Nursing or X-ray Tech?

I know its been long since you posted this but maybe this will help. Two very different professions, I suggest you shadow a person in each of these professions. Hospitals are very willing to do that, just go to the volunteer department in the hospital you are interested in.

Best of luck!

Nursing of course!

I have a couple of friends that are x-ray techs and make ok money 15-17 but the field is limited. If you have the time I would go for RN

Hi,

I am looking to go back to school and change my career and I am interested in these fields. Can anyone give me some personal feedback on them? I know they are different but they both interest me. I am very undecided and would like to know if anyone has worked in both fields or can share opinions.

Thanks,

Cee :)

I guess it just depends on how indepth you want to be in regards to patient care. I think that is a question you are going to have to ask yourself.

Also, like someone else pointed out, shadowing a professional is a good way of getting insight into a different profession.

I think nursing offers more paths. Best wishes to you in whichever you decide.

I've been a CNA for 13 years. I've started and stopped nursing school 3 times for various reasons. I met someone I knew from my very first CNA job at this hospital I work at now. She's an x-ray tech. I asked her what her pay was because I knew her from the past and felt comfortable asking. She said around the $15 range. I was floored because she said the x-ray tech thing took 2 years of additional school. We work at the same hospital and I make more than she does and I still only have my CNA. Sad to know she would have been better off just sticking with her CNA.

Unless of course she enjoys what she is doing, and it brings her personal gratification. :)

Hello Everyone!! I'm new to these Forums, love the boards, & the discussions !!

In NYC the pay rate is about $24-$27 an hour for X-Ray Techs. The program is not as hard as nursing, we have less responsibility than nurses, don't have to worry about whether our decisions will kill a patient or not, but we have our work cut out for us.

Portables and BE Exams are the less glamorous side of our profession:chair:, but we do it cuz we love helping ppl! :icon_hug:

Nice, 24-27/hr is not bad. Wouldn't mind that. How is the job market in NYC for techs and is there opportunity to grow in the profession? I also heard they cap after a while is that true? I have to say though, nursing is great in NYC, we start at 60-65K year, have great opportunities to grow, and great patient care if that is what you like. You can really make a difference in a person's life. I guess it depends on what you like. Wouldn't mind not having all the responsibility nurses have (well when I graduate from nursing school...hopefully..lol).

Nice, 24-27/hr is not bad. Wouldn't mind that. How is the job market in NYC for techs and is there opportunity to grow in the profession? I also heard they cap after a while is that true? I have to say though, nursing is great in NYC, we start at 60-65K year, have great opportunities to grow, and great patient care if that is what you like. You can really make a difference in a person's life. I guess it depends on what you like. Wouldn't mind not having all the responsibility nurses have (well when I graduate from nursing school...hopefully..lol).

The job market is excellent , all my classmates :mortarboard: got jobs that were looking for work. There is opportunity to go on to MRI or CT, after a year of experience and sitting for an exam. I think it bumps salary up to in the 60s K:smiley_aa. There is no cap I know of, from what I heard, you get paid in levels, via years of experience.

You can also go on to teach or take on supervisory roles, like being supv. of the Radiology Dept:monkeydance:.

I have been trying to get into the nursing program to no avail. I will also be applying to the radiology technology program as well. Hopefully one of the two programs will accept me.