Ultrasound Technician Vs. Radiology Technician

Betwixt the career paths of an Ultrasound Technician and a Radiology Technician there are many similarities, which is why a lot of people who have little experience or knowledge about all things medical might get them confused. Typically the level of education is the same; an Associate’s Degree in ultrasonography and radiology place them as educationally equal but in different fields.

What exactly is an “ultrasound technician”? a “radiological technician”?

Ultrasound techs are also referred to as ultrasonographers, as the equipment they work with works differently than that of a radiological tech. As the “sono” part of this title refers to sound waves, the ultrasound equipment uses sound waves to travel through the body to get clear images of what the ultrasonographer is trying to see and record.

Radiological technicians work with X-ray waves that travel all the way through the body being scanned and create an image of the scanned part. The danger in this field is greater than that of an ultrasound tech because radiology blasts the body more harshly to get a perfectly clear image of things that are broken or damaged. Because of the higher dangers, pregnant women are not allowed to be near any radiological equipment at all. Many of them work in X-ray labs and make scans of limbs and other injuries looking for signs of impact and fractures.

What kind of schooling do you need and how much does it cost?

While an ultrasound tech only needs two years of schooling, it is possible to get a four year degree as well, as long as it’s from an acceptable college of ultrasonography or ultrasonography program. Online programs for the degree are now also available, but you would have to check the job requirements in your state to verify if an online degree would be acceptable to future employers. The educational expenses for this degree vary depending on the length of time in school and whether the candidate pursues an Associate’s or Bachelor’s, but the average cost is approximately $40,000.

A radiological technician needs a minimum of two years as well, although an advanced four year degree brings more options and higher wages, as to be expected. Again, the stipulations for education vary by state, and the average is about $45-50,000 for their education because of the safety issues involved. Specialized areas also exist for a radiosonographer, as they are sometimes called. There’s also an abbreviated education option in some states referred to as “limited scope of practice”, but that pretty much says it all right there. There are several scholarships available for Radiology Nursing students.

How much does an ultrasound technicians make?

The average salary of an ultrasound tech/ultrasonographer is a little over $57,000 annually. . Additional certifications and specializations beyond the degree and licensing add to the expense but also raise the salary. Many women are familiar with ultrasound techs as they specialize in obstetrics and abdominal ultrasound, and this is where many ultrasound techs are hired on.

How much does a radiology technicians make?

For a radiological tech/radiosonographer, the median salary is $53,000, although some with advanced skills and certifications can earn $70,000 or more. This places it in direct line with base salary being slightly more or less than an ultrasonographer, so it clearly depends on which field you would rather pursue.

Family Nurse Practitioner vs Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The definition of a Nurse Practitioner is: a Registered Nurse who has advanced his or her education to the point where he or she has a Master’s in Nursing and additional certification and training that allows them to do many of the duties a physician can and often works in place of a physician in clinical settings.

Therefore, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is someone who is certified beyond their Master’s degree to work in a pediatrics office with children on a daily basis. When a regular pediatrician has a caseload that is bigger than that pediatrician can handle and his or her schedule is booked solid, a majority of their infant and children patients can be seen by the NP. A lot of people tend to think that the NP is a doctor because they are able to prescribe medication and order specific medical exams, but again, their title gives it away. They are Advanced Nurse Practitioners. They may even consult with the pediatricians on the care of their little patients or be supervised by the pediatricians in some states.

A Family Nurse Practitioner has earned the title and certification to treat members of the entire family, not just the children. The scope of their skills is broader, serving infants to the elderly, women and men. They are able to order more diagnostic tests and prescribe a larger list of medications than a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. It doesn’t stop there; from gynecological exams to prostate exams and even sports physicals and annual wellness checkups, the Family NP does a lot more for entire families and multiple generations within the same family than the Pediatric NP does.

Essentially then, their educational paths are the same. They will start out by first earning their bachelor’s degree in nursing and working as Registered Nurses. From there, they return to school to earn a Master’s and possibly even a doctorate in nursing. To finally reach the point where they are titled Family or Pediatric NP or Advanced NP, they have to take additional training and testing and pay for the licensing for each specific career path. Some NP’s, if they choose, may opt to become more than one class of NP. Family NP’s also, on average, earn more per year than Pediatric NPs because of their broader knowledge base and skills with working with patients of all ages.

