How do you become a Registered Diagnostic Sonographer when you are already a BSN RN?

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Specializes in In-Center Dialysis Nursing.
I am a BSN RN who is also a Registered Diagnostic Sonographer in Ob/Gyn. I have often thought about going back to being "just a nurse" but cannot afford such a paycut. Illinois ranks on the lower end for nursing salaries with most making in the mid $20/hr range. Adding the RDMS credentials, I make at least $10 more than that. Having worked in this field for 12+ years with a sprinkling of management experience thrown in, I have seen the pay ranges for sonographers - they make more, bottom line. You can check out the SDMS salary report. For the diverse experience, I cannot beat my job. Being a nurse AND sonographer, I can have the best of all worlds. I highly recommended it.

To smilie1, How do you become a Registered Diagnostic Sonographer when you are already a BSN RN? I am very interested in sonography but I'm afraid I might have to spend so much time back in school. Also, is the job outlook in sonography promising here in Illinois? Because I am already having a hard time finding work as an RN right now, so I am thinking of going back to school to learn sonography but I'm afraid after I finish the course, it's back to not finding any work.

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DMS is a second degree, some are Associate degrees. There are also Bachelor's degrees for sonography, where you are trained in both OB/Gyno/Abdominal & Cardiovascular.

I was in the Associate's degree program, it had a wait list as well. Many of the gen ed classes are the same, although the DMS program I was in required Physics and Med Term.

And yes, the base pay for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is higher than the base for nurses. But just like nursing, there are few jobs for new grads. I found there to be even less jobs than in nursing overall. Though, there seemed to be more in Florida. But it's kind of silly to look at the current job outlook and base your career on that. We don't know what it will be like in a few years.

You'll have to check the ardms.org website to look for schools.

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Specializes in In-Center Dialysis Nursing.

I think you are right about it being silly to not go into DMS just because of the current job outlook. lol. it's about what I really want to do long term and not regret any day of it. I checked on the ardms.org website and College of Dupage and Harper College are some of the few accredited schools, I just haven't inquired yet about the wait list. I'm just hoping to be able to get in the program and hopefully some of my subjects from my BSN may be credited even if I graduated outside the US.

Thanks for the advice happy2learn!

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Specializes in pediatrics.

My sister is a RDMS and easily makes more money than me. Haha, but she loves the challenge and honestly, she's smart and has to be in that field. I still get dizzy trying to look at an ultrasound/cross cut pics of abdomens. She had a RN in her class- she was a ADN RN that worked years in OB/GYN, and from what I gathered, there was no problem with that.

And right, the school you're applying for will be able to see what credits count towards the program. The worst part is the wait list.

Good luck! :)

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Specializes in Ob/Gyn.
http://www.ardms.org/downloads/prerequisite_chart.pdf is the prerequisite chart for the ARDMS which is the credentialing agency for sonographers. I qualified under the 3A pre-req since I have my Bachelor's degree. I did not attend a diagnostic school. I was already certified years before that for third trimester limited Ob scanning (Meredith Fresquez, RN, RDMS of Professional Education Center puts on a wonderful seminar for that). So I had a clue about OB ultrasounds, the physics of it & scanning in the different planes. I had a RDMS who mentored me, helped me obtain my OB caseloads, and then signed off on me to apply to take my board exams. There was ALOT of self-discipline in reading book after book, especially for the physics exam. I am forever grateful to my friend & mentor - she taught me ALOT. I am very fortunate to have had such a good resource to help me obtain that goal! As for opportunities in the job market in your area, you can try exploring the ARDMS or SDMS websites. :nurse:
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Specializes in Ob/Gyn.

One more thing - for anyone exploring a DMS school, please ensure they are credentialed! My student just completed her program with Sanford-Brown in Milwaukee. It is NOT credentialed. There was an article about this & other agencies taking advantage of people ($$$) - I believe it was July's Good Housekeeping magazine. ARDMS will allow her to sit for her physics board but she cannot sit for her Ob/Gyn or any specialty board. In this case, ARDMS requires the person to gets 12 months of experience in that area before applying for the specialty board. Her school is in the process of getting credentailed, but for now, she's 'stuck'. Fortunately for her, she is very good & has proven herself to us. We hired her anyway with the stipluation that her within a year, she has her boards taken.:)

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DMS is a second degree, some are Associate degrees. There are also Bachelor's degrees for sonography, where you are trained in both OB/Gyno/Abdominal & Cardiovascular.

I was in the Associate's degree program, it had a wait list as well. Many of the gen ed classes are the same, although the DMS program I was in required Physics and Med Term.

And yes, the base pay for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is higher than the base for nurses. But just like nursing, there are few jobs for new grads. I found there to be even less jobs than in nursing overall. Though, there seemed to be more in Florida. But it's kind of silly to look at the current job outlook and base your career on that. We don't know what it will be like in a few years.

You'll have to check the ardms.org website to look for schools.

What IS the base pay for sonographers? As you know, the base pay for RNs varies greatly based on region, so it's difficult to know how to compare the two.

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Specializes in Ob/Gyn.

RN, RDMS (MFM specialty) $30.00-37.00-45.00 are approx. minimum, midpoint, & maximum in my area for non-profit/hospital-based; this will vary among non-profit/clinic (lower range), private (mid-high), and university settings (mid-high, depending on union or not).... Please bear in mind I personally am Ob only.... I cannot speak of the other DMS specialities...

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The base for a new grad RDMS is around $30 per hour here. Whereas the base for the new grad RN is around $24 hr.

Of course it is going to vary by location, as it does in every career.

BLS states the median salary is pretty much the same for RN's and RDMS's.

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