A moment of your time, please, if you feel so inclined to give me you opinion

CRNA1982 · Jan 7, 2011

Is being a doctor all that flexible?

dine saw · Jan 7, 2011

Hi, sounds like you have a big decision to make. I just graduated from my RN program (ADN) and I have one Aunt in particular who constantly asks me, "So why don't you become a doctor now? Why settle for just being a nurse?" The truth is, I love nursing. I love the interaction I've had with my patients as a student and I can't wait to continue that as a RN. The roles of a nurse has expanded greatly from what it was in the past, and it is only going to go up from here (hopefully), so "just a nurse" is not really a fair statement. Also, in my situation, I can't afford to go to medical school, even if I wanted to. It's not my passion, so I won't put my whole self into it like I have with nursing. My best friend's fiance is in medical school right now, he has 2 years left then he can start his residency. He is already in so much debt and my friend tells me everyday that he wishes he would have gone to nursing school instead. He would already be working and not be exhausted from being sleeping only 2 hours every night. The rest of the time he is studying. He is always complimenting the nursing staff for what they do and feels like he missed his niche. Good luck to you in whatever decision you make.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

Truly, it's not a matter of whether your brainpower is equal to the task. Most nurses have been asked (and most resent being asked) "You seem so smart...why didn't you become a Doctor?"

It's more a matter of which profession speaks to you.....the field of nursing or the field of medicine.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

Have you tried volunteering? I think it helps you see both MDs and RNs working together and how they interact with their pts.

lrobinson5 · Jan 7, 2011

I personally love the interaction with nurses as opposed to Doctors. There have been a few amazing doctors, but it was a handful out of many. Most nurses and nurse practitioners actually listen to me and make a difference.

I recently had an appointment with a NP who came in and shook my hand, and then sat down across from me. We talked for nearly 10 minutes about why I was there. I have never experienced that from a Doctor, and I really do believe her training as a nurse is what made the difference.

Good luck in whatever path you decide to go with :)

NurseInTexas12 · Jan 7, 2011

Both professions have their positives and negatives. I personally love the flexibility in nursing, and I think it's more family friendly. You end up with less debt, have plenty of time to further your career or specialize in new areas, and you can pick a role that matches your schedule instead of having to arrange your schedule around the role you are committed to forever.

People mean it as a compliment when they say you should have been a doctor instead of a nurse, but I don't think the public really understands the difference in professions. Asking a nurse why she doesn't become a doctor is the same as asking an electrical engineer why he didn't become a football player... They're two completely different jobs.

etaoinshrdluRN · Jan 7, 2011

I also perform as you do in class, and was once asked, "Have you considered pre-med?" by an A&P professor. I had a dream as a girl to be a surgeon, and as an adult, one of my friends who is a physician (and m,arried to a nurse) keeps saying, "You're too smart to be a nurse" to me.

However, the thing that drew me to nursing is the holistic approach to the patient, rather than the narrow medical considerations that an MD must have. I don't regret it. While I love problem-solving in the mode that physicians must do, I can use my talent for sniffing out diagnoses to hint and guide MDs, when necessary.

I just can't do medical dx, which is a bummer, but I guess endurable.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

What about the bazillion years more of education you need, not to mention the cost? Nurse=2 years, doctor=> 7 years minimum. Nursing school is not a stepping stone to medical school so it doesn't count towards the total.

MomRN0913 · Jan 7, 2011

It's not about brainpower. And some nurses are much smarter than Dr's.....

Nursing isn't all about the science. It's about how you relate to patients, how you can anticipate their needs, how you deal with families and mulitiple social and cultural considerations. Healing is beyond the grades.

Maybe you need to look at medicine and think about why you really are interested. Flexible schedules and good grades shouldn't make a Dr. or a nurse.

And yes, Dr's can be compassionate and healing beyond the science, there are a few. But nurses are the one's who are there 24/. They are the frontlines so to say. What role do you want to play in medicine?

BelleFleurRN · Jan 7, 2011

Like everyone else has said the job of a physician and a nurse are totally different.

One huge difference to consider is the 'quality' time spent with patients. Compare an RN on a med-surg floor who has maybe 4-6 patients to care for as opposed to a physician who has roughly 30. The physicians come in assess the patient ask the nurse for input and then write out orders. The nurse is there all the time to monitor the patient, and get to know them to plan for their care not only while they are in the hospital, but also for when they leave.

I was a lot like you. With a 4.0 GPA I could have gone to medical school, but I decided that my passion in health care had to do with treating the patient rather than treating the disease.

Like a lot of others have suggested shadowing would be a perfect opportunity for you to spend some time getting an idea of the differences in philosophy and duties between the two professions.

Good luck in whichever path you choose!!

leslie :-D · Jan 7, 2011

I'm questioning if I should really become a nurse or if I maybe should pursue medical school instead. Ever since getting back into school (took a few years off), I have actually made the top grade in each of my classes (except A&P2, where I was top 5 in a class of 400 where the average was 67) without much effort. And today I just got a 94 (99th percantile) after a few hours of studying. People, including family, keep asking why I don't just become a doctor instead. With my grades, do I really have the brainpower to become a doctor (nursing too, I hope)?
- At a Crossroads

while intelligence is clearly a necessity for both professions, intelligence alone, does not necessarily make a good nurse.

nurses need above and beyond academic competence.

we also need superior communication skills, sensitivity, flexibility/adaptability, integrity, humor, and resilience.

i'm not certain if physicians require all the aforementioned, since they are not dealing directly with the angst, frustration, fear, anxiety, impatience of hospitalized pts.

they are also not dealing with overburdened pt loads (and if they are, they listen to the pt for only a couple of minutes...IF the pt expresses their wrath to them. the nurse is typically the recipient of such emotions), demanding family members, stressed and negative coworkers, and unappreciative ceo's.

yes, it indeed, takes a special person to be a good nurse.

not sure i can say the same about becoming a dr.

while they pay their dues in money, time, and other sacrifices, they inevitably get the respect, prestige, and red carpet...whether they deserve it or not.

maybe i'm a tad biased, but that's the way i see it...

that it takes a whole lot more than intelligence, if you're considering nsg.

all the best.:)

leslie