Both are able to work in hospitals, public clinics, private clinics, and even open their own clinics working for themselves to serve the public. The last option is especially advantageous because an NP with his or her own clinic can see hundreds of patients in a year and not have to depend on a company or medical corporation for their paycheck. They might have to hire additional help for reception and billing so as to focus more on their patients, but a lot of NP’s report it’s worth it and a lot of patients like being able to see the same medical professional consistently. The laws in each state governing what an NP can and can’t do are located at the individual state’s board of nursing website.

Also find out, “Family Nurse Practitioner vs Adult Nurse Practitioner“.

Family Nurse Practitioner vs Adult Nurse Practitioner

There can be some confusion about the specifics of what certain jobs entail within the medical industry. Whether you’re looking to hire a nurse for the home or you’re looking to begin your education to become a medical professional, you should take the time to learn the major differences between a family nurse practitioner and an adult nurse practitioner.

Below we’ll list brief definitions of what a nurse is expected to do, what a family nurse does, and what an adult nurse does. The duties performed by an adult nurse and a family nurse overlap in a lot of ways but are near polar opposites in others. Read on and we’ll help you to avoid any possible confusion in the future with regards to what exactly you should expect of your nurse or your future career in the medical industry.

Basic Nursing Duties

To list all of a nurse’s duties would take volumes, but it’s safe to say that they are the backbone of the entire medical industry. Where doctors are expected to have very specific knowledge regarding child healthcare or the ears, nose and throat, or disease and illness, a nurse needs to have an intermediate knowledge of literally everything. Where doctors may need to carry a pager for emergencies, a nurse typically handles a half dozen or more emergencies every single day.

A nurse needs to be able to manage clerical duties as well as providing a humane and sympathetic touch in dealing with patients. They need to know how to administer a shot while cleaning the equipment and disposing of hazardous materials. Nurses are, without a doubt, the hardest working and most versatile people in the medical community.

Family Nurse Practitioners

Family nurse practitioners, or FNPs, are a special type of nurses that specialize in the bigger picture of health. It’s not just the family, though that’s a part of it. A family nurse practitioner needs to understand a person’s social and cultural background, they need to know what the patient’s religion has to say on blood transfusions and what people of their culture tend to eat. They need to know about the person’s financial and socio-economic background. A family nurse practitioner doesn’t simply worry about a family, they have to be concerned with everything that defines the context of their patient’s life and health, everything from whether their family has a history of heart disease to whether or not they’re drinking clean water at home.

An average salary of FNP is between $75,000 to $97,000 depends upon experience and area.

Adult Nurse Practitioners

An Adult Nurse Practitioner(APN) is the one that most of us will be talking to primarily throughout our adult lives. From adolescence to old age, an Adult Nurse Practitioner is there to help everyone who is not already being helped by another specialized be they a pediatric nurse or a geriatric nurse. If you are an adult and you’re not being covered by a special need, chances are that you’re going to be primarily talking to adult nurse practitioners.

The duties that both perform are largely the same, but the direction that they come at the job is a bit different. Where a family nurse will know more about the bigger picture, an adult nurse practitioner needs to be just as involved on an individual level.

An average salary of APN is between $80,000 to $120,000 depends upon experience and area.

What is the difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse?

Becoming A Doctor of Nursing Practice(DNP) Is A Unique Career Choice

What Is DNP?

DNP is the medical abbreviation for Doctor of Nursing Practice. It seems an oxymoron that one could be a doctor and a nurse in the same degree, but that is what this is. Essentially nurses can move up many ranks, and there are Master’s and Doctorate program levels in nursing just as there are in many fields. A Doctorate in Nursing Practice takes a nurse to the highest level he or she can go, and once they have accomplished this degree, they are allowed to open their own practices and serve as healthcare professionals, usually in a specified field of medicine.

BSN to DNP Programs

Starting in a four year college of nursing, candidates who decide to seek a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree have to complete a BSN of nursing. At this point in the game they are registered nurses who choose a field of specialty to enter, such as psychology or midwifery. Several extra credits for the specialty are completed and then they have to apply to a graduate university of nursing to continue the pursuit of their chosen degree and field. While at the present time nurses can still obtain a Masters, this degree level due to new laws in the U.S. will be phased out completely by the year 2025. All nurses who currently are graduating with a BSN and entered into a Master’s will be expected to convert their degrees over to a Doctorate in Nursing Practice or Nursing Philosophy(PhD). The difference between these two terminal, or final level, degrees is that the DNP will be hands on practical nursing in a specialized field, where the DNPhD is strictly research.

