Radiography or Nursing?

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miss77

4 Posts

I would suggest shadowing the entire radiology dept. (in order to see different modalities) and a few nursing floors (this may take an entire day). After shadowing radiology several times and nursing once, I knew I wanted to switch from rad tech to nursing. I liked the idea of having a patient longer than just a few minutes. Another thing that influenced my decision was that on almost every hospital website, I only found one job, if any, for radiology and many more for nurses. I also get bored easily and love the variety that nursing offers. I realized I could sort of have my cake and eat it, too, by becoming a nurse who works in radiology or oncology (I wanted to become a radiation therapist). Have you investigated sonography? I've never met an unhappy sonographer.

It's a tough decision, but it's never final. There are a few threads on here about this topic that may be helpful as well. Good luck, and just follow your heart!

Kitcat25

31 Posts

I'm not familiar with nursing and when I start shadowing nurses, I will ask this question as well, but once you become a nurse can you pick a speciality to work in? Do you have to get certified in that speciality ? Say for instance if I wanted to be a nurse but in pediatrics or oncology. DO you have to get any extra certifications to work within that realm? Is it difficult to pick and choose your specialitys? Thanks for the help and information. I did shadow a radiographer for about a week. It was in a deployed (overseas) location so I saw ALOT of different things. No sonography though. I've shadowed my aunt as an LPN. She works in a nursing home though. She deals with a lot of grumpy patients but I understand why they are grumpy. Half of the time the families don't come to visit, so I understood, as much as she did. My aunt would just say to a grumpy patient "I know there's a smile under there somewhere, uh oh here it comes, don't try and hold it back" LOL eventually the patient will smile or try to hide that smile by saying "Get outta here" but not in a mean way. It used to make me feel happy to see my aunt have that kind of impact on someones life. :) I will re quest to shadow in different locations though. Thanks. :)

I also have the same question regarding NM. I work in a radiology dept. and all of the RT's say to go through Xray school and then go to a modality. not a lot of jobs for people with the NM certificate..the hospitals want to see you have the RT experience...any thoughts on this?

NicuGal, MSN, RN

2,743 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I'm a nurse and my hubby works in radiology. He started in the regular department and has worked in fluro, angio, CT, MRI and is now the head of the speciality imaging at the hospital . We worked at the same hospital for a time, our benefits and retirement were the same, we make about the same salary (I have been in a management role also).

As for the person that said they would never encourage a young person to go into this field...sorry that was an unjustified comment. My husband has been there since he was 20 and hasn't grown a second head or had cancer, or anything. They are protected and wear a badge, and in all the years he has been there (going on 30) no one has had "radiation" poisoning or whatever.

Like someone else said, we have our patients for hours, they have them maybe for 2 hours max depending on the area they work. It depends on what you want...I do find his line of work amazing, especially the MRI and all they can do with it.

ctnjason

38 Posts

I'm a nurse and my hubby works in radiology. He started in the regular department and has worked in fluro, angio, CT, MRI and is now the head of the speciality imaging at the hospital . We worked at the same hospital for a time, our benefits and retirement were the same, we make about the same salary (I have been in a management role also).

As for the person that said they would never encourage a young person to go into this field...sorry that was an unjustified comment. My husband has been there since he was 20 and hasn't grown a second head or had cancer, or anything. They are protected and wear a badge, and in all the years he has been there (going on 30) no one has had "radiation" poisoning or whatever.

Like someone else said, we have our patients for hours, they have them maybe for 2 hours max depending on the area they work. It depends on what you want...I do find his line of work amazing, especially the MRI and all they can do with it.

You could not have said it any better. I finished x-ray school when i was 20, moved up and around the field / department, got registered in multiple modalities, and i look back 12 years later and know i wouldnt have changed it. I wanted to be a nurse a few years ago to be a travel nurse only but i did not go through with it. Im grateful for that decision. A good friend was in nursing school when i was in xray school. We used to trade barbs at who would be happier...... we dont even bring it up now. She was "burnt out" about 3 years after she graduated. I couldnt be happier with my career. I took a few jabs once that "i must have not had what it took to be a nurse" but the longer i work, the more im grateful if that in fact was the case.

As far as the technology goes, MRI and CT scan are incredible now with the capability of the machines. Just goggle "3D CT Scan" and see the amazing images. It is not a monotonous "button pushing" job. You do have to think, you do have to know your anatomy, and you do have to be on your toes at times. As i mentioned in previous post, this seems to be a job you can do for the long term of your career. When you are 50 with kids in college, you will be glad your job isnt a huge stressor on you :)

glass1/2full

3 Posts

Hi Kitcat,

Good luck with whatever you decide. A job shadow might help, however sometimes that gives you only a glimpse of "one day in the life of" that particular nurse or technologist, so to speak.

I have both degrees, several advanced certifications and work experience in both fields over a twenty five plus year period.

Radiography and specialty modalities came first for me, then nursing.

I agree that you should consider long term benefits and my vote is also with an imaging career. The only downside of choosing diagnostic imaging over nursing is that technologists do often feel that they get less respect for their expertise than nurses do. Many nurses would also tell you that they are the only ones who know their contribution fully besides those they care for.

The working conditions are much better in imaging in these times and if you wish to provide more hands on care, maybe consider working as a CV tech in a cardiac cath lab? The nice thing is that you can switch modalities with some additional training once you have a degree in general radiography and even return to school, if you choose to get an advanced degree or certification. You could even be an RPA one day, if hands on care and special procedures are your forte'. I also agree with the post above that PET is a very exciting area, along with the other functional modalities and advanced research in targeted interventional imaging techniques.

Best wishes in moving forward with optimism and courage in following whichever path is right for you!

Specializes in PCCN.
I liked the idea of having a patient longer than just a few minutes.

when youu realize the pt is a jerk, or drugseeker, or violent, or just plain PITA( or their family is) , you wont be able to stand realizing you are STUCK with them for the next 12 hours. Of Hell.

makes for a long hellish shift.

one word: Take the radiology route.

my ex co worker ( our prev. jobs got sent over seas) went the RT route. I went the RN. route. He is still sane after 8 years, says he doesnt mind his job. I on the other hand regret myy decision to not have followed thru and completed the RT. I actually was accepted in the program, but another friend talked me into the nursing saying it had more "choices" Yeah, more choices to be abused.

Good advice from others to shadow. You'll see the clear choice after.

eagle78

304 Posts

Shadowing is a good idea. I am pursuing both degrees. I am currently in the Radiation Therapy program and plan to go to nursing eventually. I am going this route because I really want to work with cancer patients. Radiation Therapy works hands on with patients, we see them every day for 6 to 8 weeks. I get an intense exposure to cancer patients and all the ups and downs that come with the disease as well as the treatments.

There is a lot of methods for receiving therapy, that has really intrigued me. We do CT for the simulation to set the parameters for therapy, we operate the external beam, then there is high dose rate (HDR) and low dose rate (LDR) treatments, sterotactic radio surgery (SRS), gamma knife and brain lab. Along with that I have seen the different stages of cancer, and realize that some are receiving palliative as opposed to curative treaments. You are dealing exclusively with cancer patients and that is what I want.

The most important thing is to carefully weigh out your options. I did, and I feel that I am following the best path for me. You choose the best path for you and run with it. Good luck, peace...:smokin:

Whistle

6 Posts

Look at the area you intend to live, if there are RT programs go nursing. These programs pump out SO MANY students that the gradautes are forced to take lesser salaries or move away to be competitive in getting jobs.

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