Healthcare jobs, whilst they are typically conducted in the same setting, are very different from one another. There are jobs that are similar to one another like sonographers and radiologic technologists but when you look at the fine print of the job description, the differences are pretty big. Two of the most popular healthcare jobs in US in 2014 are sonography and nursing. They are among the highest earning jobs in healthcare today. But high school graduates beg the question: to become a sonographer or a nurse?
Nursing vs. Sonography
The concept of nursing is focused on providing care for healthy and ill individuals. Caring encompasses everything from helping with daily activities and tasks to administering medication and carrying out doctors’ orders. Health education in and out of the hospital is also part and parcel of the nursing profession. There are nursing specialties that nurses can study while training on the job, primarily focusing on different body systems or patient ages. Nurses can become pediatric nurses, cardiac nurses, and geriatric nurses, depending on their training.
Sonography on the other hand is very precise when defining the job description. It is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure that allows the sonogram machine to create images of structures in the human body. The procedure is most commonly done in obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) when assessing the female reproductive system and/or the growth of the fetus. However, there are other specialties as well; the most popular being cardiovascular and pediatric sonography (Visit Lisa Parmley’s website to learn more about sonographers and sonography schooling). The difference in salaries
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While both sonography and nursing requires a high level of skills in accuracy, orientation to detail, technical skills, and patient interaction, it is known that there is a greater demand for nurses. Nurses are needed where there are patients, therefore the demand for them will always be very high. Sonographers are not the only diagnostic technicians and sonography is not the only diagnostic procedure used on patients.
By May 2012, there were 57,700 sonographers working in the US, earning an average annual income of $66,360 from an hourly rate of $31.90. The vast difference in employment can be seen with the 2,633,980 registered nurses working in the country at the same time. However, there is only a little difference between annual average salaries; registered nurses had an average annual income of $67,930 from an hourly rate of $32.66.
See more detailed salary facts for ultrasound technicians here: http://www.ultrasoundtechniciancenter.org/salary/factors-affecting-salaries.html
By May 2012, there were 57,700 sonographers working in the US, earning an average annual income of $66,360 from an hourly rate of $31.90. The vast difference in employment can be seen with the 2,633,980 registered nurses working in the country at the same time. However, there is only a little difference between annual average salaries; registered nurses had an average annual income of $67,930 from an hourly rate of $32.66.
See more detailed salary facts for ultrasound technicians here: http://www.ultrasoundtechniciancenter.org/salary/factors-affecting-salaries.html
Risks and Benefits
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When it comes deciding on the career path you want to take, it all comes down to risks and benefits. Working in health care has the benefit of getting free/cheaper billing when you use the services at the place where you work. Because sonography is non-invasive, the risk of contacting a patient’s illness is quite low. Sonographers don’t cater to patients throughout their entire shift so contact is kept at a minimum half hour to one hour per patient.
However, the risks are staggering for nurses compared to other professions. They spend their entire 8 shift interacting with patients, performing invasive procedures, giving medication, and other activities that increases their risk of acquiring microorganisms. With these in mind, working in health care is quite rewarding and whatever you choose – if you become a sonographer or become a nurse - will surely be satisfying financially and personally. |