Registered Nursing or Sonography?!?

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Hello Everyone!

I am currently attending a community college for pre-radiology or pre-nursing and will be finished with my pre-reqs for either degree this spring. I am looking for some advice from Registered Nurses or anyone that has information on Sonography, i know this is a nursing forum, so if not, that's fine. But I really need some nursing advice.

I was going to get my Associates in Radiology and then transfer to a University to get my Bachelor's degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. But recently, I was looking to see what jobs there are and the ONLY job I found for Ultrasound, was a PRN (as needed, no schedule) positon at both our local hospitals. When I graduate, I would need something more full time to pay off student loans and don't want to be without a job after graduation.

So that got me thinking about Registered Nursing, which I think I would really like. But I always thought nursing wouldn't be something I could handle so that's why I always chose Radiology. I think the part I'm scared I couldn't handle is cleaning up feces and stuff like that.

I would like to have some advice from a Nursing Student and/or Registered Nurses. What are the courses like and what is it like for Registered Nurses once they are working at a hospital. What are clinicals like? And how much harder are the nursing courses compared the A&P I and A&P II.

In A&P I and A&P II, I made a "B" in both courses and in Nursing Math, I made an "A". However, currently I am in Chemistry and have been struggling with it. Currently my average is a 78.91% which is a "C" and only 1.09% from a "B" but we are only half way through the semester. Do you think I could handle the nursing courses and clinicals?

Sorry for the long post.. I'm just sooooo confused as to what field to choose! :confused:

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance! :)

-Rose

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I, to, struggled with this. I think theres dirty work involved with both. Doing ultrasounds, you might be in the situation of having to clean someone up. And I think ultrasound is almost as invasive as a nurse. Do you know where the probe can enter? I just think your heart has to be in 100% either way you go. I think it takes a very compassionate and empathetic to be a nurse. Instead of thinking...ill I dont wanna clean someones feces off of them.... you have to think....I gotta hurry and get this off of them b/c tgey have got to be so uncomfortable.

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Well, it's really not wise to base your career decision on the current economic state.

Just as there are few Sonography positions, there are few nursing positions (for new grads.)

I was in the Sonography program and transferred to nursing because I like the different areas in the medical field I can work in. But I still find sonography interesting and I don't think I would've been unhappy to stay in the program. But the program by me has a 3 freaking year wait list, then another 2 years before you graduate after you get in, so that's a no go for me.

The courses vary by program. My school offers both programs and the courses are similar.

Also, make sure the sonography program is accredited by the ardms.org

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I thought about sonography at first, mainly because I was afraid I was freaked out by nursing math. However, the fact there are only two schools who offer it in a 60 mile + radius changed my mind. There were only 13 spots at one of the schools and about 20 at the other. I didn't figure I had a chance with such small numbers and such a large area. I really haven't seen many programs for it at all. I think I could have been pretty happy doing it but I also question whether spending my career in the dark would have been good for me. It's ok though. It put me right back on the track of what I always knew I really wanted to do anyway.

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