Nursing School vs. Rad Tech school

I am in a rad tech program right now and it is pretty tough. I just took my physics final this morning and I am totally drained. That being said, I totally enjoy school and I know that this is the right field for me. I worked as a CNA because I thought I wanted to be a nurse, but realized real quick that nursing was not for me!

RT school is pretty intense. We have a lot of clinical hours, more than the ADN and LPN programs at my same school. My program is 2 full years long, we go August 2004 to August 2006 and next semester we will be in class and clinic for almost a total of 40 hours. Each program is different of course, but they all pretty much follow the same format.

If rad sciece is something that interests you, you should check out what the requirements are the program you are interested in. I would also suggest that you do some job shadowing in an imaging dept to really get a good look at what RT's do.

A

Thanks for the reply. I did look into it and the requirements are just about the same as the LPN requirements at my school. Just one or two extra classes thrown in there. This is just something I'm considering right now. The catolog also mentions that going to two different facilites for job shadowing is a requirement for the admission to the program. So I may take an A&P course this semester and figure out where I wanna go from there.

I am in IT now and I am too thinking about radiology tech school.

Whats the job market for it? The programs that are near me are about 2 yrs long. I have been thinking bout changing from IT because IT is unstable. I am only 24 and wanna get into asomething I enjoy so I won't go thru life with regrets for a bad career

RN_2007 said:

Thanks for the reply. I did look into it and the requirements are just about the same as the LPN requirements at my school. Just one or two extra classes thrown in there. This is just something I'm considering right now. The catolog also mentions that going to two different facilites for job shadowing is a requirement for the admission to the program. So I may take an A&P course this semester and figure out where I wanna go from there.

Funny you should mention the Career path of Radiology. I, too, was considering taking that course and looked into Apollo college but found out clinicals are usually done OUT of state from where I live. A definite no can do for me. It's still intrigues me though, very much. Radiology and Ultrasonography both do.

I guess a program is offered through a local hospital here, but I'm thinking that I'll just go for the Nursing program right now and see where it takes me, since it's more readily available. I remember working in a Nursing home some 20 years ago and observing the LPN's and RN's and saying to myself that I'd really like to do that. Well...it's time! :>)

Thanks for the topic...I'll be checking it out!

I feel for you and your struggle to find the right career. I, too, am experiencing much the same thing. I am done with the academic side of my first semester and am now in clinicals. I am not sure of nursing. But I am also not sure of anything else, so for now, I am doing this. We will see where it leads.

I hope you find something that really makes you happy. That is a constant search for me.:chuckle Good Luck!!

Rad tech is difficult as well, but not nearly like most RN programs. The scope of their practice is very narrow, I became bored FAST and now am an RN.

benjamin said:

rad tech is difficult as well, but not nearly like most RN programs. the scope of their practice is very narrow, I became bored fast and now am an RN.

really? it looks very interesting though. I can see where you're coming from about the RN programs...definitely, from what I've read so far, there are so many opportunities with nursing. I think I would like the technology of radiology alot as well too. technology intrigues me. fortunately, with nursing, not only do you use technology, but you also help people...both of which I enjoy.

how, briefly, would you compare the two positions? especially difficulties in programs?

you were afraid I would ask that weren't you??

this may sound strange, but where I went to school the Rad program was very "snotty" they truly considered themselves above other health occupations, especially "butt wiping nurses" I will tell you that the challenges of nursing are FANTASTIC! a good RN has such an incredible knowlege base - so many diseases and treatments, when you choose a specialty a whole new world opens, it is great - an RN can be as educated as they want to be, if you like technology, pick the specialty and facility that fits your curiosity. I have most of my experience in oncology, the development of chemo and bio drugs changes every day - literally- there are so many avenues to keep you interested, and technologies for delivery of drugs..... if you can tell, I am excited about nursing... I will warn you, the schooling was difficult, and like many occupations was the Cliff Notes of what you will really do. You will learn on the job, always be as challenged as you want to be - ALWAYS have options, if you get sick of inpatient med-surg, change, if you get sick of inpatient period - change, if you get sickj of touching patients... change! the job opportunities are endless, you will not even realize the scope of nursing until you get out there.

hope this reply suffices!:):):)

benjamin said:

this may sound strange, but where I went to school the rad program was very "snotty" they truly considered themselves above other health occupations, especially "butt wiping nurses" I will tell you that the challenges of nursing are fantastic! a good RN has such an incredible knowlege base - so many diseases and treatments, when you choose a specialty a whole new world opens, it is great - an RN can be as educated as they want to be, if you like technology, pick the specialty and facility that fits your curiosity. I have most of my experience in oncology, the development of chemo and bio drugs changes every day - literally- there are so many avenues to keep you interested, and technologies for delivery of drugs..... if you can tell, I am excited about nursing... I will warn you, the schooling was difficult, and like many occupations was the cliff notes of what you will really do. you will learn on the job, always be as challenged as you want to be - always have options, if you get sick of inpatient med-surg, change, if you get sick of inpatient period - change, if you get sickj of touching patients... change! the job opportunities are endless, you will not even realize the scope of nursing until you get out there.

