Nursing or X-ray

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Hi everyone, I am taking pre-reqs for a radiologic technology program at my school, however am considering the Nursing Program. There are some things holding me back such as me having a weak stomach for certain things such as Tracheotomy tubes, Catheters and very invasive procedures. I believe with time I could get over these things but am still worried about failing as a nurse. If I decided to go into Nursing eventually I would like to become a NP. Has anyone else had these problems and concerns and overcome them? What worked for you and what didnt? Thanks everyone!

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Well, I can't answer any questions but wanted to tell you i'm kind of in the same boat. I am curious to hear the responses! I took pre-req's for an lpn program last Summer, but had to drop bc of medical reasons/money situations. So now i'm going this Summer/Fall to take my pre-req's for RN at another college. They also have the xray program and my Dad is an xray tech so i've thought a lot about it. I would like to do ultrasounds one day and know I could eventually with an xray degree. I have a weak stomach when it comes to blood and bodily fluids in general but hoping to overcome those as well!! On another note, i've heard some gross procedures that xray techs have to do, I think anyone in the medical field is bound to get pooped on eventually.

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I would suggest going the RN route rather than X-ray, only because nurses have SO many options offered to them. If you have a weak stomach, then you go into an area with little blood (psych, doctor's office, phone triage, case management, legal nurse, insurance, x-ray special procedures...). If you start one area and find out it is not a good fit, then you try a different area. You don't get this flexibility with radiology.

Good luck!

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You will have much more flexibility as a nurse as well as more jobs available as a rule of thumb. There are hundreds of nurses at a hospital and only a few XRay techs. Plus Nurses can work in offices and other places.

As the other poster said, you can work in place with little to none of the stuff that bothers you- that is the beauty of nursing- so many choices!

Also you may end up seeing blood and stuff in XRay anyhow.

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Well I do know that with X-Ray you have to do the following: IV's(no biggie) Barium enemas, catheters for cystourethragrams, and you do surgery and trauma cases. So the gross things are still there just not as constant. I guess my concern is I dont want to be pooped and thrown up on every time I turn around lol. Also I am a 20 year old Male so does that help or hurt me? Also are there a lot of male NP's?

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Also I am a 20 year old Male so does that help or hurt me? Also are there a lot of male NP's?

I don't have statistics but I would bet that there are a lot of male NPs.

But... have you considered the top levels of Radiology/Radiography? There is an 'NP' level of the RT ladder. I think it is called Radiology practitioner assistant and functions somewhat like a Physician's assistant within the Radiology field. And with the data-graphic nature of Radiography, RPA may need only a computer network link to a sponsoring Radiologist and are otherwise autonomous- You could be the Radiology department (probably with some RTs of your own) in a rural/remote setting.

I encountered this because I was going to go the RT route but decided I'd rather have the flexibility of nursing.

Think about it-

-Craig

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Hello to all,

I have a similiar question. I am torn between being a dental hygienist or a RN. My take is that I would do the DH associate degree, then do the RN BSN. That way if I've decided that being an RN was not the right choice, I would have the DH to fall back on.

I know that RN's have a vast route/field, but I really want to have a career, not just a job. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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I If you have a weak stomach, then you go into an area with little blood (psych, doctor's office, phone triage, case management, legal nurse, insurance, x-ray special procedures...).

Dr. office jobs for RNs are few and far between and most of the other jobs listed need several years of bedside experience to be qualified for, or at least to beat the competition for the jobs and have more to offer than just your degree. Just FYI.

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Specializes in ED.
Hello to all,

I have a similiar question. I am torn between being a dental hygienist or a RN. My take is that I would do the DH associate degree, then do the RN BSN. That way if I've decided that being an RN was not the right choice, I would have the DH to fall back on.

I know that RN's have a vast route/field, but I really want to have a career, not just a job. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

That sounds like a TON of schooling!!

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Hello to all,

I have a similiar question. I am torn between being a dental hygienist or a RN. My take is that I would do the DH associate degree, then do the RN BSN. That way if I've decided that being an RN was not the right choice, I would have the DH to fall back on.

I know that RN's have a vast route/field, but I really want to have a career, not just a job. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Well, dental hygienists often make more money than nurses, and have Mon-Thurs., day time office jobs. Not to mention they only deal with one orifice!

Obviously, nursing has "options" but make sure at least one of those options really appeals to you, and consider you will probably need a year or more of acute care experience to get some types of non-traditional nursing jobs.

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Moved to Nursing Career Advice Forum.

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Futurecnm,

What i meant was do my associates to be a dental hygienist, work for a while then go for the BSN in RN which might take like what a year and a half? That way I have 2 degrees, work in 2 different settings (not at the same time), and I can decide which one I would eventually stick with. Hope that makes a little more sense :)

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