Ive decided not to go ahead with nursing school...(Rad tech or RT)

Published

After getting my prereqs done and giving it alot of thought, I have decided not to go ahead with the nursing program. I work as a cna now and I just dont think it is for me. Its just so much responsibility and so much knowledge you need to learn on so many subjects (I dont feel confident enough that I can learn all that would be required). I think I would like to be more specialized and narrow down my area of expertise. Thank you everyone here at allnurses. I have enjoyed reading all the posts here over the last couple of years and you guys have given me much to think about. Now that nursing is not a guaranteed job like it used to be, I am even more committed into going into a different direction.

I still want to stay in health care and now since my prereqs are done Im ready to apply to one of the healthcare programs at my community college. In addition to nursing, they offer respiratory therapy or radiologic technology. For those that work in hospitals, can you tell me what the job prospects are for each of those? Do you think one has a better occupational outlook than the other? Im trying to do as much research as I can for both of those programs. Im looking to eventually be able to divorce my husband (he is abusive) and make enough to support my kids on my own.

Thanks so much guys

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ltc, Acute Care, Rehab.

I am actually in the same boat as you right now. I have been a cna off and on now for three years, and I am in the process of finishing my prereqs. I am having serious doubts about wanting to become a nurse also. I was just talking to a respiratory therapist the other day, and she said what she loves about the job is that she is not stuck on one unit all the time, and she gets to work with different patient populations from pediatric all the way to geriatric in the hospital where i work. I believe respiratory therapists will be in high demand in the years to come, there are so many people with breathing problems and the people are living longer, I know the cardiac floor I work on they can't seem to have enough of these therapists. Radiology is also a good route too but i don't think they will be in such high demand, I guess it depends on where you live. Hope this helps. Good luck also!!!:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

I don't know that you're job prospect would be nearly as good as a nurse.. I hear some hospitals only use a few RTs for an entire hospital at a given time. And they probably don't need a ton of radiology techs either.. but most have hundreds of nurses. It seems to me that the other programs would yield not only less job opportunities but also no room to explore other areas.. BUT if this is what you'd like to do- go for it. Do what you think is going to make you happy. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I'm sorry that your giving up on nursing just because nursing school is difficult. If its not for its just not for you right, I would go with radiologic tech though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/Tele/Surgery/SICU.

Where are you located? I can tell you in MI as slow as the demand for nurses has been lately it has been even lower for radiology techs. I am not sure about Respiratory Therapists. Our hospital is one that utilizes just a few for the entire hospital and they are usually very stressed much like us nurses. You will be called upon to analyze and change ventilator settings, respond to codes and rapid responses etc as well as administering treatments, suctioning, and serving as a resource person for nurses and docs. Unlike a RN you will not be stuck on the same unit with the same set of patients for an entire shift which certainly has its upside but please know you will have ALOT of responsibility as an RT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/Tele/Surgery/SICU.

I would also like to add that you are very smart to have worked as a CNA before going to nursing school and for seeing the field how it really is and deciding if it was right for you or not. Some people, and I include myself, do not do enough research into their future career and end up in a position that is not such a good fit.

I hope you find a career that has a good fit for you and I think either rad tech or RT will offer you decent career opportunities. Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My cousin graduated last year from a rad tech program and had 2 job offers within 90 days. That was in Illinois. There's also a lot you can do with mammography, ultrasound, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I think either is a good position but I think rad techs would have more opportunities. I have a friend who has been RT for like 35 yrs and of course now has moved into management but he never encouraged RT to anyone. Says it was way too much responsibility for the $ amt.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Right now jobs are competitive for both Respiratory and Radiology with some departments laying off. When there are only a few RTs per hospital, even a couple of RTs laid off is noticeable. Respiratory Therapy opportunities also fluctuate as reimbursement for services change. When reimbursement is down, more procedures and therapies go back to nursing and the RT department is trimmed.

There are also only about 100,000 Respiratory Therapists in the U.S. There are over 3 million nurses in the U.S.

For Respiratory, you have to be able to move quickly and hand many patients at one time when covering the whole hospital while also responding to all emergencies. It gets hectic. You also have to have a passion for teaching and for a specialized profession. the same for Radiology. There are some opportunities to move to different areas of patient care and different specialties such as HBO or Pulmonary Lab. However, you won't find near as many as nursing. Hopefully if the proposed bills are passed there will be more opportunity for Respiratory Therapists who hold at least a Bachelors degree.

Radiology is a broad field and has many different paths to follow and specialize in which want specific training and even degrees up to a Bachelors level. Right now Radiation Therapy and MRI are in demand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.

Have you looked into any OT assistant or PT assistant programs? I am in Washington State, and know the COTA (OT assistant) is gainfully employed here, and her agency calls her constantly for fill in shifts. Also in the medical field would be dental assistant and medical assistant. Dental assistants are on the list of "most in-demand jobs for the future", also medical records

I understand your POV - the responsibility we nurses have is overwhelming sometimes. And sometime despite your best efforts, people die. Its something that is starting to weigh on me to and make me look in a different direction.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unfortunately, if you are worried about nursing school being difficult, then you will probably struggle in respiratory school. There is a significant amount of math involved. In fact, I had to take course work in physics and additional chemistry during my first year of respiratory school. It's significantly more technical than giving breathing treatments all day. Just something to consider.

Radiology technology is not an area I am particularly familiar with; however, I've compared some of their physics assignments and it doesn't look particularly easy. Especially since you are talking about electromagnetic interactions and the physics involved.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have decided to go into Respiratory Therapy. The advise that you are being given is true from the 2 years of researching and the one year of volunteering I have done. I did 6 months of volunteering for various nursing departments and learned a lot from these ladies. They were all great nurses and I was glad to have known them. My volunteer service taught me that I didn't want to go into nursing for many personal reasons. It just wasn't my thing. I spent about 2 or 3 months with the radiology people. Also a wonderful group of people and I was so thankful that they let me pester them and follow them around. I was treated in many ways like a beginning rad student and they answered my many questions, but once again I know this was not for me. Then I followed the respiratory people around for a couple of months and I felt like this was the job for me. They tried to gross me out, but found that I was just fine and could hang with the best of them. I loved the bronch room and I hope that when I get a job that I will be able to work in there some. I have asthma and both my boys have asthma. I have definately had my share of mucus and such from them.

If you have the chance and can spend an hour or two following the Rad or Respiratory people around I would say do it. It will at least give you a taste of what you will be getting into. Good luck with your decision. I would love to hear what you decide.

As far as this site is concerned, I love coming on here and learning from the ladies and gentlemen here. We will working as a team and so they have a lot of insight to offer me.

deAnna

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion