Anyone in here a medical lab tech or nurse?

[Bungle]

Since the youngest will be ready for preschool next year I am going back to school. I know I want to do something in the medical field and have narrowed it down to these two jobs. I'm trying to see if one has more advantage than the other or should I just apply to both programs and see what happens ( the wait list is until 2012).

What can you tell me about what you do? Are you happy you made this your career?

Just kind of mulling things over, any advice input would be apreciated

 

[dakcp2001]

I am an RN I would suggest asking your local college program to set you up to shadow for a few hours, maybe with one of the clinical instructors. Do you like people? Can you handle blood, guts, vomit, and poo on your shoes? Can your body handle being on your feet for 12 hour shifts? Can you bend, lift, and move people? New grads usually work nights if you work in a hospital for the first few months. I really do enjoy the patients, most of them are wonderful. It is a very high stress job and it is hard on your mind and body.

Although I enjoy being a nurse I do not think it is a great career choice right now. In some areas new graduates are not being hired, so check your local job market or ask the college what percent of last years class got a job upon graduation. It is very regional, some parts of the country are great while others there is a lot of unempolyed new grads. Hospitals do not want to pay for the amount of training a new graduate requires. There are some new graduate residencies available and theya re great if you can get one. You might want to consider getting a job as a CNA or Nurse aid in the area you think you would like to work in to get a feel for what it is like.

I do not know anything about being a lab tech. Sorry! Have you considered Radiology Tech or MRI tech? These jobs seem to be easier to come by and less abusive working conditions. I always thought if i could go back and do over I would do radiology or dental hygiene.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm a medical receptionist in a surgery office and I love it!

 

[MomRN]

I am an RN and agree with the PP.

I love my job... what else are you wanting to know?

 

[Bungle]

dakcp2001 answered a lot of my questions. I really do love people and have no problem with poo or vomit, but I'm not sure about being in a high stress situation all the time.

I think I am going to lean towards the lab tech but I do have an appointment with the radiology advisor next week. I would like to really do something I can settle into for a long time.

Even as a grown up its really hard to decide what you want to go to school for.

 

[golfgal]

Around here an RN with a 4 year degree starts around $50K and will see $100K in about 8 years, a lab tech starts around $25K and might see $35K in 8 years. A lab tech's job is significantly easier though.

 

[Christine]

Have you considered Dental Hygenist? You can do a 2 or 4 year program for that, work normal hours, not high stress (usually). My daughter was considering that. Just recently, our local news reported the "Ten Happiest Professions" and dental hygenist was one of them.

 

[MomRN]

Nursing, at least in my experience, hasn't been constantly high stress... in any department I've worked in (and through internships, preceptorships, and floating... I've had a taste of them all). There are places that I haven't been (like a nursing home) that do sound rather stressful, but nursing isn't all stress all the time.

Although, it does have it's days. And beware the full moon.

 

[epcot.girl]

Even as a grown up its really hard to decide what you want to go to school for.

lol

 

[cristit14]

I have been a med tech for 20 years now. I love it! The work is hard, but there is always something different to do. At least where I am. I have been working in the same fertility clinic for 19 years. I would think that the job market would be pretty good right now. There are lots of people retiring and not very many people graduating. We always have a hard time finding good people when we have an opening because there just aren't that many techs out there.

 

[Kellydelly]

I am an RN I would suggest asking your local college program to set you up to shadow for a few hours, maybe with one of the clinical instructors. Do you like people? Can you handle blood, guts, vomit, and poo on your shoes? Can your body handle being on your feet for 12 hour shifts? Can you bend, lift, and move people? New grads usually work nights if you work in a hospital for the first few months. I really do enjoy the patients, most of them are wonderful. It is a very high stress job and it is hard on your mind and body. Although I enjoy being a nurse I do not think it is a great career choice right now. In some areas new graduates are not being hired, so check your local job market or ask the college what percent of last years class got a job upon graduation. It is very regional, some parts of the country are great while others there is a lot of unempolyed new grads. Hospitals do not want to pay for the amount of training a new graduate requires. There are some new graduate residencies available and theya re great if you can get one. You might want to consider getting a job as a CNA or Nurse aid in the area you think you would like to work in to get a feel for what it is like.

I don't think shadowing a nurse for a few hrs would give anyone a real clue about how much responsibility is involved. Clinicals did not prepare me for the pressure cooker I was going to be put in. Of course there are all sorts of different nursing positions, but I think most new grads start out as floor nurses or working in an LTC facility.

 

[luvmy3]

Even as a grown up its really hard to decide what you want to go to school for.

So true! I like you knew I wanted to work in the healthcare field but wasn't quite sure exactly what I wanted to do. I have previous limited experience working as a receptionist in an optical office (retail, not private doctor) so I decided that Administrative Medical Specialist with a focus on billing and coding, was perfect for me now. I have always had dreams of becoming a nurse, and may still pursue that in the future.

Good luck in whatever in you decide to do

 

[golfgal]

OP, I don't know if you have considered this but ultrasound techs in our area make very good money as well, especially for the limited schooling required for the job. Just something else to consider.

 

[Muushka]

I was a medical technologist for more years than I care to remember.

There are different issues that need to be considered when choosing either RN or MT. First, as an MT, when I worked in a state that required special licensing, I made significantly more $$ than the state that I am in now that does not require that license (not ASCP or NCA but a special state license). So check that first.

Another thing to consider is patient contact. I never wanted that, so I picked a great medical field. If you enjoy the contact, I would not choose MT.

There are 2 'official' lab degrees. MLT (medial lab technician) and MT (medical technologist). Both have accreditation agencies with exams that must be passed (these are national agencies, not state) in order to have the initials after your title. MT ASCP, MLT ASCP for example. The MLT has an associate's degree and the MT has a BS. I would strongly suggest getting the MT (4 year degree).

I really loved working in the lab. It is not 'easy'. The job is stressful, but having never worked as a nurse, I cannot say which is easier. The patient contact would add a lot of stress for me! The lab work is very interesting. But you have to enjoy working with instruments.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Bungle]

Thank you all for your input. I have an appointment today with guidance to go over salaries/requirements for various jobs. There are just so many options out there it can be overwhelming. I will probably do better in the long run without patient contact. While I love people and helping them I'm not sure nursing is something I could do long term. I admire nurses so much but am beginning to think I'm not made to be one. Guess its better I figure this out before I pay for my courses.

Its a big step financially too once I seen the price of college courses now

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't think shadowing a nurse for a few hrs would give anyone a real clue about how much responsibility is involved. Clinicals did not prepare me for the pressure cooker I was going to be put in.

So true, and great description.

medical lab tech or nurse

The first thing that came out at me is that one is a people person position and one is not. For sure. If you know you can't work with patients, that solves your problem. Non people people last about 5 minutes in nursing - or less.

 

[Muushka]

So true, and great description.


The first thing that came out at me is that one is a people person position and one is not. For sure. If you know you can't work with patients, that solves your problem. Non people people last about 5 minutes in nursing - or less.

Funny, I love people. I just can't stand listening to them whine! MT here

 

[pigletgirl]

Have you thought about Respiratory Therapy?

 

[beachlover9395]

If I had it to do all over again (I'm an RN), I would probably look at occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT) or pharmacy (pharmacist).

I can tell you that ultrasound people make VERY good money, given the length of time of education, especially if you specialize/get certified in certain areas, like cardiac/vascular ultrasound. I've seen their starting salaries higher than RN's, at least in some of the hospitals around here.

Also, look into the VA, as they reimburse for education in certain areas. Since it's a federal job, there can be more job stability than in the free market. Here's one program they offer:

"The Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) repays up to $44,000 in education loans for newly-appointed health care professionals in certain hard to fill occupations. Education loans must be used to pay for courses that directly lead to qualification for an appointed position."

http://www.va.gov/JOBS/hiring_programs.asp

Good luck with whatever field you choose!

 

[beachlover9395]

OP, I don't know if you have considered this but ultrasound techs in our area make very good money as well, especially for the limited schooling required for the job. Just something else to consider.

^^ Haha, I didn't see this post before I posted mine above. That's almost exactly what I said. Great minds and all that, lol.