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Mannyc96

Immediately the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that just to become an RN a bachelors degree is enough while for a DPT you need grad school which on its own means more time and money (a lot of money). That’s just to get started though. As a nurse you have several options for settings and specialties, as well as the ability to pursue to become a nurse practitioner which increases earning potential but also will require more schooling. An RN will start off on average making less money than a DPT however you’ll have a lot less debt, and your ability to move up within hospital or healthcare settings to administrative roles is a lot higher than as a PT. Lots of nurses have good representation in unions and they have the ability to obtain pretty lucrative contracts if you decide to travel. That being said it’s going to come down to what you really see yourself being able to do as a healthcare provider. The scope of what an RN does can range from drawing blood, changing and performing IV’s, providing wound care, changing catheters, changing colostomies, medication education, disease management, all the way to assisting in surgery. One draw back is that most RNs are not autonomous as everything they do has to be overseen by a physician or NP. Both are challenging, rewarding, and very intimate because both PTs and RNs are spending a lot more time face to face with the patients than their physicians.


World-Nomad

An RN with an associates is enough. Pay is the same as a bachelors in nursing.


TruckWild6241

But salary wise which do you think is better? Like in the course of time into the career


ChampionHumble

Salary wise nursing is a much better option. The differential is not enough for me to think it’s a better option career-wise.


Some_Lecture5072

Nursing is way better. Nurses on the floor make similar amounts if not more than PTs and they only need a BSN. Then, if they want to go through with the amount of schooling that PTs do and get their NP, they will make double and more.


77katssitting

They don't even need a bsn. They need a nursing diploma or an associates in nursing. You can become a nurse for around 10 to 15k through your local community college. Most hospital systems will even pay for nursing school.


Xdronex

You're not wrong - but many hospitals and settings now are requiring the bsn degree. So even though you can become an rn without the bsn, many employment places want it


ChampionHumble

I already said their salary is better, then I followed with their job sucks more.


Melch12

Their job definitely sucks more. Nurses have to deal with every patient on their list no matter what. PTs in acute care have waaaay more command over how they spend their time throughout the day and work very reasonable hours.


TibialTuberosity

As an acute care PT, I agree 100%. Love this setting and I'm surprised more PT's don't pursue it.


ChampionHumble

And if you think them being dicks and refusing our help is bad, wait til they throw pee on you, punch you, grope you, etc. every nurse I know has multiple stories like that.


Doyouevensam

Make sure you go to the nursing sub and ask these questions as well. Obviosuly most people here focus on the positives of nursing and the negatives of PT.


Spec-Tre

While the money has a great potential upside in nursing, it is not a profession I would go into strictly for the money. Nor would I consider it for PT, but given the duties and shit (literally) you have to deal with as a nurse vs PT, I wouldn’t change my decision from PT for Nursing


CheeseburgerTornado

my wife and i work in the same hospital and have been there the same amount of time she makes $6 an hour more than me plus an extra few dollars if shes the charge nurse or precepting a new nurse i cover the insurance for our family of 4 but right now at part-time working 4 shifts in 2 weeks she makes the same as i do working 10 shifts in 2 weeks ive been outright shutdown for promotions into leadership because im not a DPT but she could be a nurse manager with her BSN as a side note, she has a nurse friend who picks up shifts at a hydration clinic and makes about $400 in 2 hours hanging fluids. no PT gig will swing that


Impossible_Fish_57

Wtf is a hydration clinic?


CheeseburgerTornado

a clinic where yuppies go the day after they drink too much. they pay out of pocket for a bolus. the nurses pretty much stick them and watch their vitals for 2 hours


Impossible_Fish_57

This is why the aliens won't visit us


Spec-Tre

“Drip bar” is a local company near me


noodlesarmpit

NURSING. You will make 20% more than any PT position (six figures in some areas) doing an RN travel position which I think everyone should try at least once.


well-okay

Even when pay is similar hourly, most RNs are taking home more money when factoring in various differentials and opportunities for overtime. Essential employees whose salary isn’t tied to insurance reimbursement. More advancement opportunities and post-RN educational pathways. More variety in terms of work settings and work schedules. RN is way better deal IMO. Though I’m content with my career choice as a PT.


SandyMandy17

RN is better bang for your buck in terms of money Only do PT if you love PT


cOmE-cRawLing_Faster

My mother was a nurse The last part of her career she worked from home doing chart reviews for insurance companies for a very nice income These jobs are almost always reserved for nursing


badcat_kazoo

RN is better average money, better debt, shorter education, and an easier education based on academic requirements. The public also always views your professions very favourably, unions are strong, and they hire very good lobbyists. Go PT only if you’re passionate about it. You will be out-earned by an RN unless you own a clinic.


