Torn between Nursing and Medicine

[Loux]

Hello! I've posted here multiple times about dilemma I pose: my love for both nursing and medicine. I am currently a pre-nursing student, but I'm a bit hazy about my potential future as a nurse. I love the nursing model; I want to care for a patient, not just treat their disease. Sadly, I love the medical model as well and I'm torn between the two. I've considered mid-level care, but I'm unsure of what I would be content with. For a time, I was highly considering DNP or CRNA, but cynics have stated I could finish med school in the same amount of time.

If you haven't read my previous posts, I will give a summary of myself and the path I plan on taking. I just turned 17, but I've been in college since I was 16. I'm in my second semester of getting my pre-reqs for a BSN program and I have two more semesters left before I plan on applying for direct entry to aforementioned program. The program will take two years to complete, leaving me with summers sans schooling. I was contemplating taking the courses needed for medical school during the summer semesters "just in case". If all goes as planned, I will graduate with my BSN in 2014. As stated in my other posts, I have two specialties of choice: emergency medicine and global health. If I were to go the MD route, I would definitely be interested in trauma surgery (mainly why I was considering MD over NP).

I know that medical schools generally frown upon nursing degrees, but if I have a great GPA, high MCAT scores and the required courses, is there any reason I wouldn't be considered? I've been told that I shouldn't take up a spot in nursing school if I'm even considering medicine, but for the time being, nursing is what I want to do.

I guess my main questions are: Has anyone here considered medicine instead of nursing (or vice versa)? If so, what was the outcome? Do medical schools really oppose nursing degrees as much as it seems? For the DNPs or CRNAs...how do you feel about your job? Would you change anything about your choice of career?

Thanks so much!

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

And THAT'S why we aren't respected. Because we present this myth that we do everything for the pt, and MDs do nothing. Again, embarrassing...

We do this to ourselves...

Agree

Why do some nurses keep insisting that they treat the 'whole p't' and do all the healing ....does that mean Drs sole function is to prescribe a tx and/or perform a procedure ?

This is rather dim and an injustice to the team members nurses are most closely aligned to.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Yeah..... I don't like that comment. Not one bit.

Doctors will never understand the sense of reward that comes from being a nurse. Doctors act like God, but nurses are God. Intelligence has nothing to do with it. When it comes down to it, it's your personality. It's takes a special kind of person to be a nurse, but it only takes someone with resources, a bit of intelligence, and a boasting level of confidence to be a doctor.

Uhm, not so much.

It takes a great deal of dedication, intelligence, hard work and just as much compassion for people to go into medicine. Nurses do not have the corner market on caring for patients.

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

I wish there wasn't so much variance in nursing.

To the OP .... go for medicine.

More consistent expectation and a higher entry level are very appealing.

You are young enough to make the change.

The funding will work itself out

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I wish there wasn't so much variance in nursing.

To the OP .... go for medicine.

More consistent expectation and a higher entry level are very appealing.

You are young enough to make the change.

The funding will work itself out

I recently replied to a thread on here in regards to broadening the scope of practice for APNs. Uniformity in the curriclum as well as some standard for rigorous admission is what I deem appropriate with obvious inclusion of more science and less nursing theory.

I'm tired of hearing nurse educators say "we're not trying to make junior doctors out of you." Well, they seem to think they're training nurses to anticipate all physician orders before they're made so I don't see why putting a little extra biomedical science out there to make that more of a reality is a bad idea.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

Well, I feel if you have so many gripes with nursing, go to med school. Of course that is a heck of a lot easier said than done, but if you have so many issues with nursing, why bother with the profession that makes you so frustrated of miserable?

I stick by my belief that it does take some amount of intelligence and determination to be a nurse. Many of you are making it sound as if any common "fool" off of the street can walk in a NS and be a nurse, when that is not true.

Unlike many who are nurses now, I actually want to be a nurse and not a doctor. Regardless if they said we will put you through med school for free. I just don't want to be a physician, if I did I wouldn't have just moved to nursing because it was "the next best thing". I am not so stubborn and arrogant that I can't take orders on a daily basis, not saying that other nurses can't take orders. I don't have to be the boss, again not saying that all nurses want to be the boss. I am just saying I don't have to have all of the "so-called perks" of being a physician. I just want to take care of people. Not all nurses are "up to par" but I still love the profession. I don't mind getting hit, spit, kicked, and urinated on, because I've humbled myself to the point where I have gotten used to it. It comes with the territory. I have found out since working in a hospital as a CNA that nurses and NAs certainly have to deal with some crap, that they shouldn't have to. I know that docs have to deal with plenty of crap as well. But, no matter what profession I enter into I am going to have to deal with "crap" somewhere down the line, so far nursing hasn't scared me off yet, so I am going to "keep on truckin" til I get that RN behind my name.

[CCL RN, RN]

Well, I feel if you have so many gripes with nursing, go to med school. Of course that is a heck of a lot easier said than done, but if you have so many issues with nursing, why bother with the profession that makes you so frustrated of miserable?

I stick by my belief that it does take some amount of intelligence and determination to be a nurse. MAny of you are making it sound as if any common "fool" off of the street can walk in a NS and be a nurse, when that is not true.

I am a nurse, and I am no fool. If that's all you got out of this discussion then you didn't read it well. I helps to have an open mind, and a little respect for the opinions of those that are actually working in this field.

Unfortunately, there are "fools" who walk off the street and become a nurse!! It's true!! Many people who should never be nurses are actively nursing today...(worse yet, many of them are managers ) There are smart nurses all over nursing. And there are people who barely eek by in weak schools. This is what brings our profession down..

