RAD Student Vs. Nursing Student

azradgirl · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Mesa, AZ

It seems in looking at the two programs at my school the RAD program seems to be more intense. Is this true? I would think nursing would be more difficult because there are more biology classes. Has anyone done both, and if so which training was more difficult?

papa · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

well... it all depends on your deffinition of intense....

nursing, yeah, you've got to know your biology and pharmacology. there's a whole lot more medications that you have to know. but every patient you touch isn't exposed to ionizing radiation.

it's really a toss up, they're both intense. they just tend to go intense in different directions, if you know what i mean
_________________
Mr. Green

papa RT(R)(CT) Mr. Green

Delusional Radiology
never meddle in the affairs of a dragon, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup

CAS90 · Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

This is my opinion on that. You know when you have a PITA patient
aka Pain in the **S. I am sure glad I only have them for a short period
of time not a full shift or heaven forbid the next day too.

CAS90 RT (R)

papa · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:15 am Post subject:

although rare, that does happen in radiology...

1. pt to x-ray for abdominal films..
2. pt "loved your attention" so much she requested you for the IVP ordered that afternoon.
3. now that she knows you, she requested you for the UGI and SBFT the following day.
4. only wants you for the BE on wednesday.
5. kicks everybody out of the room thursday morning and wants you to perform her portable chest x-ray.

granted, she wasn't all there upstairs, but it still happens Mr. Green

_________________
Mr. Green

papa RT(R)(CT) Mr. Green

Delusional Radiology
never meddle in the affairs of a dragon, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup

hjhogle · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:47 am Post subject:

"It seems in looking at the two programs at my school the RAD program seems to be more intense. Is this true? I would think nursing would be more difficult because there are more biology classes. Has anyone done both, and if so which training was more difficult?"

Personally, I expect that they're both more intense that they look from the outside. Lots of A&P for both, perhaps more chemistry on the nursing side, more physics on the radiology side.

IN GENERAL (there are lots of career paths in both fields) I think that if you're more interested in longer-term relationships with your patients, then you might be happier with a nursing career. If you're more interested in technology and imaging, then radiology is the direction you should go.

Good luck, tough choice
hjh, RT

azradgirl · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Mesa, AZ

I'm more interested in the technology side, so RAD is the place for me. I was thinking though, if I don't get into the program I might go through the nursing program, either that or I'll have to wait for another year. My ultimate goal is to be in ultrasound, but I have to be a RT or RN before I can go to school for ultrasound. I'll be applying for the RAD program in May, so we'll see what happens.