Which healthcare career should I choose?

Question

1. Respiratory Therapy
2. Radiology Technology
3. RN
Which do you think is 'easier' in regards to science/math requirements and stress?

I am 27, have a BS in Psychology, married with two kids, live near a major metro area, work in Finance but hate it! :)

Answer 1

All three involve direct patient care, but there level of accountability and job complexity varies. Respiratory Therapy will require you to have some basic math and physics and chemistry background (or at least training). Training is about 18 months to two years (technical college). It is call an ancillary service since it supports the care of nursing and physician in typically a hospital setting. I would say this position is moderately difficult training.

A Radiology Tech, would be in the 18 to 24 months of training (at a technical college usually). There is also levels of math and physics involved due to the use of radiation. This two would fall under the category of an ancillary service. Again, this position would require training of moderate difficulty.

RN's require at least two years (few two year programs remain), some three year, and most are four year (BSN degrees). Expect a steady stream of science and math through your training. Because of the scope of responsibility of an RN, more formal training is required and this training can be difficult, but not impossible.

All of these positions are usually licensed through some professional board at the State level. They would also require on going continuing education to maintain licensure.

Answer 2

Honestly, you should definitely, without a doubt choose RN!

Although I sometimes have really crappy days, overall I am convinced that compared to the other two on you list it is a superior proffesion.

In general:

the wages will be higher (and projected to increase along with time r/t the nursing shortage)

There will be a lot more opportunity. There are dozens and dozens of specialties and subspecialties and many different settings to work in, so if you find you hate your job you can very easily switch settings. With the other two specialties, this would be challenging.

Rad techs get exposed to a lot of radiation.

Resp techs have some really, really sick contagious patients to contend with.

Answer 3

I'm not in any of those fields, but here is a website to search more general info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and search respiratory therapist, radiologic technologist, registered nurse or such. I'd seen curriculums for the radiologic tech and it seems that they need to study 'technical physics'.

For US colleges: http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

Answer 4

Dakota mermaid is entitled to her opinion of her career, but I don't appreciate her giving false information about mine. Radiologic technology is a very safe, regulated field. Do not let that false statement sway your decision.

All 3 fields have "really, really sick contagious patients to contend with."

There are also different specialties in radiology, besides regular diagnostic x-ray: cardiovascular-interventional radiology, CT, MRI, sonography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, and mammography.