Ultrasound vs. Nursing

[Yannie021]

hi, i am in a last minute funk, so to speak...i am scheduled to start school at a local community college to begin studies for my adn. i have always had a great interest in nursing but lately have started to dig into the idea of diagnostic ultrasound, looking up everything i could and finding that this too, is of great interest to me.

my mom seems to think ultrasound would be a better fit for me, as i am generally quiet and shy. she seems to think ultrasound isnt as 'fast paced' as nursing and that it may be more 'calm' hence suiting my sometimes bashful behavior. she is not a nurse, or anything in the medical field so her ideas are simply opinion and assumption. but her words have caused me to second guess myself and my abilities (not nice on her part, in my opinion)

anyway, my questions are now, if anyone knows...

1) what is the job outlook for ultrasound vs. nursing? are techs just as needed as rn?

2) is the nature of ultrasound really more 'calm' than rn? to an extent of noticable difference?

i guess i want to make the best decision for me. i am 21 years old and have a 17 month old daughter so i am trying to pick what will benefit the both of us. from what i have looked up, both careers are supposed to pay roughly the same (?) and the associate degree is suitable for both also (?)...i guess i am mainly wondering if the job outlook for ultrasound is as promising as nursing and if the nature of the job is as fast paced as i assume nursing to be...

i figure most of you work near/with ultrasound so perhaps may have an idea of the details pertaining to that particular job.

any advice would be great, thank you so much!

janel

[firstyearstudent]

I debated whether to become an ultrasound tech or nurse when considering a second career. Ultrasound appealed to me because I like technology, it's non-invasive and patients generally do not HATE it, and the therapeutic relationship is generally very circumscribed (you're in there and out). The last two were a consideration because I am generally not a "people person." However, I decided on nursing because, as a career, it seemed to me to provide more opportunities and growth and challenges.

And, so far, I have risen to the challenges of nursing. I've really grown in the last year in terms of being able to assert myself and approach people in difficult circumstances. These are skills that people can learn -- even those who aren't naturally at ease dealing with others. If an old dog like me can learn new tricks, I'm sure you'll do even better. If you want nursing, go for it. If you run into problems, there's always counseling -- often free through your school.

I've been reading some books by Pima Chodron, a Buddhist nun, and she argues that you should put yourself in positions that make you uncomfortable -- those are where you'll experience the most growth.

RE your mom: sometimes moms are overconcerned with protectiing their children. She doesn't want to see you get hurt -- but growth and change are risky.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

When I first went into nursing I was pretty shy, but I got over that real quick. In my opinion I think theres more job oporunities for nursing. Theres more portability with it buecause nurses are needed everywhere.

Sherry

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Not in my area, US pays more than nursing and you have your pick of full-time positions.

Ditto. My wife just graduated from an US program and she is making more than I do. If you work in a hospital, it'll keep you busy and pace is fast, however if you work in a local outpatient facility it is not as stressful/busy and you never have to work holidays or weekends. As far as jobs go, there are far more nursing jobs out there than US at least in my area. But in reality whatever decision you make, you fill find a job that pays well and will give you job security whether it is US or nursing.

[tofutti]

I used to work in the diagnostic imaging department of a hospital, as an office person. The xray techs worked the hardest, followed by Special Procedures, CT, MRI and ultrasound. The US techs were the highest paid, the happiest, and least stressed of all those areas. They were definitely happier than the floor nurses.

US pays a little more than nursing, but there are less job opportunities, and it could always be replaced by some new technology. Even so, it seems like a great field. I would have done it instead of nursing if there was a program in my area. And to echo others, you can specialize, like in cardiac ultrasound.

This is only the point of view of a pre-nursing student, your mileage may vary!

Oh by the way, I wanted to be a nurse when I was younger and was influenced by my mom saying "Yuck, what a horrible job, who would ever want to do that." Should have gone with my heart and ignored her. I can't wait to be a nurse!

Tofutti

[Yannie021]

thank you all so much for your input...

i have, however, decided on ultrasound. it interests me more, i like the technical aspect of the work.

as far as pay/opprotunities, from what i understand...ultrasound actually pays a bit more than nursing but isnt quite as demanded, yet positions are available.

i am by no means, in either profession...my info only comes from statistical data and my countless hours of internet research. geographically speaking, southern california is supposed to pay more in ultrasound than in nursing...

