Nurses vs. Xray Techs

xrayfuture · Feb 1, 2010

If anyone has been both an RN and xray tech or know the two professions well, please give some advice. I am a LPN and can not choose between RN or xray tech. I feel sort of not confident to do RN so leaning towards xray tech. Any advice would be great. Also, the thing stopping me from xray is I hear it is very very difficult to find an xray job, esp full time or even part time!!
(dont want to go to school and never find a job in xray?!)

Hi im from new jersey,i understand your dilemma since i had the same question; either xray or something that pays more. you now what, you could earn more than 105,000 a year if you follow the radiography path and here is how:

the average general education for that program is about 30 credits and about 39 more credits for the actual program.

you'll be done in less than 3 years as a radiographer. i'll be earning about 40,000 a year fulltime. Now if you want to earn more than 100,000 a year you should get a master of science in for ex. medical imaging to become a radiologist assistant, which is a relative new job. well, for that you should get a Bs of science(get a good gpa! to get accepted into a masters program) and 3 years of experience (requirements vary) as a radiographer. do a little of research about it, i dont wanna bore you or let me know to give you even more info ok! good luck. regarding whether its hard to find a job doesnt make sense to me,... you will get a job.

Argo · Feb 1, 2010

my wife went into xray about a year after i got into nursing. she hated it. She is small and the job requires lots of lifting and positioning..... She went back to working in the laboratory after a year and a half. Im still in nursing. as far as pay, I promise you that there is not a single xray tech that gets paid more than even my good scrub techs. Highest paid radiology tech(including ct and MRI) is about $30/hr. I have scrubs that make $31-33/hr..... In nursing my W-2 says I made a little over $127k last year with an ADN(lol) and I am very satisfied with my job, I love nursing and trying to help people on a daily basis...... If you like equipment just get into a technically challenging field of nursing.... Informatics nursing, OR nursing, Cath and specials nursing(if you want to learn their stuff it makes you that much better at the job)

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Feb 2, 2010

Just from what my husband and I had been researching, it seems there is no jobs right now for Rad Techs, while I know it is partly the economy, as there are no jobs for new nurses right now. When the economy changes in a few years, there will be a large return for nursing jobs, but there is not to be an expected increase for X-Ray techs. The other reason is that X-ray techs are used in decreased numbers when compared to nurses. Almost every patient needs a nurse, but not every patient needs an X-Ray tech.

You're already halfway there, go for the RN. I did and didn't regret it. You can always try Radiology nursing, or work in a cath lab as a nurse.

Music in My Heart · Feb 2, 2010

Think about it this way... in any hospital, the ratio of RNs to Rad Techs is 10:1, 20:1, or even more.

While new grad RN jobs are tough to come by right now, there are many, many more nursing jobs in the country than there are Rad Tech jobs.

If your decision is only about opportunity then I would stick with nursing.

hopefulUS · Feb 24, 2010

i would Finish up my RN if I were you. As a XRAY tech you dont have as many option as you do for a RN.

Many more options as an RN? What about all those new grads who can't find work?

I think prospects are pretty low now for every line of work.