Do nurses make more money than sonographers

Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. Latest Articles Schools Conferences. Help Select June Caption Contest Winner!! I originally was interested in becoming an RN, which is the reason I joined this site.

I know this is a nursing forum, and from previous threads I've read everyone here is so helpful so I thought I'd ask, and I'd appreciate any comments you have on this.. Recently sonography has caught my attention, and seems very interesting to me. I'm worried if I go for nursing, I may become emotionally stressed and unable to handle it..

I did shadow a nurse at a hospital and she was great at explaining everything to me, and after seeing what she did in a typical day, I felt like it was something I could do, and something that would be very rewarding at the same time. I love helping people. Does anyone know how hard it is to switch from one to the other? I'm not sure if the two are very much related same courses, etc.

How does salary compare?.. From the research I've done it seems there may just be more opportunities for advancement and more pay in nursing.. But I don't want to spend my time and money in school for sonography if the jobs just arent there..

There are only 2 schools that ive looked at in my area and am considering for their sonography program, one of which is a community college and the other a trade school.

If I do decide to go for nursing, I think I'd go to a community college.. I would think with the demand for nurses at this time it wouldnt matter where or what kind of school you went to to get a degree, but I'm not sure. Sorry im kind of all over the place with my questions, I'm just soo confused right now on what to do. Any help at all is greatly appreciated. Nurses I need your insight! Aug 6, '08 by Dash4JW.

I was really interested in sonography for a while, but nursing was my choice I was an EMT and ER tech, prior to nursing school. When I checked into sonography, I found I would need a 2-year radiology technology degree and then another year for sonography.

I have a friend right now who wants to be a sonographer and she is in the state of CO and can't get into a school. Of course nursing schools in CO are hard to get into also. I moved out of state and got accepted on my 1st try to a program. If I was in CO, I'd still be on some waiting list, I am sure.

Anyways, there are so many roads you can take with nursing. With sonography, you are pretty much stuck doing the same thing. As far as a BSN versus ADN program, a BSN makes you more marketable, but an RN is an RN and you shouldn't have any problem finding a job. If you are worried about stress, again there are so many different jobs you could do besides jumping into trauma nursing or ICU.

If you want something low-key, there are many opportunities available. With nursing, you can move up with more schooling. Go for a BSN, MSN or even DON. I am not aware of anyway to move up in sonography, except maybe a radiologists asst. But, I believe the starting pay is higher for sonographers than RN's. At least where I am at. There are a few sonography schools that are 1 year long and will accept you if you have a previous 2 year allied health degree.

If you decide on nursing and want to do ultrasound later, you could apply to one of those and switch to sonography. I would think doing sonography first and then trying to get into a nursing school would be a longer road. I hope all this makes sense, if you have anymore questions, feel free to e-mail me. Aug 12, '08 by jjjoy. Quote from Dash4JW If you are worried about stress, again there are so many different jobs you could do besides jumping into trauma nursing or ICU. Aug 12, '08 by Nurseismade RN.

Hi Dash4JW, off course you will ultimately have to decide which profession to enter. I am an RN, but also had interest years ago to be an sonagrapher aka ultrasound tech.

I will say this, it is not easy being a nurse, but I love it. What I dislike most is all the documentation I spend a lot of time charting. I love bedside nursing and my patients well being is very important to me, but I feel all the computer charting takes away time from my patients.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Salary Information | US News Best Jobs

There are different avenues once you are registered. I know cardiac ultrasound techs or cardiac echo techs make huge money. One woman I worked with prior to becomming a nurse started out at 55 per hour vs 29 per hour RN new grad pay in Boston. I also worked in the Ultrasound dept at Brighams and saw how happy the girls were. They were called alot to the OR and Labor and delivery and NICU.

A big plus as an Ultrasound Tech Sep 16, '08 by jls Just a little "food for thought". Both RN and Sonography have rewarding benefits. However, taking a closer look - depending on your area of specialty- it comes down to being part of the "caring" end or the "diagnostic" end of the patient's needs.

I have more experience with Echocardiography than any other type of sonography, so that is what most of my comments will be based upon. Also, both have a lot "options" down the road if you want to continue your education. As far as training, again speaking from an Echo standpoint, there are some online programs offered.

I know of one that I has been mentioned to me, you can look at it www. They are a very innovative school with new, fresh ways of training for example, they offer a "scan lab" in a seminar-type environment with limited availability due to the focus on individuals receiving the most scan training time they can before beginning clinicals.

Whatever your decision, I wish you luck and God Bless!: Jul 22, '09 by mjenk. I am wondering what you have decided I am in the same predicament! I am considering nursing- I would like to go into Cardiac rehab, but I am also very interested in cardiac sonography. It is hard because there is mixed info out there.

Some say to go into general sonography and specialize later, others say echo makes more money , some say i would have to work years and years on different floors as a nurse before I could specialize with something like cardiac rehab. I am 41 years old so I dont take this decision lightly. I cant afford to go to school and not bein the right program!

Also, money is not the only factor, but it IS a factor. Of course after taking ten years off to raise a family I have much catching up to do financially!! ANy help, advice, input is greatly appreciated. Nov 9, '11 by Laineymke. Hi everyone, I'm curious what everyone on this thread has decided.

I am currently taking pre-reqs for nursing or radiography tech program have not yet decided. I'm 38 we have two kids so I definitely want to get through school as efficiently as possible. My first question is job security? I'm kind of under the assumption that there is room for more growth as well as greater security for RNs as opposed to RT. I am also interested in a Sonography program, but as some of you have noticed BSN first with Sonography degree later? Job shadow a Sonography tech if possible?

Nov 30, '11 by dani In anwer to your question I think RN would be a more ideal choice as far as job opportunities. I am a Radiologic technologist and a sonographer. I went to x-ray school and then worked for about 6 years before going into ultrasound school.

I am still only part-time in utrasound where I live in Iowa because there are just not as many ultrasound jobs as there are nursing jobs. I have actually decided to start the nursing program in January because of this. I need a more stable job that I can go anywhere with if need be and get a job.

Who makes more $$$Sonographers or RNs? | allnurses

Hope this helps you! Dec 30, '11 by moma8gma1. I would steer clear of on-line sonography programs, as it is a hands-on program in which you'll need instructors right there to guide you with the proper equipment. Must Read Topics 4 Nursing is a grand profession if the right personalities pick up the gauntlets: Last Semester of School.

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