hope this reply suffices!:):):)

that's pretty good! sorry to hear about the experience at the rad school though! I don't think any nursing occupation should be looked down upon, as each has it's own specialty, and work just as hard. and as far as 'butt wiping nurses' goes...well, been there-done that, matter of fact at home too with 4 children!! . maybe you didn't mean that literally..but it is a part of life, all of it. it's ashame they think that way.

I became certified 20 yrs ago as a cna, my reason for not staying with it was because I was pregnant and took on raising a family instead. and then, ended up taking on other interests as the year went by. now, when I return to school this Winter quarter...I will be relearning cna, and then skills for lpn, and then hopefully ;>)..on to the aas degree for RN..with pre-reqs first though. I see you also have a BSN....that's awesome! I want one....:) ?

so RN school is difficult huh? I am kinda worried about the Chemistry and math..as those weren't strengths of mine in high school...though Chemistry was interesting. I think it was just the environment and my peers at the time...would have rather been somewhere else!, which makes a huge difference in how one succeeds. oh..and I can't imagine a RN who doesn't 'touch patients'..isn't that part of the job description? I can't imagine a nurse, period, that doesn't. seems odd to me I guess.

oncology, burn unit, icu, geriatrics and pediatrics all interest me. er kinda scares me though...gotta be ready for anything right? but, I suppose after lots of schooling and practice..who knows! now, oncology, doesn't that also deal with leukemia? I trained for a marathon in 2003 with team in training in honor of a leukemia patient and raised funds for cancer research. what an awesome experience!

well, I'd better quit writing before I write a book! ;>)

thanks much for the input...very much appreciated!

nursing student-to-be ?

There are a lot of jobs as an RN that don't touch or see a patient - insurance review, policies and proceedures for any hosp/clinic/medicare or medcaid - community nursing involving education alone or with research, Nurse consultants for drug companies or as expert witnesses in courts - the list goes on.... Oncology is all types of cancers, anemias - just about any blood disorder other than hemophilia and sickle cell. You refer to the list of occupations with the hospitol walls - there is 10 times the opportunity outside of those walls than in - that is what makes nursing so great! My career has been more interesting and I have gained more knowlege outside of the hospitol - home care, home infusion - whatever it may be you have to rely on yourself and your resourcefullness when you do not have a hospitol to back you up - although that may seem frightening it is liberating, in a hospitol you are only allowed to make certain decisions, and only practice in certain ways - it is well defined - but as an RN you have much more training and knowlege than they will generally let you use - get a job in the private sector and you can use ALL of your skills - it is GREAT!!!!

Benjamin said:

There are a lot of jobs as an RN that don't touch or see a patient - insurance review, policies and proceedures for any hosp/clinic/medicare or medcaid - community nursing involving education alone or with research, Nurse consultants for drug companies or as expert witnesses in courts - the list goes on.... Oncology is all types of cancers, anemias - just about any blood disorder other than hemophilia and sickle cell. You refer to the list of occupations with the hospitol walls - there is 10 times the opportunity outside of those walls than in - that is what makes nursing so great! My career has been more interesting and I have gained more knowlege outside of the hospitol - home care, home infusion - whatever it may be you have to rely on yourself and your resourcefullness when you do not have a hospitol to back you up - although that may seem frightening it is liberating, in a hospitol you are only allowed to make certain decisions, and only practice in certain ways - it is well defined - but as an RN you have much more training and knowlege than they will generally let you use - get a job in the private sector and you can use ALL of your skills - it is GREAT!!

Really...guess I need to research alot more! Thanks for that bit of info! I guess I envision a Nurse, as someone whose job is to care for others in Nursing homes, Hospitals, Clinics.

Now, I would imagine you have more opportunities with the BSN or can you do as well with RN as title? Since, I see RN as my goal at this point.

Juststartingout said:

Really...guess I need to research alot more! Thanks for that bit of info! I guess I envision a Nurse, as someone whose job is to care for others in Nursing homes, Hospitals, Clinics.

Now, I would imagine you have more opportunities with the BSN or can you do as well with RN as title? Since, I see RN as my goal at this point.

I have found that this is very dependent upon your location. Where I live, for example, if you want to move away from the bedside role, you need the BSN. Some other places, this is not the case. However, I would say that (at least for the most part) the BSN is a major asset, if not a requirement, for most non-clinical (or non-bedside) positions.