Why did you become a nurse instead of a doctor?

michiganrnathome · Mar 5, 2005

I know so many Dr.s, one of my best friends is a Dr.'s wife, we joke that she seems more like a single mom than a married woman! He is not a resident either, he's an attending in the ER. My aunt is a radiologist who has never given her kids a bath, her 5 year old is still not potty trained for BM's and her 3 year old just got off formula. I met this resident 2 years ago that I will never forget, she hadn't seen her 4 year old son in 5 months, since the start of her residency. (Her husband couldn't leave his job in California so the son stayed with him). I could go on forever with these stories because I have 2 Doc's in the fam and 1 medical student but what it boils down to to me is that being a doctor sucks up your whole life and I have other important fillers.

Anaya_1de said:
I'm just curious about what made you decide to become a nurse instead of a doctor.Or did becoming a doctor never even cross your mind?
It took me a while to figure out that I wanted to work in the medical field. After that was done I only had to figure out in what profession I wanted to be in. I always thought it would be great to become a doctor but although I think I have the potential to be a good doctor and would like their work, I decided that nursing was the better way for me. Some of the reasons for that were that I liked the schedules better, schooling takes less time, it's easier to get into the schools and I'm not willing to give up my family life or marriage for a career as a doctor.
It would be intersting to hear why you guys think that nursing is the better career (or not?!)

smk1, LPN · Mar 5, 2005

energizerbunny05 said:
well yes that is your choice of a degree. you want the MPH i rather have the MD. The fact is that physicians in general are given a bad rap by nurses when bad behavior doesnt apply to all physicians. And yes I have met very compassionate doctor as well as nurses. I have also met very nasty nurses including my preceptors so lets not act like doctors are the only ones behaving badly. You know whats funny i see alot of doctor bashing on this forum but not as much in pre med forums funny isnt it.

go visit SDN you will see plenty of MD-bashing DO-bashing Nurse-bashing Minority-bashing, the list goes on. It's great that you want to be a physician, but it's not an interest for everyone. The fields are complimentary but not a succesive process.

energizerbunny05 · Mar 5, 2005

SMK1 said:
go visit SDN you will see plenty of MD-bashing DO-bashing Nurse-bashing Minority-bashing, the list goes on. It's great that you want to be a physician, but it's not an interest for everyone. The fields are complimentary but not a succesive process.

Do they? Well does it make it okay for us to do it as well? How does that help improve the relationship between doctors and nurses? My point is that in order to give someone advice there is not a need to speak negative of other professions.

P.S. alot of the nurse bashing on sdn is done by premeds that donot have any idea that nurses are their teachers as well as physicians. These premeds have not been out in the real world of rotations and residency so i would take their comments are due immaturity.Their attitudes will change when they realize how important nurses are for their progression into clinical time.

Soleilpie · Mar 5, 2005

First, I just want to let those who think that calculus is needed for med school know that it's only required by a few schools. Most med schools do not require it but recommend it. So, if it's just calculus that's holding you back, you may want to rethink med school. Secondly, both SDN and AllNurses bash doctors, BUT it seems to be done more so on this site when the subject comes up. Most people on SDN don't really talk down about doctors only because it's a site for doctors and premeds. Why on earth would they talk bad about their own profession or future profession except to speak about the pros and cons. When there are negative comments on SDN it seems to mainly be about MD's vs DO's. And even then, it's pretty minor. Most people on that site know that the two are equivalent as far as in practice. There may be a different set of standards on entrance into each type of school though. We all know that there are good and bad people making up every profession in the world. Lets not single out one profession over another. Nurses and Doctors play different roles in healthcare and yet are complimentary. Without one or the other, healthcare would be in shambles.

energizerbunny05 · Mar 5, 2005

Soleilpie said:
First, I just want to let those who think that calculus is needed for med school know that it's only required by a few schools. Most med schools do not require it but recommend it. So, if it's just calculus that's holding you back, you may want to rethink med school. Secondly, both SDN and AllNurses bash doctors, BUT it seems to be done more so on this site when the subject comes up. Most people on SDN don't really talk down about doctors only because it's a site for doctors and premeds. Why on earth would they talk bad about their own profession or future profession except to speak about the pros and cons. When there are negative comments on SDN it seems to mainly be about MD's vs DO's. And even then, it's pretty minor. Most people on that site know that the two are equivalent as far as in practice. There may be a different set of standards on entrance into each type of school though. We all know that there are good and bad people making up every profession in the world. Lets not single out one profession over another. Nurses and Doctors play different roles in healthcare and yet are complimentary. Without one or the other, healthcare would be in shambles.

wow excellent post!

