actually offer a bachelor's in respiratory care, it is usually an allied health degree.

ShelbyaStar · Jan 21, 2014

I considered the same options. In the end, I chose nursing because I tend to like to switch jobs every few years and I could do that with nursing- I can switch to different specialties pretty easily, eventually go into management or teaching, etc. I thought that RT and similar degrees sounded appealing but I would pretty much be doing the same thing every day. I like variety so I went with nursing. Plus I already have a BS so it seemed silly to go from that to getting an associate's- I figured I might as well at least get to use some of the credits I've taken before, before they expire.

I also figured that nurses are needed everywhere. Even pretty small towns still have little doctor's clinics and nursing homes. RT jobs are something more likely to be found in the cities.

What do you want? Yes, nursing is saturated but a competitive nurse can still find jobs, especially if they're willing to move. And I think the saturation will eventually end when people that flooded it realize it's not for them and as the economy picks up and people go back to doing whatever they would've done otherwise.

Obviously, I picked nursing so I know more about that. If that's what you want, that's what you should do. But RT is great too! I just wouldn't choose a different field just because it might prove difficult to find a job. It's difficult no matter what field you're in right now.

RunBabyRN · Jan 22, 2014

I say follow what speaks to you. The room for growth as a BSN-prepared nurse is really nice- as an RT or rad tech, there isn't much room for variety or movement. You are kind of doing what RTs or rad techs do, the end. As a nurse, you have nearly endless possibilities. Yes, the market is super saturated (I live in one of the most competitive markets in the US as well), but as an EMT and PCA, you'll have some experience that will put you above the other new grads applying for jobs when the time comes. Plus, job markets shift and change. You never know. But there are always going to be at least a few postings for RNs, and you can continue to work as a PCA or EMT while looking for RN work.

A BSN program that offers a part-time track? DO IT!!!

yourPhutureNurse_ · Jan 25, 2014

Honestly , I feel that if you do what's meant for you to do , what u really in your heart that u want to do , YOU WILL HAVE A JOB Waiting on u! Don't base your education off of job markets! Have faith , do what ur passionate about & jobs will be there, the way is already made, just go for what U WANT ?!!! #faith

sj20fame · Jan 25, 2014

I know of 2 four year school s in Illinois that let you do nursing bsn part time but they don't suggest it, they tell you up front that what could have taken you 2-3 yrs will take you 5-6 yrs part time.....omg ...it's already taken me 4 yrs part time just for my associates degree! I suggest to anyone-go full time if you can!