(please note the black wording there)

either way, great pay or not...ultrasound is what i have decided on.

thank youguys!!!

~~janel~~

[vloho]

I loved US, but I did not understand Physics enough to pass the test, untill you pass the test you will probably work as on call, It is cut thoat in the sence that the whole Radiology Dept is vying for the attension of the Radiologist. on night shift you will get guys that get racked in a bar fight ,and you have to do a testicular in the deep dark recesses of the radiology dept, you have to be strong when you see somthing not good,have a poker face. I loved the work , the scaning,hated leaving my son .

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

There are many more nursing positions available. Additionally, ultrasound positions are difficult to come across and don't pay very well.

This may be true in some areas, but I know that here in the Dallas area you can pick and choose your position...and your pay...as an ultrasound diagnostic tech. One of my best friends worked at Parkland for a little over a year after graduating and now contracts several of her other colleagues out to hospitals/doctor's offices in need of their services.

As with nursing, you can specialize in whatever you choose...OB/Cardiac...whatever.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

vamedic4

[KarryRN]

I am an RN and I considered entering an US program. The program here was full time and would take a lot more time from my family than I wanted. I would look into the requirements if I were you. For the program here a medical background (RN, RT or x-ray tech, etc.) was required. Overall US seems to be a good with good pay too. Good luck.

[RDMS5000]

I hope you have taken all this "sage" advice with grains of salt. It seems you are getting biased opinions in healthcare. And so I will give you my bias with as little subjectivity as possible as a credentialed ultrasound tech.

Ultrasound:

A. It is in very high demand, as is any radiology imaging field or nursing career now ( CT,MRI, Cath lab, OR etc.....) However right now the boom is currently in ultrasound and cath lab for radiology, or so my recruiter says.

B. Jobs are well paying depending on your qualifications, locale, and experience however ultrasound averages around 60k starting out and you can only go up....which each year I average about 5-10%.

C. With ultrasound you concentrate your attention on one patient at one time with one task in mind. I am not a RN, but it seems they have a little much on their plate at one time and multi task more.

D. Ultrasound is VERY analytical and abstract. You have to be confident and able to think outside the box in tense and difficult situations, BUT to me that is the reward. Solving the puzzle and helping someone out by providing the answers.

E. Ultrasound is not for fun. Basically I tell people that if they like the art pictures where you stare at them to try to figure out what 3-d image you see, then you possibly have an edge on ultrasound pictures. Which are about 30-60 and exam.

F. Ultrasound can be very specialized and with that money can change. You can specialize in vascular ultrasound and use and entirely different machine, you can scan babies all day, you can scan hearts all day, or you could do a little bit of everything, you might take call with weekends or scan in the middle of the night, but with that comes compensation....And I would think the same of nursing..

LOOK I could make every case for or against ultrasound or nursing. Me ? I suggest ultrasound WHY? I don't know any unhappy ultrasound techs ...

Don't ask about nurses...I think we all know they can be overwhelmed...., but that's just it ....what do YOU want to do.????

I suggest you go to an ultrasound school director tell them your concerns and questions , ask to watch or try ultrasound ...see if you can volunteer in a hospital in the radiology department...Whatever you decide make the best educated and informed decision you possibly can .... and good luck in the future....

-j

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

It seems you are getting biased opinions in healthcare.

Of course the opinions on this site are going to be biased. After all, the vast majority of people who post here are either nurses or nursing students.

[mingez]

At the risk of over simplifying the choices...

Here are the Salary.com averages. Not 100% accuarate, but it seems to echo what many are saying:

Ultrasound Salary

Nursing Salary

As for Job Outlook, here is what the BLS says:

RNs

Job opportunities for RNs in all specialties are expected to be excellent. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014, and, because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. In fact, registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations. Thousands of job openings also will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation, especially as the median age of the registered nurse population continues to rise.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm

Sonographers

Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014 as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology. In addition to job openings from growth, some job openings will arise from the need to replace sonographers who leave the occupation permanently.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm

[a_clay]

I was wondering if this thread is still alive. I am currently in 1st semester of an ADN RN program and am seriously considering dropping my program since I am feeling that nursing might not be for me. I would like to stay in the medical field and am looking into ultrasound since my school also offers that and I feel that would be a better fit for me. Any info. would be appreciated. I am also wondering if ultrasound school is as difficult as nursing school.