DNP Duties

Most DNP’s serve in hospitals as anestheticians or in their own clinics as midwives or medical personnel for minor injuries and illnesses. Because there’s a shortage of doctors due to the nature and length of a doctor’s educational program, DNP’s are the gap fillers where a doctor might serve. Depending on the area of the country where they work, DNP graduates might also be referred to as Nurse Practitioners or Physician’s Assistants.

What Is A DNP Salary ?

Their starting salary is $69,000/year, although some can make up to $80,000/year, on average and comparable to what a doctor made starting out twenty to thirty years ago. Because less education is required and the path from nursing university to career start is shorter, many would be doctors are now considering this instead, even though it ends in a paycut of $20-60,000, depending on specialty.

How to Choose University For DNP Programs

If your heart is still set on becoming a DNP, the direct line to 547 of the best colleges and universities for your educational path is http://www.aacn.nche.edu/, or the American Association of the Colleges of Nursing. This is the top website in the country for finding everything you need, from the right four year college for your BSN to the right graduate school to transfer to for your DNP. Scholarships and financial aid tailored to nursing degrees is abundant, so don’t let money stop you. A vast wealth of resources and information is all here, and it just takes a click to get there. They will also be able to direct you to any colleges that might have an online or mixed program for the DNP. Because it’s a degree of practical nursing, you will eventually have to come to some on campus classes to prove your skills as a nurse or you won’t be able to graduate with this degree.

LPN nurse

What Is A LPN Nurse

The LPN Nurse is known as a Licensed Practical Nurse that cares for patients in a large variety of healthcare and medical settings. This nurse is also known as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or LVN the states of Texas and California. This type of nurse works in personal care facilities as well as hospitals. The main tasks of an LPN Nurse includes bathing, dressing and cleaning the patients, measuring and documenting the vital signs of the patient like blood pressure, height weight, respiration, temperature and pulse, supervising the nursing assistants or aides, feeding patients and assisting them to walk etc.

LPN Nursing Programs

LPN nursing programs teach the nursing aspirant the basics of caring for patients in a health care and medical setting. As an LPN Nurse the professional should know how to take vital signs and know about the normal healthcare ranges for people that tend to vary with age. This will help the nurse be aware of something that is not ordinary and the matter can be reported to the concerned doctor. The tasks of bathing and ambulating patients are also taught in the LPN nursing programs. The LPN Nurse is also taught on doing specific things like changing the bandage of wounds on the patient and putting on/removing catheters on the patients. The LPN Nurse must be taught on how to do the above things effectively in order to avoid infections from taking place in the patient.

The LPN Nursing Programs will also teach the student about the different types of medications that are available. Since the LPN Nurse is the professional that is responsible for administering them it is essential for the nurse to know why the patient needs to have the medicine, how the medicine works for the patient, what does it do and what are the potential side effects that can happen for that specific medicine. It is not mandatory for the nurse to be aware of all the above for each medicines however it is wise for him/her to memorize it for the common ones.

The LPN Nurse also needs to be aware of how to administer the medicines orally or through needles. The nurse has to know the difference between intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal methods. This is generally taught to the students in class. The student is also taught about the different sizes of needles and their types to use. There are also specific medications that require to be administered orally however they cannot be crushed. The LPN Nursing Program teaches the student the differences in the above with the reasoning about them as well.

Online LPN Nursing Programs

Online LPN Nursing Programs allow a nursing student to complete their course in nursing in a very short time. Once they finish their course they can begin working as soon as possible. It has been seen in the USA that most of the students of these online programs are exceptional students who desire to expand their nursing education by earning a Bachelor’s Degree.

When it comes to online LPN nursing programs you have to take into consideration certain factors. One is the accreditation. Before choosing an online program ensures that it is accredited by one of the professional nursing bodies like The National League Of Nursing Accreditation Commission. There is also another nursing body –The Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education CCNE that also provides accreditation to online LPN nursing programs.

Check the accreditation and enroll thereafter. Most schools have the accreditation information on their websites and you should check this out as there are many states that will not accept a LPN degree if you have done it from an institute that is a non-accredited one. If you wish you also have the option of approaching the accreditation organizations directly and have a talk with them to find out the program that would be appropriate for you. Before you enroll for a program you have to be sure that your state accepts the program. This prepares you to take the NCLEX licensing examination.

