Question:
I want to be an x-ray technician or a registered nurse. Which one should I choose?
anonymous
2007-11-06 14:09:08 UTC
i really want to be an x-ray technician. But there arent very many job openings around where I live and i'm not quit sure how much money they really make.

Registered Nurses I know make a lot and have lots of job openings but i'm not quite sure that is what i wanna do.

What is your opinion? and do you know anywhere there is a lot of job openings for a x-ray tech? thanks.
Four answers:
Alfredo Garcia
2007-11-06 15:08:26 UTC
As an X-ray tech, you can later train as an MRI or CT tech, which pays better and is easier--not to mention, less radiation to you. Once you're an MRI tech, you'll deal less with grief and stress than an RN will.



However, as an RN, you have the option of becoming a CRNA and pulling in six figures for doing darn near nothing and leaving all the liability on the anesthesiologist. You basically sit through OR cases and tweak dials a little this way, and a little that way. If things go bad, you page or call the anesthesiologist and get the heck out of the way. Plus, if someone sues, it's the anesthesiologist who's liable.



As an RN, though, you'll be overworked and under-appreciated. You'll have to deal with sick patients and their demanding families. People will vomit on you. You'll get all sorts of nasty things on you. This is less of an issue as a CRNA.



As an X-ray tech, you'll get nasty stuff on you when you do ICU chest x-rays and inpatient GIs, but it's less of an issue if you do MRI.



The demand for both RNs and X-ray techs are very high right now, and you can pretty much go wherever you want. Both pay well. I think X-ray tech is less schooling, but RN has the option of more income if you become a CRNA.



Personally, I wouldn't look at RN vs. XRT, I'd look at CRNA vs. MRI tech. Look at time spent to become a CRNA or MRI tech, and look at income potential, and then decide from there.
JRM
2007-11-06 14:17:23 UTC
You should think about the possibilities for advancement in your career. And there are so many different departments you can work in as an RN. Psych, OR, ER, Med-Surg, Home Health, etc. And the pay is better than a tech. But follow your heart. If you want to be an X-Ray Tech, then go for it.
lean_n_rock
2007-11-06 14:20:37 UTC
i wanted to be an xray technician but i decided not to because the job is not too interesting to me. however, i was told that it reels in a lot of money and u can start working as one early while ur studying it. u sound like u really want to do it so im just telling u that there is a lot of money in it. also if u study being an xray technician, u can also get into being an MRI technician and CAT scan person guy dude. :D

hope i helped.
Zalvia Ztudent
2015-09-24 22:45:59 UTC
The "best answer" is misleading. The rad tech market is saturated. No jobs. Only the butt kissing princesses make it up to MRI. Don't kid yourself. It's a very disgusting and political (back biting) career.


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