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 5, 2005

I will be honest and answer the OP succinctly as possible, without cutting down anyone else's choices.

I neither want nor have time to dedicate to being oncall the way doctors must. My family comes first and always will. Resident life would destroy my family balance, and it is not worth it, not in the LEAST. Nursing travels well, and is there when I want it to be. I also feel I do a lot of good for others being a nurse, getting to know my patients in a way many MD's have no time to.

bottom line: It satisfies me and my lifestyle to be a NURSE, not an MD.

smk1, LPN · Mar 5, 2005

energizerbunny05 said:
Do they? Well does it make it okay for us to do it as well? How does that help improve the relationship between doctors and nurses? My point is that in order to give someone advice there is not a need to speak negative of other professions.
P.S. alot of the nurse bashing on sdn is done by premeds that donot have any idea that nurses are their teachers as well as physicians. These premeds have not been out in the real world of rotations and residency so i would take their comments are due immaturity.Their attitudes will change when they realize how important nurses are for their progression into clinical time.

never said it was ok, just pointing out that this board is not unique in this practice as your post seemed to imply. In any case I think that most on this board are respectful and show tact in their postings, and the flame wars that we tend to see on other boards for the most part just aren't tolerated here. I think some do show a sense of frustration at the seemingly constant comparison to doctors, when the two fields are complimentary yet separate. It is kind of like comparing police/lawyer, politician/judge, PT/Chiro etc... these are all separate fields that do collaborate and have similarities, but again one does not necessarily lead into the other.

lindaloo51 · Mar 6, 2005

I'm a JAN (just a nurse). Why? Because I like it and I think that I'm darn good at it. I am fortunate enough to work in a small hospital where my skills and knowledge are recognized by the docs that I work with. They respect my position as patient advocate and I respect their position of knowledge and training. I have had more than 1 doc say to me that I should have gone to med school, but my position is that my place in life is doing a job that I can enjoy and thrive in. I feel very sorry for people that I have known over the years who actually hate what they do. I guess that I'm extremely lucky to have found my niche in life.

That said, I will have to say that although I really like what I do, I don't always like the conditions where I do my job.

danolden · Mar 6, 2005

I grew up wanting to help people. In those days, if you were a man, you became a doctor. I got some experience, saw what doctors did, and what nurses did. I decided I wanted to be there at important times- (a blessing and a curse). I've been a manager, educator, grief counselor, clinician. Nothing could have been more adaptable, fullfilling or fitting. I can change directions without dropping a load of income, and retain my self respect. Plus, my co-workers are sweet!

lapappey · Mar 6, 2005

As a OR tech, a lot of the MD's I worked with really encouraged me to go to med school (well, to go pre-med and then go to med school). I decided to go into nursing after seeing what exactly MD's have to deal with-insurance companies, lawyers, all kinds of B.S., and seeing that the RN is the "front line" of pt care ... saw immediately which one was for me. It's cliche, but nurses treat patients and physicians treat illness. Not to knock MD's at all ... most of the ones that I work with are wonderful, and very good at what they do, but the two professions are really that--two very different perspectives on pt care and two very different professions! I think that one can have a hugely positive impact on pt care from either one ... and both are essential.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2005

Doctors cure; Nurses CARE! That is the saying that I have heard since I was old enough to know I wanted to be a nurse!

chicago bsn 2005 · Mar 6, 2005

i think of physicians as specializing in diagnostics. it's a different job. they figure out what's the most likely medical diagnosis and best treatment regimen based on test results and research in this area. nurses manage patient care. they are different specialties in my mind. it's a different orientation in the patient care spectrum. pharmacists are best at keeping up with what the best medications are to treat different symptoms. there are differing amounts of patient contact, responsiblity for their outcomes. it's just an entirely different job. plus, i like the freedom to switch shifts as opposed to having to maintain a practice. in addition, i kinda see practicing as a physician as being more "experimental" and seeing nursing as practicing based on shown effective techniques for specified medical conditions. i wouldn't necessarily say there isn't an "art" to medicine. it's just a different course, a different life.

Anaya_1de said:
I'm just curious about what made you decide to become a nurse instead of a doctor.Or did becoming a doctor never even cross your mind?
It took me a while to figure out that I wanted to work in the medical field. After that was done I only had to figure out in what profession I wanted to be in. I always thought it would be great to become a doctor but although I think I have the potential to be a good doctor and would like their work, I decided that nursing was the better way for me. Some of the reasons for that were that I liked the schedules better, schooling takes less time, it's easier to get into the schools and I'm not willing to give up my family life or marriage for a career as a doctor.
It would be intersting to hear why you guys think that nursing is the better career (or not?!)