You should also check into the rankings and the reports of the LPN nursing schools that are online. You can check the US News and the World Report Ranks in order to ascertain the credibility of the online nursing programs on the website. The ratings are based on the worth of the school however you must also check into the number of students who pass the NCLEX Examination from the school before you decide to enroll in it.

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Scholarships for LPN students

Accredited online nursing programs

Accredited online nursing programs provide an opportunity to aspiring nursing students to pursue their studies to become a nursing professional. Due to personal or professional reasons a student may need to opt for an online nursing program that is convenient for him/her. There is a growing demand for nurses in the nation due the aging baby boom. This is the reason why there are a number of colleges and universities in the nation that are providing online courses for students across the nation.

Students have the opportunity to go in for a number of nursing programs offered online. These accredited online nursing programs provide either a Bachelors or a Masters degree to prospective nursing professionals. After the completion of the program most of the students either become a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. In order to become a registered nurse one should have completed the Bachelor’s nursing program. Students in these programs are provided with the basics of nursing and the education that they require in order to become a licensed professional in the medical and healthcare sector. It has been seen that people who have working experienced in the field often opt doing their Master’s from online accredited nursing programs. They do not have to leave their jobs and with the aid of these programs they successfully can make a positive advance in their career.

There is a host of benefits that are associated with accredited online nursing programs and that is you are able to earn the academic degree on the Internet without the need to stepping into the classroom. The clinical portion of the degree is generally taught locally.

For most part of the program you are able to earn the degree at your own schedule as you are free to take the class anytime. You can also take it anywhere depending upon the availability of an internet connection. The best part of these online courses is that there are classes that are conducted all round the year and you do not have to wait for sessions to begin. You just need to have the minimum eligibility requirements to join and there are no waiting lists. You have the option to begin your classes immediately and you do not have to face the waiting line hassles of campus colleges.

Another part of the online nursing program is that you have the choice of attending classes from the comforts of home or any place. This helps you save on money. If you work in the day, you can come home in the night and take your classes. In short you will be saving about 30% of your school time.

Before enrolling for an online program you must ensure that you check the credentials of the college or school online. Accreditation is very important as employers look for them when they are about to hire. With accredited online nursing programs you will get a competitive edge in the job market and be all set for a bright and lucrative nursing career.

Online nurse practitioner programs

What are online graduate nurse practitioner programs

Nurse practitioner programs are divided into many branches and each branch has different specialty. The aim of the online nurse practitioner programs are to focus on the various different aspects of nursing. The nurses are required to have broad and comprehensive knowledge related to their area of work. This knowledge is availed to the nurse aspirants through the nurse practitioner programs which are also offered over the internet. The aim of these programs is to train the nurses according to the specifics of their selected specialization. The information that is given to these nurses proves valuable to them in their career as professional nurses.

There are many duties performed by the nurse practitioners including offering family planning services, health care, child care, etc. Through the online programs the nurse practitioners can become qualified as performing these duties. However, if you are aspiring to be a nurse practitioner you should know that every state has different regulations regarding the duties of these nurses. Over the internet you can find several different nurse practitioner programs such as Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program, Neonatal Nurse Program, Family Nurse Program, etc.

When you aspire to become a qualified nurse practitioner it is important for you to completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then get a Master’s degree in nursing. The Master’s degree will help you in gaining professional experience to further your career. Once you have completed all the requirements and you have the degree with you, you will have to sit for a board examination to prove your skills and knowledge as a nurse practitioner. With the help of online programs you will not find it difficult to become a nurse practitioner.

The Online Nurse Practitioner Programs are the right choice for you if you want to work while you are preparing for the program. A great thing about the online programs is that it offers the flexibility to continue to work without hampering your studies and practice. If you are working a hospital on a swing shift it is natural that you will have difficulty in preparing yourself for the nursing examinations by the means of a traditional nursing educational organization. It can become stressful and at times even impossible to manage your schedule at the hospital along with your studies. But if you decide to take on the online nurse practitioner program you will be able to study at your own pace and at whatever time that is convenient to you. Furthermore, you can make use of the online resources to do your research. It will save you money on buying expensive books that are required in the conventional colleges and universities.

When you are aspiring to be a Nurse Practitioner you will have many options of the graduate degree programs that you can take on. But the convenience that is offered in the online colleges can not be found with the traditional ones. Before selecting any college, whether online or conventional, you have to make sure that they are accredited.

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Nurse practitioner scholarships

Nurse practitioner vs physician assistant