Why Didn't You Go To Med School?

Nurses Career Support

Published

Don't you get tired of friends/relatives asking you "Why didn't you go to med school?"

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone wants to be a doctor. I love what I do and I do what I love. Isn't that good enough?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Amen to that!

I wouldn't want to be a medical school student for the next 100 years anyway :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You can always remind people that most doctors, on average, spend 14 years getting their training. And when they're done, they are 100's of thousands of dollars in debt.

I was always asked why I didn't marry a doctor. Why would I?? They're never home!!

Just my :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Yes! I hate that!!!

Why go to school to be a doctor when you could go to school to be a nurse? LOL Just kidding.

I don't want to spend the next 8 to 13 years of my life, not having much of a life. I do not want to graduate from medical school and be almost 30 and am just really starting to live my school free life.

Plus, I want to go to school to be a nurse because I don't mind being in the background and working hard, even if I don't always get noticed for it. I find it a relief not to be in the limelight because I wear a I white coat.

I don't care that people will think I'm inferior and wasting my time, because they already do. Nursing fits the job description that I can see myself doing fro the rest of my life.

There are excellent doctors and then there are outstanding nurses! I just choose to pursue the latter because it's what fits me.

If everyone is the doctor, then who will be the nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hate getting asked that!! Grrrr...

lol even though i'm still in school, what can i say, i wanted to do something i felt was meaningful. I know i know, a Dr's work is important too, but there's something about nursing that just can't be touched. I guess i just really like the idea of caring for people, than just diagnosing and sending them off. Not my thing.

Besides, i personally feel nursing is more exciting. I could see myself getting a little bored as an M.D.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think being a doc is a bit overrated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i've never asked that..lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

I never once wanted to be a doc. Didn't grow up wanting to be a nurse, either! And the very few times that people have inquired, I have simply told them that there is nothing better for me than the bedside, or in more recent years, in the home!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

POSITIVES to being a nurse instead of a doctor:

1. You are in school for FAR less time. Imagine being in school until you are thirty years old. I plan on already having a couple kids by thirty. Most med students don't start having kids until AT LEAST in their late thirties.

2. You rack up far less debt. I have never heard of a nurse having 100k in student debt.

3. Nursing is a FAR MORE family/social friendly job than being a doctor. Doctors are on call 24/7 (though this may be the case for a some nurses), and they never get time to themselves. Nurses typically work 3 12-hr shifts and then they clock out. Done deal. That is the number one reason I am going into Nursing...so I can have four days/week to explore my hobbies.

4. In terms of careers, Nursing offers far more flexibility than being a doctor. I know some will disagree with me, but doctors are typically more specialized whereas Nurses have an array of departments to choose from.

CONS

1. Nurses are paid less.

2. Doctors typically have more prestige than nurses.

3. Doctors have more autonomy in their practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ugh, I agree... it is frustrating to get asked that over and over. A lot of people still just don't understand different roles in healthcare. Nurses just fluff pillows and give medicine, everyone in scrubs must be a nurse, any male in the hospital is a doctor, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honestly? Because I couldn't make it through calculus (and that goes for pharmacy too). I'm naturally good at drug calculations but all that other math is just pointless and toturous to me. To be clear though, NURSING ROCKS!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, L&D, RR, Rural nursing.

Because I didn't want to!!!!

Patients need smart nurses, we keep them on the right side of the sod!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment