Radiation Therapist vs. Nurse: What Are the Differences?

Nurses and radiation therapists are both vital members of the healthcare team. They provide different but essential services to patients. If you’re interested in a career in healthcare, learning about the similarities and differences between these two positions can help you decide which one is right for you. In this article, we compare and contrast nurses and radiation therapists, including their job duties, education requirements and average salaries.

What is a Radiation Therapist?

Radiation Therapists use radiation therapy to treat cancer and other diseases in patients. They work closely with Radiation Oncologists to develop and administer treatment plans. They operate machines called linear accelerators to deliver high doses of radiation to specific areas of the patient’s body. Radiation Therapists also monitor patients during treatment to ensure they are tolerating the therapy well. They keep detailed records of each patient’s treatment plan and progress. Radiation Therapists typically work in hospitals, clinics or private practices.

What is a Nurse?

Nurses work in a variety of settings to provide direct patient care. They work in hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, nursing homes and home health care agencies. Nurses may specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as pediatrics, oncology or cardiology. Nurses assess patients’ health, develop care plans and provide direct patient care. They also educate patients and their families about illness, injury prevention and health maintenance. Nurses work closely with doctors and other health care professionals to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Radiation Therapist vs. Nurse

Here are the main differences between a radiation therapist and a nurse.

Job Duties

One of the largest differences between radiation therapists and nurses is their respective job duties. Nurses are primarily responsible for directly caring for patients, which involves performing diagnostic tests, assessing patient health and symptoms and developing treatment plans in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

Radiation therapists work closely with patients who receive radiation therapy, but they primarily perform tasks that ensure the effectiveness of the radiation treatments. This may include operating radiation machines, monitoring patients’ reactions to radiation and ensuring that proper doses of radiation reach targeted areas of the body.

Job Requirements

Radiation therapists typically need an associate degree in radiation therapy, although some may have a bachelor’s degree. These programs usually take two to three years to complete and include coursework on topics like human anatomy and physiology, medical ethics and radiation physics. Many radiation therapy programs also require students to complete clinical rotations so they can gain hands-on experience before entering the workforce.

Nurses must first earn a nursing diploma or associate degree in nursing from an accredited program before taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed registered nurses (RNs). Some nurses choose to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing as well, which can lead to more advanced positions.

Work Environment

Radiation therapists work in hospitals, clinics and private practices. They may travel to different locations for their job responsibilities. Radiation therapists typically work full time during regular business hours, but they may also work overtime or on weekends if necessary.

Nurses can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, schools, correctional facilities and more. Nurses who work in hospitals often have irregular schedules that include nights, weekends and holidays. Nurses who work in outpatient care centers usually work standard business hours.

Skills

Both radiation therapists and nurses use critical thinking skills to assess patients and make decisions about their care. They also need to have excellent communication skills to interact with patients and their families, as well as other members of the healthcare team.

Radiation therapists require specific technical skills to perform their job, such as operating radiation therapy equipment and understanding how to administer different types of treatments. They also need to be able to maintain detailed records of patients’ treatments. Nurses also need to have strong technical skills, including being able to operate medical equipment and administer medication. However, they also benefit from having a more general understanding of health and disease, as well as experience in caring for patients.

Salary

Radiation therapists earn an average salary of $89,677 per year, while nurses earn an average salary of $72,127 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the type of nurse or radiation therapist you are, your level of experience and the location of your job.