Xray tech~ more $$$ than RN???

MandyInMS · Oct 23, 2004

lmaoooooooooooo !!! good one

rnmi2004 · Oct 23, 2004

The next time she starts in with all the wonderful, better things in her life, say something off the wall. Tell her, "That's great, but can you hock a loogie with this kind of distance and pinpoint accuracy?" & then demonstrate--you might want to practice first. Or start simple--challenge her to a belching contest after you've downed a liter of root beer. Use your imagination--there are plenty of things you can do or say to throw off someone like that.

Jo Dirt · Oct 23, 2004

Or....why don't you just ask her flat out why she has to turn everything into a contest and when it comes down to it her x-ray certificate doesn't amount to a dung hill?

tiredfeetED · Oct 23, 2004

Wow...I have noticed a huge pay increase lately in x-ray tech at my facilities..New RN and X-ray start out at 25/hr. CT/ultrasound 34-37/hr. MRI 35+. A local hospital pays 50 per CT for Call nocs.

The only thing that gets my blood boiling is that these CT/US ppl act as if the ED is bothering them even tho we provide over 75% of there business.

Yesterday a tech came up to me since I am charge and tells me that she had went 3 times to the room and still has his pants on even after asking the nurse. "DID YOU ASK THE PATIENT?"

adria37 · Nov 4, 2004

I have been a nurse for 20 years, I am one semester away from completing my MSN. I handle chemotherapy every day. The X-Ray techs make the same as I do and some of them only have on the job training. The nuclear xray person makes more. It is disgusting to me. I think rather than lamenting what they make, nurses should be paid more. KWIM. Adria

QUOTE=hypnotic_nurse]I've known people like this woman as well. She is lacking something or she wouldn't be trying so hard to convince you that she has everything.

Tune her out, ignore her or actively avoid her -- she is not worth your time.

I don't care what anyone else makes. I like my job and feel I am well paid for what I do. If I want to do something else I'll go back to school. I am convinced there is no "easy money" job; you've got to do SOMETHING to earn what you get, and if you don't like it or you're bored, then it's not easy money. If you work hard or love the challenge, that still doesn't make it easy money.

Now, if Bill Gates wants to adopt me and give me a sinecure, now THAT'S easy money. Maybe. Depends on what he expects from an adopted child who's actually older than he is. :)

DnThomts · Nov 4, 2004

I personally don't have a problem with Xray techs making $18 an hour or more. They provide a skill just like nurses do for exchange in economic value. New nurses will tend to make in the $18 -$25 dollar range. But after a few years (depending on what type of nursing and region you will be in) you should be making significantly more. I know that nurses who have children and families to support are going to be less limited to the much bigger dollars becuase they have to devote their extra energy and time toward their famlies. But I myself am a traveler and have the extra time to work extra shifts, etc. I don't know any xray techs who make what I make. I know nurses who make upwards $ 150,000 per year. And keep this in mind about wasting your time in nursing school. Granted Xray techs are needed and they do serve their purpose, but when push comes to shove, hospitals will take a nurse over xray techs anyday. I actually in a private conversation with one hospital administrator I knew back in the day was told point blank.

" We could pack pt's in the ER and from doctor's offices all day, but if there isn't a nurse up that floor or in the ICU, or wherever, we can't do anything for them and can't make money off of them."

And a hospital is a business. Even nonprofits have to make money to operate. In otherwords, we don't necessarily have to get an xray today, but if there isn't a competent qualified individual with the prescribed skills to care for this pt as insurance companies ( and any attorney) will demand then we can't do anything for them.

So to answer your question. Trust me. The Rn behind your name will ultimately serve you very well. So don't get discouraged.

Slappy1571 · Nov 4, 2004

If an unstable patient needs a xray, it should either be done portable, wait until the patient is stable to do the study, or a nurse should accompany them for the study. As a RT, you're responsibility is to maintain safety and be a patient advocate. If at ANY time you feel a patient is unstable or in trouble, DEMAND the patients nurse come help you!! Nurses and RTs need to work as a team! I learned this recently after I switched from 10 yrs of ER nursing to Radiology nursing. I have also gained a HUGE amount of respect for all RTs!!! Hope that helps!

opalmRN · Nov 4, 2004

Having been through x-ray and then ultrasound school and now finishing my ADN, I say this.

X-ray and ultrasound were technically harder for ME. Nursing has been harder on the floor and this is why I say this. In x-ray and ultrasound I would see patients for 15-45 minutes depending on the study. They came in with orders, I did the scan and off they went. Yes occasionally I wore Barium or waited for a bladder to fill but the patient contact was short. In nursing I have more patient contact and I need to focus on the entire body not just what an order says as these patients are here until they're clear. It requires me to read through history, previous studies etc. to be able to assess and care for them in the best way possible. I liked diagnostic imaging quite well but being a newbie at the time required me to take temp positions for over a year and I needed something steady. I went into nursing because my heart was always wanting to go this direction and I knew I would always be able to find work.

