Licensed Practical Nurse vs. Diagnostic Medical Sonograph vs. Medical Labratory Technology?
Asked by melaniemusic85
I'm thinking about going back to school after being out of high school for 5 years. I got the itch to be in the medical field a few years ago when I took a medical office assistant course; however even though i learned a great deal of things ex. anatomy & physiology, microbiology, ECG, dressing changes, etc...it hasn't challenged me enough, i need something that will always keep me interested. Plus I wasn't able to find a decent job with good enough pay... the pay is crap actually. So now I'm debating between- Licensed Practical Nurse - Diagnositic Medical Sonography - Medical Labratory Technology They all require around 2 years of school. My marks are not that great from high school for math/chem, so i will have to do some upgrading...Are any of you in these fields... if so, what are the procs and cons of each? what is the average CANADIAN wage/salary? Was schooling hard? thanx! Is the ADN (associates in Nursing) available in Canada?

Best Answer:
First off, I've always found that returning adult students do much better at school than those just out of high school. The fact that your high school grades may not be great should not hinder you to striving to achieve your dream. For the degree to go towards, that depends on you. While each can be rewarding, knowing what your interests are and what will suit you personally is hard to tell from postings such as this. One thing that I will say is that LPNs are slowely being phased out, and some hospitals are no longer hiring LPNs because they really cannot do much more than what a certified nursing assistant can do. And, with the requirement that they have Registered Nurses doing some things for them, institutions are hiring RNs and CNAs, instead of LPNs. Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a growing field, which I do not know much about. I know that the job prospects are suppose to be good, but be careful who is providing the answer. Of course an educational institution is going to tell you that the job prospect is great, because they have national averages to justify it. But, they are also trying to get you to enroll into their program. The problem there is that while there may be jobs available, they may not be in the area that you live. Medical Laboratory Technology is another field that is growing, and has a variety of different applications other than healthcare, such as working in a crime lab. It sounds like you need to talk to a counselor at a school. I know that there are some tests that you can take that will help you determine the type of job that is right for you. You answer simple questions like: I prefer to be outside or I don't mind being inside all day. After answering all the questions, the test gives you a list of the professions that match your unique talents and desires. (Sorry, I can't remember the exact name of the test, but I know that its out there.) Good Luck!

Sono you'll make the most money and you'll more likely have a chance at a regular schedule. LPN, you will most likely work 12 hour shifts and it may be day or night shifts. If you are considering LPN, I would go for your ADN (Associates in Nursing)instead, it's a two year program as well. If you are going to spend 2 years, you might as well go for the one where you'll make more money and have better opportunities. I think if you like a challenge, Nursing would be best for you. There are several areas of nursing that you could try but again, go for your ADN, instead of LPN.
Answered by NLuv

I'll make this short, go for your associates degree of Nursing instead of LPN. You get paid more, more autonomy, and more respect. If you are going for the Medical technology, go for the 4 year program in a 4 year university to become a medical technologist instead of a medical lab technnician. They seriously get paid more than a MLT. For Sonography, there are no jobs and hard to find. Even the experienced sonographers have a hard time due to age discrimination. If you tend to not agree what I said and go for sonography, well go to an accredited school that is accredited BY THE CAAHEP OR YOU WILL WASTE YOUR MONEY AND TIME! Warning: do not believe the lies of those unaccredited schools or those people who make the radiology field even worst by praising those unaccredited schools. Go for your RN even for associates.
Answered by blazindaddyj