Benjamin

Not sure who you are posting the reply to, I didn't fail any rad tech courses - I got bored and saw the career as limited, so I went with nursing - so kudos to you!

I agree, as a whole if you want to get away from the bedside (whether it be hosp/clinic/nursing home) you need at least a BSN, ANY type of additional certification helps too, get all the eductaion you can :):) - I have my OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse) am a BLS instructor (big deal...) everything adds up and expands your options and/or marketability I am itching for my masters but HATE the thought of more nursing school (as I am sure most of us know, most nursing programs have some strange problems that are specific to only nursing programs....strange problems...)

There are a lot of jobs as an RN that don't touch or see a patient - insurance review, policies and proceedures for any hosp/clinic/medicare or medcaid - community nursing involving education alone or with research, Nurse consultants for drug companies or as expert witnesses in courts - the list goes on.... Oncology is all types of cancers, anemias - just about any blood disorder other than hemophilia and sickle cell. You refer to the list of occupations with the hospitol walls - there is 10 times the opportunity outside of those walls than in - that is what makes nursing so great! My career has been more interesting and I have gained more knowlege outside of the hospitol - home care, home infusion - whatever it may be you have to rely on yourself and your resourcefullness when you do not have a hospitol to back you up - although that may seem frightening it is liberating, in a hospitol you are only allowed to make certain decisions, and only practice in certain ways - it is well defined - but as an RN you have much more training and knowlege than they will generally let you use - get a job in the private sector and you can use ALL of your skills - it is GREAT!!!!

this may sound strange, but where I went to school the Rad program was very "snotty" they truly considered themselves above other health occupations, especially "butt wiping nurses" I will tell you that the challenges of nursing are FANTASTIC! a good RN has such an incredible knowlege base - so many diseases and treatments, when you choose a specialty a whole new world opens, it is great - an RN can be as educated as they want to be, if you like technology, pick the specialty and facility that fits your curiosity. I have most of my experience in oncology, the development of chemo and bio drugs changes every day - literally- there are so many avenues to keep you interested, and technologies for delivery of drugs..... if you can tell, I am excited about nursing... I will warn you, the schooling was difficult, and like many occupations was the Cliff Notes of what you will really do. You will learn on the job, always be as challenged as you want to be - ALWAYS have options, if you get sick of inpatient med-surg, change, if you get sick of inpatient period - change, if you get sickj of touching patients... change! the job opportunities are endless, you will not even realize the scope of nursing until you get out there. hope this reply suffices!:):):)

Rad tech is difficult as well, but not nearly like most RN programs. The scope of their practice is very narrow, I became bored FAST and now am an RN.