My boyfriend feels that nursing is just a JOB and not a career. I have considered both clinical psychology and medical school- and also, nursing. I love the idea of being able to deliver babies or work in PICU, so I would probably pursue pediatrics or OB/GYN in medical school. I also have a passion for mental health, but I want to be able to do medical management, which a psychologist cannot do. If I did become a nurse, I would definitely plan on becoming an NP, maybe a DNP, and I would love to get my PhD and be able to do medical/nursing research.
The other day my bf told me that although nurses make a difference, its not really making a difference or leaving an impact on the world because "anyone could take your place" :angryfire This really pissed me off. I've always believed it takes a special kind of person to take care of people the way that nurses do. He wants to be a doctor and I think mainly that he wants me to go to medical school with him. But he also seems to think that anything less than a doctorate is an inadequate education and a waste of my life. :trout:
I love (the idea of) nursing for its flexibility and huge array of career options. I am incredibly nervous about the first year of nursing when I'm all green and don't know what the hell I am doing. I'm a sensitive person, and an anxious one, and part of me does worry that nursing will chew me up and spit me out. I've always wanted to pursue doctoral level education and to teach and write, and I don't know if I can pursue those goals in nursing. BUT there are tremendous opportunities in nursing. So I'm feeling stuck.