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I've thought about becoming a tech or getting an associate's degree in applied science as a back up plan before but I've never had the opportunity to ask for opinions from people who actually know about either of these options. I would really love to hear some feedback about either of these, I know the tech portion is vague but I just want opinions about being a tech in general.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

It is difficult to answer your question without knowing what kind of "tech". The term "Tech" is too broad. Patient care tech? Telemetry tech? Cardiology tech? Informatics tech? Sono tech? etc etc

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I've thought about becoming a tech or getting an associate's degree in applied science as a back up plan

Back-up plan for what?

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Specializes in Pedi.

What not.done.yet said. We can't really give you "general information about being a tech" because there are so many different kinds of techs. Off the top of my head, here's a short list of the techs I worked with during my time in the hospital: EEG tech, sleep tech, Nuclear Medicine tech, MRI tech, XR tech, ultrasound tech, patient care tech. There are probably more that I'm just not remembering now, too.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Generally speaking, a Tech is more specified to an area. Take an OR tech for example: It's a year course and one is certified to work as a surgical tech. In that same year, one can get an LPN license and work in an array of areas.

Anyway, that's how it was for me 30+ years ago.

Now, getting an associate's degree avails little without the nursing program. An associate's degree in science will probably only get you a cup of coffee and a nice chat. An associate's degree in the nursing program will get you a livelihood.

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cardiology tech

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my advisor always said to have a back up plan in case you find out your degree isn't right for you or if you can't get into the nursing program.

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Specializes in Pedi.
my advisor always said to have a back up plan in case you find out your degree isn't right for you or if you can't get into the nursing program.

Hopefully you figure that out before you finish your degree. I've never had any sort of back up plan since I first entered nursing school 16 years ago.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

A generalized associate's degree is not really a backup plan, though. You can't really do anything with it.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

my 2 year nursing degree is an AAS Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
A generalized associate's degree is not really a backup plan, though. You can't really do anything with it.

I beg to differ, klone:

An associate's degree will get you a cup of coffee and a nice chat.
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I dont have experience in either but i think being a tech would give you the chance to work in your field and learn what's it like to work around people alittle of what you'd expect...

Getting a degree surely would give you knowledge and credit toward your future educational goals.

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