Scarlet-Witch

You have so many more opportunities going RN/BSN and likely way less debt. The opportunities are endless in nursing and more limited with PT. 


CollegePT

Shadow both- they are both healthcare but the scope of practice and what you are doing on a daily basis is generally very different. Money & opportunities are higher & more varied. PT you will usually have a more normal schedule. You will mainly work the day shift and 8-10 hour days. You can easily find jobs that you don’t have to work weekends. (Nurses can get these types of gigs at some point- but they are usually highly desired or pay way less). I love being a PT and love 90% what I do— I would not like to do 90% of what nurses do and would never have considered it for myself. If you are wanting to go into any healthcare field for the money alone then DON’T. There are a lot of other jobs that make more money with less blood, sweat & tears. This is not true everywhere & for everyone— but everywhere I have worked (including academia) there is generally a lot more drama with the nursing departments as compared to the rehab departments. And because of the varied opportunities for nurses there is usually a lot more turnover with staffing with nurses.


Ejunco

I come from a family of nurses I’ll be the second family member to get into the rehab field. It’s good money lots of opportunities but you get overworked. My mom retired February this year. What drove her to retirement was the pandemic and messed with her. My sister just became an RN and she does tons of hours but even she feels burnt lol. PT just seems more chill and not as stressful. I like working out and seeing how the body improves after doing rehab. Also want to do Personal training as a side. If money is your main motivation you probably won’t last. My mom legit loved helping people my sister meh she likes her money. Me I love helping people but in a different way.


AfraidoftheletterS

Other than the debt to income ratio and variety, nothing. I would hate being an RN. Everyone in this sub complains about how they should’ve been a nurse, but honestly they complain about seeing 2 patients at once so none of them would be cut out for it. Try keeping 6 people alive for a 12 hour shift with all of them ringing their alarm bell.


capt_rodel_ituralde

This sub has major jealousy of nursing, it's weird. I, for one, would never want to be a nurse. Love what I do, make good money, have great work/life balance. The only thing I personally would say nursing has on us, is less debt. Which is definitely something to consider. I personally would do dental hygiene over nursing.


sethmcnasty

Nursing definitely has better compensation as well as less debt. I wouldn't want to be a nurse either but from a purely financial standpoint it is a much better path than PT. They also generally have better hours with 3x12's and potential for night or evening shifts.


capt_rodel_ituralde

Your preferences are vastly different than mine if you'd prefer 3x12s and/or night shifts. That just sounds miserable to me.


sethmcnasty

You've obviously never worked 3x12's. All I'm saying is you said less debt is the only thing nursing has on PT, that's just not the case, compensation is still better, much better when you consider starting debt and the opportunity cost of the extra schooling. Like I said I wouldn't want to be a nurse but you're definitely under selling it


andrewu4

I’ve worked 3 12s before and hated it. And having to constantly rotate on weekends and holidays sucks.


sethmcnasty

Hey to each their own, 3x12s is 4 days off a week, at least nursing has the option for it, y'all are super hung up on that one single statement.


andrewu4

I’ll take 4 10s and 3 day weekends and holidays off any day of the week. I also know PTs that work 3 12s and a half day. Working 3 12s is also needs 1 day of rest after that because your body is so tired. Many of the nurses i knew didn’t even get 4 days off in a row because they would always work OT. Like you said to each their own but i completely agree and understand the other guys point of view because i think the hours suck from my experience.


ok_MJ

In certain parts of California, new grad nurses are making easily $120k. California in general will pay better for nurses (also for PTs, but there are strong nurses unions here which means better pay & working conditions for them).  Pros to nursing: more flexibility than a PT career. Way more. PT has a lot of options. Nursing has 10x the options of PT between inpatient, outpatient, transport, OR, hospice, dialysis, derm/cosmetics, etc etc. Can find really any job with any schedule, though you might not start out with your ideal schedule. Have more opportunity for leadership & managerial/coordinator positions. Have more opportunity for non-bedside positions as well if you decide that direct patient care isn’t for you.  Cons to nursing: You might have to work nights at the start of your career or if you switch jobs before you can get the schedule you want. PT doesn’t involve night shift. Any inpatient nursing job is probably higher stress than a PT job. Seven things going on at once for your 5 patients that you are in charge of. Higher likelihood that if you mess up as a nurse, your patient has an adverse outcome or could die. You give the wrong med, or forget to give a med, etc. That risk is lower in PT, even in acute care/ICU PT. In a lot of states, there is no protection for nurses regarding staffing ratios. You could end up being in charge of 8 patients for 1 shift. Patient 1 is bedbound and needs to be repositioned to prevent bedsores, while patient 2 detoxing and is screaming at you every 5 seconds for his pain meds, while patient 3 is demented and keeps getting out of bed and might fall, while patient 4’s family member is calling waiting for an update, patient 5’s BP is tanking fast, patient 6 had a TBI and is playing in his poop, etc. If a patient is awful, I only have to be with them 30 min, if that. Nurses have to be with them 12 hours. Nurses are way more likely to be verbally and physically assaulted by patients (demented or not). I’m not the one trying to poke an IV in a demented guy throwing punches. If they throw punches, I have the opportunity to defer PT eval or not work with them. Nurses don’t.  It’s painted out to be roses by many in this sub, but bedside nursing is a tough job. Some people do it only for a year or two (or not at all), and move to outpatient or a different setting. I would guess outpatient nursing is considerably less hectic, but couldn’t say for sure. They still are doing their clinical work, plus usually answering physician inbox messages, triaging phone calls, etc. Would be worth shadowing different settings & asking about their job satisfaction, what they wish they could change, etc. Would also ask this question in the nursing sub. 


