Nursing vs. Rad. Technology

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I am going to apply for Nursing program this fall, but I am so nervous since the program is so competitive at my college. I feel disappointed because the GPA has been dropped and without the CNA license (I tried). I heard from friends that either you must have a high GPA or a CNA/CMA license to be accepted. This is going to be a tough time for me. It is only depending on luck that I can get in. After two trials, I will not have another chance to apply for Nursing. I do not want to graduate without a job and still have to pay the loans. >.

I am thinking of Radiologic Technology program as a second plan. However, I do not know if there is a way for me to be involved in the rad. tech. before applying. Every program required an entrance essay and work experiences. How can I learn more about rad. tech? If you guys can give me advices or thoughts, I'd appreciate it so much! Thanks!!!! :loveya:

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I'm a nursing major and my bf is currently in a rad tech program. He started college as a nursing major but soon decided his GPA was not going to be competitive and that he wasn't sure nursing was for him. He decided to change to rad-tech and was accepted into the program after passing all the pre-reqs. He didn't work in radiology before being admitted into the program however he did work at the community college for 2 years while doing pre-reqs. From what I have seen rad tech is still a stable job but is FAR less competitive than nursing has become.

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Not entirely sure the rad tech job market is doing so hot try applying to several nursing programs around your location? If you really want to do nursing, you'd commute if you need to!

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I'm not too sure the nursing market is doing so hot either....

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Shadowing a rad techs in a few different settings would be a good place to start. Best advice I've gotten about it is to do at least ten hours per place (whatever type of career/job it is). I see different things at the end than I do at the beginning, as the person who gave me that advice says almost always happens.

Sometimes the schools can give you contacts or people you know that know rad techs (my chiropractor helped a lot, and the volunteer coordinator at the hospital) or you can just make an appointment a rad department or clinic and ask to shadow. Sometimes they won't let you without going through a school but sometimes they do let you. Even if you need to go through the school, you can do it as an independent study or something if there isn't a standard program for it.

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Thanks you guys sooo much for the ideas and advices! :D

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I am an XRay tech who is currently looking into nursing school. Every city is different of course, but where I live the xray tech market is very saturated. I graduated in 1998 and you could write your ticket back then, now it's hard to get a job. New schools have opened and flooded our area with techs. There is a lot more to radiology than most people realize and after you get you get your RT there are so many options for advancement....Nuc Med, Ultra sound, ect. You can make a great living in this field, but I assure you it is a very physically tasking job and not for everyone. shadow a tech if you can, make sure you shadow while they are doing basic radiology like flouroscopy, portables, surgery, ER as opposed to specialties as this is where most techs begin their careers after school. Good luck!

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Specializes in pediatrics.

should i dp nursing or medical assisting ????

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I am an XRay tech who is currently looking into nursing school. Every city is different of course, but where I live the xray tech market is very saturated. I graduated in 1998 and you could write your ticket back then, now it's hard to get a job. New schools have opened and flooded our area with techs. There is a lot more to radiology than most people realize and after you get you get your RT there are so many options for advancement....Nuc Med, Ultra sound, ect. You can make a great living in this field, but I assure you it is a very physically tasking job and not for everyone. shadow a tech if you can, make sure you shadow while they are doing basic radiology like flouroscopy, portables, surgery, ER as opposed to specialties as this is where most techs begin their careers after school. Good luck!
What city do you live in?
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