Pay scales will vary for every profession depending on where you live and work. Here nurses as a whole earn more per year than x-ray but not necessarily more than ultrasound. Again, that factor really depends on the type of facility one works for.

Don't let anyone discourage you from following what's in your heart. I know diagnostic imaging folks and nurses alike and all seem to be happy in their own little nitch. One profession in healthcare is no less important than another. We all work as a team to provide healthcare. Do your best at whatever you choose and set an example where ever you go. :)

DnThomts · Nov 4, 2004

just my. $ .02
my sister is a dental hygeinist. she started out at $30/hr in Boulder CO . eight years ago
whats the worst she can do to a patient
Make their gums bleed ????

Really? I did ICU nursing in Denver for awhile and didn't make $30 / hour. And I liked Boulder. Any openings at the dentist office? :rotfl:

NannaNurse · Nov 4, 2004

I'm really suprised at some of the comments here. We are ALL part of a team here. If somebody is 'bragging'.........tune them out!

My daughter is a x-ray tech and I'm darn proud of her. She obtained all of her training while in the Army and they were put through a 2 year course in 5 months. She was at school from 0500 to 1800 monday through friday.(She is also an EMT) To those of you who think you can be a x-ray tech with just 'on the job training' you are wrong! You have to be certified and pass boards before you can legally work as a CXRT and that test is not an easy one to pass.

She works hard and was favored by most of the surgeons at the hospital because she 'caught on to their way of doing things' in surgery and they didn't have to stop and 'explain' how they wanted the x-rays done. If the order is for 'contrast' she has to start the IV and administer the contrast too.

She makes $25+ an hour and they are providing training for mammo and mri. She will then go up $5 per hour. She is a single mom and her ex does nothing to help so I'm glad she makes what she does.

She works for 'Metro Imaging' and the RN there (that is also a CXRT) makes $45 per hour. If you have time/energy, do both........this 'over-experienced' mumbo is hard to believe. I know I sound 'stern' here, but I'm proud of my kids and I felt like some of you were in 'attack' mode here.

If somebody has to brag about what they make, I really doubt that they are making what they say they are. That is THEIR problem and you shouldn't let it bother you so much.......brush them off! And, what you make really depends on where you live at. In one place you may make $15/hour and that may be good pay...............you may make $30/hr and THAT may be good pay, but like I said, it all depends on where you live.

The medical profession is like a body. Each department (MD, nurses, aids, x-ray techs, lab techs, orderlies, etc......) is like a part of the body. If you are 'just the toe', don't think you are not important........ever stub your toe?? It hurts all the way to your head!!!

angelac1978 · Nov 4, 2004

" We could pack pt's in the ER and from doctor's offices all day, but if there isn't a nurse up that floor or in the ICU, or wherever, we can't do anything for them and can't make money off of them."
And a hospital is a business. Even nonprofits have to make money to operate. In otherwords, we don't necessarily have to get an xray today, but if there isn't a competent qualified individual with the prescribed skills to care for this pt as insurance companies ( and any attorney) will demand then we can't do anything for them.
So to answer your question. Trust me. The Rn behind your name will ultimately serve you very well. So don't get discouraged.

I find these comments interesting since hospitals don't normally charge for nursing care, but do charge for any radiologic exams that are done. In fact, I believe I have read that the rad dept is one of the #1 money makers for hospitals.

Also, if a pt has a broken arm, you can have all the nursing care that you can get, but without the xrays, how will the surgeon know how and where to insert the pins? When a pt comes into the ER with chest pain, one of the first things that was done was to order a portable chest x-ray.

I'm not trying to say that rad techs are better than nurses, we are no better or worse. We are all part of the healthcare team with different duties and different training. RT's have to go through 2 years of schooling (NOT including pre-reqs) and we have to pass our board exams before we can get certified. In many states, we also have licensing requirements to meet. If the CARE bill is passed, we will have to be licensed in ALL states.

Bottom line, don't worry about what other specialties are making unless you are wanting to go into them. For the most part, general diagnostic x-ray techs won't make as much as nurses, however, those in advanced specialties (MRI, ultrasound, etc) may make as much or more, but they have had to go through additional training to get that money!

A

lisawindow · Nov 4, 2004

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!

Yikes! Where do you live? I'm an Associate's degree RN one year experience, ACLS, TNCC, PALS and I make 25$/hour here in seattle