Hi everyone. I'm a little confused about something. I know this girl, let's call her Miss Braggart. Anyhow, she's a friend of a friend of a friend and after speaking to her a few times i've come to the conclusion that I don't like her and I like just about everybody and anybody. She and her husband are those obnoxious type people who brag about EVERYTHING. Example- My son wears this brand, what does your kid wear? We have a boat, do you? Etc... Anyway, to my point...she is an x-ray tech (for 3 years, oh and don't let me forget to mention she has a best-friend relationship with all the doc's at the hospital, they all love her and say she's the best ...EVER! ) and when I told her I was going to school to be an RN (I'm taking my pre-req's now) she laughed in my face and said "I'm in x-ray and I make more money then most nurses that work there, besides nurses get no respect" Of course I just smiled because I was so shocked by her blunt comment I didn't know what else to say. This can't be true can it? A big part of me thought she is one of those "try too hards" , you know those people who try so hard to impress they leave the opposite impression? If I remember correctly she said she made $18 an hr. Well, of course I'm not following my dreams for money....BUT...I do have 4 children and a husband who is the breadwinner and I want to know that if something ever happened where I'd have to support my boys I could. I'm sure most of you can relate. My question is....will I go to school and bust my rump for 3 and a half years in nursing school to make less income than someone who finishes school in a lot less time? (Not that an x-ray tech is a bad thing, please don't get me wrong, but money does come into play when you're poor and eating beans and cornbread so you can pay for college.) I live in KY and I'm not sure what the starting salary is for new nurses here. Can anyone shed some light on the average pay for new nurses in your state/area please?
This doesn't pertain to X-ray techs exactly, but at the hospital I work at MRI techs make $18.25/hr. I have one year experience as an RN, have my BSN, and ACLS and I make $17. Talk about insulting!
That is insulting. I made $15/hr + change as a new BSN grad 13 years ago! And it was too little then.
This is the type of person I'd do my best to avoid.
If that's impossible, when she started about status and how much better her things are than yours, I'd just smile sweetly and say "I can't tell you how happy I am for you." Then walk away or start a new conversation with someone else.
You don't go into nursing just for the money. You develop a relationship with your patients because you spend more time with them. You need to pick a career that YOU like, that makes you happy, and at the end of the day- makes you feel good that you made a difference!
I don't think it makes someone a bad person or a bad nurse, lawyer, salesman, gardener, mechanic etc... for thinking about what kind of pay they'll be getting when working towards a career or at a job, it makes them smart. It's your livlihood, security and future. Of course I want to know about the pay, who doesn't? I want to be compensated for all of the time, blood, sweat and money I put into my education and hard work. No one works for free, and I'm not talking about volunteer work, you work to make a living and you can't make a living without getting paid.
On the other hand, I think that people who go into this field for the money are in for a huge reality check. Nursing isn't a glamourous job by any means. I've worked in the healthcare field for years and years and I'm taking this route because this is what I have always wanted, from the time I was a candy striper as a young girl. I think nurses deserve every penny of what they get, if not more.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
I live in Oregon, just got into it with an xray tech about pt care (long horrid story) but heard xray techs start out at $27/hr while RNs start at $25! Don't know the truth behind the rumor though. just an FYI!
Nutty..you are correct! I also live in Oregon and my hubby (paramedic) and I are actually playing with going back to school to become MRI/X-ray/sonographic techs because they do make more money. I am in the $23.00 range, pretty good for assisted living charge nurse/floor nurse (when needed, which is more times than any..LOL!), and my hubby has been with his company 9 years and makes near $18.00. I have talked to many MRI/X-ray/sonographic techs that make starting of 25-27 and within a few years as much as 30!
Sometimes I wonder why I am knocking myself out, and hubby too...if we can do this instead and make more money?!?!?! It is seriously being considered by both of us! ( I mean...we would keep our day job...LOL, but I guess "glow" at night..LOL!)...:chuckle :rotfl:
At least you don't have to deal with her every day in class...one of my fellow students is like that. I first ran into her when doing pre-reqs the year prior to starting school.:uhoh21:
It all depends on demand and areas you live. Some x-ray specialties like our CT Scanners make very good money. Nuclear radiology is also a highly specialized field that requires IV therapy, etc. They make good money as well. So we're might not be talking about the one who takes xrays. We had one who got her RN and the new grad RN salary wasn't what she was making as a CT tech with many years experience, so she does both.
Anyway, this person has no self-esteem. She judges herself and others based on labels, money and job description. She's very shallow indeed.
I could believe the academics are tougher in RadTech programs. And, in fact, a friend of mine started RadTech school and will be going straight through for 2 years--no summers off.
What I'm curious is, is the patient responsibility as great? I don't have any problem with the nursing academics--I have more problems with the actual application, and have lost sleep over my patients, wondering if I should have advocated for them better. What is the responsibility of the Rad Tech if an unstable patient needs to be xrayed?
At least you don't have to deal with her every day in class...one of my fellow students is like that. I first ran into her when doing pre-reqs the year prior to starting school.:uhoh21:
Also it's all relative. A college graduate in Biology teaching high school can look at my asssociates degree and be insulted that with two years of college I more more than him. So I not to be insulted what others make.
SharonH, RN
2,144 Posts
That is insulting. I made $15/hr + change as a new BSN grad 13 years ago! And it was too little then.