. Not all nurses are "up to par" but I still love the profession. I don't mind getting hit, spit, kicked, and urinated on, because I've humbled myslef to the point where I have gotten used to it. It comes with the territory.

No it doesn't. Those things don't just come with the territory, sure they happen, but I'm sure as hell am not going to humble myself to the point of acceptance.

I'm glad you think you know what its like to be a nurse and are not scared off. Please continue on with your studies. But also, please don't assume that we are all bitter, complacent, old nurses who just gripe and should get out of the profession. Sometimes we gripe because we want to make things better.

I went to nursing school to be a nurse too. I didn't want to be a Dr and still don't. I had PLENTY of CNA experience prior to nursing as well. And I've had a lot of schooling. I can see all sides to this. I've also seen a big decline in the quality of schools, and students.

The argument was this: should the OP, a smart, young person who is torn between 2 professions seek medicine or nursing?

If the OP is into hard science, chemistry, research...then the answer is medicine, IMO. Because if you are into these things, then you will be disappointed as a nurse. Take a look at the boards. You know this is true...

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

Nurses are not God. Obviously, you don't acknowledge our true God, or you wouldn't have said that.

I agree nurses aren't "God". But, we must also remember that your concept of God or belief in the possibility of there being a God is not always the belief of all on this site. Diversity. I am personally a Christian, but that's not the case with all on here and we can't call them out for there varying religious beliefs. (not that you did that)

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Sheesh! So much controversy.

OP, do what feels right in your heart. You are young enough to reach any goal that you wish to achieve.

Can we go watch the Super Bowl now?

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I agree nurses aren't "God". But, we must also remember that your concept of God or belief in the possibility of there being a God is not always the belief of all on this site. Diversity. I am personally a Christian, but that's not the case with all on here and we can't call them out for there varying religious beliefs. (not that you did that)

I was waiting to see who'd be the first to reply to that.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

I am a nurse, and I am no fool. If that's all you got out of this discussion then you didn't read it well. I helps to have an open mind, and a little respect for the opinions of those that are actually working in this field.

Unfortunately, there are "fools" who walk off the street and become a nurse!! It's true!! Many people who should never be nurses are actively nursing today...(worse yet, many of them are managers ) There are smart nurses all over nursing. And there are people who barely eek by in weak schools. This is what brings our profession down..

No it doesn't. Those things don't just come with the territory, sure they happen, but I'm sure as hell am not going to humble myself to the point of acceptance.

I'm glad you think you know what its like to be a nurse and are not scared off. Please continue on with your studies. But also, please don't assume that we are all bitter, complacent, old nurses who just gripe and should get out of the profession. Sometimes we gripe because we want to make things better.

I went to nursing school to be a nurse too. I didn't want to be a Dr and still don't. I had PLENTY of CNA experience prior to nursing as well. And I've had a lot of schooling. I can see all sides to this. I've also seen a big decline in the quality of schools, and students.

The argument was this: should the OP, a smart, young person who is torn between 2 professions seek medicine or nursing?

If the OP is into hard science, chemistry, research...then the answer is medicine, IMO. Because if you are into these things, then you will be disappointed as a nurse. Take a look at the boards. You know this is true...

Excuse me ms./ mr. whoever you are. I didn't call you a fool. So you apparently didn't read what I said correctly. It just the same with all professions sug, there are a lot of people who shouldn't be nurse, doctors, lawyers etc....., but they weren't some fools of the street. Regardless of whether they should be in a profession or not, they had to put forth some effort to become what they were. And trust, I am not a hardcore science person and I know that, I have stated it many times while posting. I am realistic in knowing that dealing with crap is part of the job because dealing with crap is a part of life, which i'm sure you know. Now when I say I can humble myself to accept the mistreatment by patients and family who are under pressure or don't know any better. I didn't mean I let people regardless of who they are, run over me or speak to me like i am a complete idiot. Oh and question. All I have done is speak positively about nursing, so how have I not been showing respect to "ones actually in the field"? I replied to the Op's argument, directly, many posts ago. And who said that you were all bitter? Not PAtMAc10,CNA, oh no ma'am/sir I didn't. I said many nurses, now if you feel that you fall under that category, then that's your problem. Sorry. I feel I have read the posts accurately, but you have most definitely misread mine. If I have said something out of line I apologize.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

I was waiting to see who'd be the first to reply to that.

Lolz!!! Sorry. I just don't want people feeling like we are trying to get into a theocratic conversation, which I am positive you weren't trying to start.

[CCL RN, RN]

Excuse me ms./ mr. whoever you are. I didn't call you a fool. So you apparently didn't read what I said correctly. It just the same with all professions sug, there are a lot of people who shouldn't be nurse, doctors, lawyers etc....., but they weren't some fools of the street. Regardless of whether they should be in a profession or not, they had to put forth some effort to become what they were. And trust, I am not a hardcore science person and I know that, I have stated it many times while posting. I am realistic in knowing that dealing with crap is part of the job because dealing with crap is a part of life, which i'm sure you know. Now when I say I can humble myself to accept the mistreatment by patients and family who are under pressure or don't know any better. I didn't mean I let people regardless of who they are, run over me or speak to me like i am a complete idiot. Oh and question. All I have done is speak positively about nursing, so how have I not been showing respect to "ones actually in the field"? I replied to the Op's argument, directly, many posts ago. And who said that you were all bitter? Not PAtMAc10,CNA, oh no ma'am/sir I didn't. I said many nurses, now if you feel that you fall under that category, then that's your problem. Sorry. I feel I have read the posts accurately, but you have most definitely misread mine. If I have said something out of line I apologize.

Sigh....you completely misunderstood my entire post, and quite possible the entire thread.. Good luck in your studies