Repiratory Therapy VS. Nursing?? Im trying to decide..please look if you are experienced with these fields? =)

Im trying to decide between becoming a Resp. Therapist or an RN....Im a male, enjoy social interaction, caring, soft spot for people who are hurting, and generally like helping people... i also have asthma, so i figured i can relate to respiratory patients well.... then theres the matter of school...ive already been accepted to a Resp. program, but its quite a bit more expensive than the communtiy college's RN program would be (providing I'm accepted after prereqs). Can you please list the pros and cons of each occupation? i know nursing hours are better, and it has better pay...what are the other perks of each, from education through the actual careers? Which is more fulfilling? More easily balanced with a family? More challenging/ able to keep my interest? And, which is harder overall? Any and all help greatly appreciated, but please think answers through and answer honestly...it means a lot to me. =)

Being a respiratory therapist can be a very rewarding position. They are an integral part of the health care team. In most hospitals, there is at least one RT on duty 24 hours per day to cover ventilators and blood gases etc which occur along with being available during and after codes. The advancement from the basic level is to move into supervisory positions or teaching.

Nursing is completely different. The hours are not any better and are usually as bad or worse than anyone in health care. Due to the shortage of nurses at the RN level the salaries have increased over the years and has become a more reasonable position. There is a wide variety of positions available to an RN upon graduation from nursing school. An ADN is able to move into any of the entry level positions. Many ADNs (associate degree nurses) move on to get a BSN or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. This is not required for many positions, but there are more jobs available to persons with a BSN. also many hospital systems requires or prefer a BSN for their supervisory positions. Some nurse obtain a Master's Degree in Nursing, These include the Nurse Practitioners (whose jobs basically are 80-85% of the physician counterpart), CRNAs (Nurse Anesthetists - providing anesthesia to patients in operating rooms) Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Nurse Midwifes. These nurse often called mid-level providers have a significantly expanded role, have the ability to diagnose and treat, prescribe medications and order test and treatments. Finally a few nurses obtain doctoral degrees and work either clinically or in the academic field. So you can see there is a lot wider opportunity for diversity with a nursing degree.

Though both are useful and neccessary positions in the health care venue.