Nursing School vs Rad Tech School

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I also posted this on the Radilogy Nursing board but I haven't gotten any replies yet but I'm hoping to have better luck here. I know that there are a few people who post on this board who is or has been through Rad Tech school. I'm thinking about changing my major and Rad Tech is something I've thought about doing in the past. I just want to know how demanding Rad school is and what the content is like vs. Nursing school.

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hey I posted a reply to you on the radiology nursing board!

A

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I remember looking into a similar program. Math and science requirements were higher than the LPN requirements. I also remember there being alot more techie courses on the syllabus. That is so not me...

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lol, more techie courses! that is definitely true. I happen to be a tech geek so I fit right in! :D

for my program, you have to have 2 semesters of A & P, college algebra, public speaking, and all the other BS classes you have to take to get an AS degree. The algebra has come in handy though for figuring radiation intensity and distance and all other sorts of stuff.

A

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Well, luckily the Rad Tech curriculum at my school is alot like the LPN curriculum. I already have math, public speaking, psychology and one of the englishes out of the way. There's not really any "techie" courses that are required. So I just have to take the other english, and 2 A&P courses to get into the program. But I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I know that in nursing school I had to retain so much information. I was just wondering if the same thing goes for Rad tech school. Right now I'm just looking down different avenues.

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you do have to retain a lot of info in the rad tech department, but I would dare say that it is different types of info. I can't really say definitively because I am not all that familiar with nursing school content, but the type of info RT students have to retain are more technical in nature, like what factors to enter into the operating console to produce a good image and how to change those factors based on the patient's size, age, disease process, etc. Also, we have to know how to precisely position the patient to get good diagnostic images. We really have to know anatomy to make sure that we demonstrate everything that should be demonstrated. I could go on and on, but if you decide to go for RT and do some job shaowing, you will see all this and so much more! The school requiring job shadowing is a great idea because you will either leave being totally intrigued and know that that's what you want to do, or you will see that it's not for you at all. Good luck in whatever you decide. If you have any more ?s about RT school, just let me know and I will attempt to answer them!

A

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Believe it or not, the educational demands of the programs are fairly equal. Rad Tech involves radiation science & physics and heavier math courses. But, I found that once I was in the field, I hardly used the academic knowledge I gained.

Memorization is needed for techniques & positioning. After doing two years of clinical and working three years in Radiology, I grew very tired of the same thing day after day. But, keep in mind, you can always specialize in MRI, CT, mammography, etc.

I am really glad I went back for Nursing. When I applied for the Rad Tech program, I never even consided Nursing. It wasn't until I delivered my children that I KNEW I wanted to be an L&D or NICU RN. I love the patient contact and education I can provide my clients. In Radiology, there was very limited opportunity for patient interaction and care.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions.

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