Nurse vs. Radiologic Technologist: What Are the Differences?

Nurses and radiologic technologists are both medical professionals who provide care to patients. Though they share some similarities, there are several key differences between these two careers. In this article, we discuss the similarities and differences between nurses and radiologic technologists, and we provide helpful information for those interested in pursuing a career in either field.

What is a Nurse?

Nurses work in a variety of settings to provide direct patient care. They work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, nursing homes and even in patients’ homes. Nurses assess patients’ health, develop care plans and provide direct patient care. They also educate patients and their families about health conditions and health maintenance. Nurses work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care for their patients.

What is a Radiologic Technologist?

Radiologic Technologists, also called X-Ray Technicians or Radiology Technicians, operate machines called X-Ray machines to create images of the inside of patients’ bodies. They work in hospitals, clinics, private practices and diagnostic imaging centers. Radiologic Technologists prepare patients for their procedures by explaining the process and positioning them on the X-Ray table. They operate the machine and adjust the settings to get the best possible image. They then review the image to ensure it meets the doctor’s specifications. Radiologic Technologists may also take and develop X-Rays using film or digital equipment.

Nurse vs. Radiologic Technologist

Here are the main differences between a nurse and a radiologic technologist.

Job Duties

One of the main differences between being a nurse and being a radiologic technologist is the type of job each professional does. Nurses provide medical care to patients, including taking patient histories, diagnosing illnesses and injuries and administering treatment.

Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging procedures to help physicians see inside a patient’s body without having to cut it open. They may operate radiology equipment and develop images for doctors to review. However, both nurses and radiologic technologists work under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals.

Job Requirements

Nurses typically need at least an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) to enter the field, although many nurses pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to improve their career prospects. Nurses must also obtain licensure through their state’s Board of Nursing. Some states require nurses to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), while others have their own exams.

Radiologic technologists usually need an associate’s degree from an accredited program to enter the field. These programs typically take two years to complete and include coursework on topics like medical ethics, patient care and radiographic procedures. Radiologic technologists must also be licensed in most states. The requirements for licensure vary by state but often include passing an exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Work Environment

Both nurses and radiologic technologists work in hospitals, but they may also work in other healthcare facilities. For example, a radiologic technologist can work for an imaging center or doctor’s office that provides X-rays to patients.

Nurses typically work in hospital settings, but some work in nursing homes, physician offices, schools and correctional institutions. They may also work as traveling nurses, which means they travel from one facility to another to provide care.

Skills

Both nurses and radiologic technologists need to have excellent communication skills. Nurses use these skills when they are interacting with patients and their families, providing them with information about medical procedures, answering their questions and addressing their concerns. Radiologic technologists use communication skills when they are working with patients to explain the procedures they are going to undergo and answer any questions they may have.

Both of these professionals also need to be detail-oriented. Nurses need to pay attention to detail in order to accurately document patient symptoms and changes in condition. Radiologic technologists need to be detail-oriented in order to position patients correctly during procedures and ensure that the images they capture are clear.

Nurses need to have strong critical thinking skills in order to make decisions about patient care. They need to be able to assess a patient’s condition, understand the options for treatment and make recommendations to physicians. Radiologic technologists also need to be able to think critically in order to choose the best imaging techniques for each patient and to identify abnormalities in images.

Salary

The average salary for a nurse is $72,127 per year, while the average salary for a radiologic technologist is $76,938 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the type of nurse or radiologic technologist you are, your level of experience and the location of your job.