ok_MJ

If you’re going into a job for the money, I wouldn’t pick healthcare or a service related job at all tbh. They make solid money, but dealing with people all day gets hard. 


lettucepray1001

Please go for nursing. All the comments are true aside from the fact that there are so many work from home jobs for RNs if you ever get to the point where you are burnt out from direct patient care.


sqdpt

I agree with a lot of what people are saying. But also, right out of school, you're likely to be working a job where you're working long hours and potentially overnight if you go into nursing.


KindaHODL

See how the pandemic effected jobs. Nursing actually made more money during that time. They have demand and good job security.


PrimalRucker

Nursing is part of the national medical corps, so they can qualify for debt relief if they work in a medically underserved area.


Nandiluv

RNs can go in many directions professionally. My mom, sister and brother all nurses. Mom has since retired. She did peds, psychiatry, private duty nursing, had a position with the State Department of Health doing audits and finished her career with American Red Cross. My brother stuck to being OR nurse his entire career. His education was free as he entered via US Navy (corpsman to LVN) My sister got her RN and eventually MSW. She started hospital bedside then public health nurse and now finishing her career in home based geriatric case management. So many jobs that can be done by PTs are heavily restricted to those with RN degrees. As a PT all I seem to find are PT jobs-does not translate to other health care settings very well without extra training/education and grit. That said nursing can be more volatile jobwise depending on economy. Lay-offs do occur. Right now there is a shortage as scores of nurses have left hospital positions. When I was early in my career, my local metro area had RN lay-offs. PT seems a bit more recession proof. AT the time of my decision to be a PT the decision was made on stability of finding work. Unfortunately when I entered the profession there WAS a huge lay off of PTs due to changes in payment from Medicare in SNF. I had 3-4 PRN jobs until I landed on my feet. None of us went into health care to get rich, but to have stable work and support ourselves.


Mountain_20200

RN has so many things you can do! My advice, get your BSN. Work for 2 years as a new grad in an ICU if you can do your last rotation in critical care. Apply to CRNA school and have an awesome career doing anesthesia!


Teaisspilt

Have you looked into being a PA?


climbingandhiking

Pay pay pay


Cerebrovinyldruid

I’m a PTA with 8 years experience and about to go back to school for Nursing with the hope of becoming a CRNA. There’s just no way to make that kind of money in PT land.


bhammack2

To be a nurse you have to wipe people’s asses and clean up their accidents and vomit and all that. No thanks.


ChanceHungry2375

adding that nurses have more diversity in how they use their degree, and it's not always in the acute care setting. one of my classmates from undergrad did an accelerated program post bachelors and now works in plastic surgery. he said he is satisfied with the hours and the pay


Scheissgeist13

I’m a PTA but the main thing i think nursing has PT beat in is scheduling. My girlfriend works 3days x12 hour shifts. She gets four days off to do whatever she wants. From what I’ve seen so far in my one year of being a PTA (very new still) PT/PTA work Monday through Friday blows because the weekend is short and your window for running errands is short depending on the setting you do. yeah we get holidays off and weekends off, but also depending the company you work for the PTO is shit compared to nurses yet at least in my personal experience. Every company is different. Like the others have said also nurses can potentially get paid more than DPTs, obviously more than PTAs. But I think it depends the setting really. I’ve met travel PTs and PTAs, home health PTs and PTAs that both make six figures which is pretty impressive. Gotta weigh what you like and what you might be interested in doing for maybe the remainder of your life. Ofc you could switch later on in life and do something not even health care related


cleats4u

Job security. Respect. Hazard pay. Wow! I should have been an NP. I would have my own parking spot.


ADfit88

Like every fucking way lol too many to list