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

Meowmixer · Jan 7, 2011

Have you thought about a NP?

exotickitty · Jan 7, 2011

Hi, just a few of quick thoughts.. First, in my humble opinion, you don't just "settle" for being a nurse. It is something that you have to have a passion for. Secondly, I have never met an MD who treated me with nothing other than respect. I know that there are alot of cads out there, but you find that in every avenue of employment. Don't make your decision on based on that. Lastly, yes, nurses have a demanding schedule, but the schedule that some docs keep make us look like we are on vacation. Good luck to you.

cp24001 · Jan 7, 2011

Being blessed with the brain I have, am I really, to quote others, "limiting" myself to being "just a nurse"?

Sorry if you or anyone else makes you feel that way...

I graduated with honors & just became a nurse. I love it. We have so much more time with our patients than MDs do. Medical students spend so much time in the classroom, they lack bedside manner.

I agree...what side of medicine do you want to be on?

BOOYARN · Jan 7, 2011

if you have the time and money become a doctor..... im just being honest, im dating a medical student and some of their material is really easy, plus the last two years are clinicals and then residency is paid

but all in all its what u rather do, goodluck

look into ROSS UNIVERSITY

JusLikHvn · Jan 7, 2011

There is no such thing as "just a nurse."

Go with your heart and not with other's opinions of what you should choose. I believe this life is a calling more than a mere career choice.

Good luck with your decision.

caliotter3 · Jan 7, 2011

It sounds as if you have the intellectual capabilities to succeed at any profession you choose. I would look into the two fields more thoroughly to see which appeals to you more.

rn/writer, RN · Jan 7, 2011

So many people have the mistaken notion that all medical careers are on one long continuum with doctor at the ultimate end of achievement. If you are a nurse, they believe, you must have stopped somewhere along the way. They are surprised to find out that nursing and doctoring are two separate careers with an entirely different approach.

I would suggest that if you go into nursing you aim for either a critical care area or become a nurse practitioner. Both require above average intelligence and both offer a fair amount of autonomy.

As for flexibility, nurses have it hands down over docs any day of the week. If we get tired of a particular unit or facility, we have all kinds of options--change units, try a different facility or setting (home, clinic, school, prison, military, etc.), go back to school for a short time, acquire certifications that will help with more desirable job. Docs put anywhere from 3-7 years into residency and fellowship training. Changing a specialty is well nigh impossible and could require an additional number years to accomplish.

It costs less to be come a nurse and you can start earning decent money much sooner. Nurses in some specialties can earn almost as much as a doc (probably more in a few cases). They are far closer to being free agents. Their professional Liability Insurance is much less expensive. They don't have to support an office staff and cover a lot of overhead.

The biggest difference, though, is the outlook. Docs solve problems. Nurses connect with people. Yes, there's overlap, but by and large, this is the way things are.

I am one of those who considered medical school and decided nursing was better for me.

Best wishes with your decision.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

Like Miranda, I also considered medical school. After sharing this consideration with one of my favorite surgeons, he took me to his office, brushed off the stack of journals from the only chair in the office and had a very frank discussion with me. He told me that being a physician is not what it used to be. He pointed to the mountain of paperwork on his desk and said that when he is not operating and not in clinic, he spends hours sorting through and filling out paperwork. He went on to tell me the pros and cons of being a physician in this day and age, and I have to tell you, it was much less appealing to me. He encouraged me instead to attend CRNA school. The starting salary around here (the South) is about 140,000. While I considered this, I decided instead to do travel nursing, where I made 90,000 and enjoyed some wonderful experiences.

It depends on how committed you are to either profession. Both require some long hours, and various hoops that you must jump through. Take some time and write out a list of pros and cons. The answer may be more clear after you write it out.

Butterfly0328 · Jan 7, 2011

OP: you had mentioned wanting a comfortable life style. Unless you have money set aside for med school or have family to help, the loans taken out for med school will be in excess of $100,000. I work for a major company in the student loan department and most of the pre-med student accounts I have seen have HUGE loan balances. The largest I have seen is $264,000. It will take years to pay this off and I don't see a comfortable life style for the owners of these loans for years to come. I agree that CRNA may be a great option, or the travel nurse as canesdukegirl mentioned. Good Luck with your decision.:)

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

I don't think intelligence should factor into your decision at all. As a nurse or a doctor, you will be challenged intellectually. There is not a certain profession that is right for somone strictly because of their intelligence.

I am smart, and I heard the same comments often. I chose nursing strategically because I like the work that a nurse does. More specifically, I chose school nursing because I like the work that a school nurse does, and if you follow the same path you will hopefully have the opportunity to find a niche where you enjoy the work that you do. I have no desire to do the work of a doctor, or work the kind of hours that profession requires. That work does not speak to my soul. You have to find out what kind of work speaks to YOUR soul, and I highly recommend doing the research before you get too far in your schooling. Shadow a nurse and a doctor, preferably several in several different settings. Read about different specialties and imagine yourself in each (although be prepared for this to change as you go through your path). Follow your heart and gut, but also examine logically what you want from your career and lifestyle and pick the profession that fits.

CodyRN · Jan 7, 2011

I agree that medicine is not what it used to be and it is highly likely you really won't make that much money. I agree with the other posters that you should ask yourself what you want from your job on a day to day basis. And a lot of nurses have been asked the same questions. Nurses DO deal with patients on a holistic level and they ARE the front lines, holding a patient's hand when he dies DNR, talking someone's anxiety down, and really having that "connection" but also that responsibility. Also, I have found that most doctors have a lot of respect for nurses. If you work in a teaching hospital, many of the residents are often at a loss when they start and actually look to you for a little direction sometimes. Communication is key and I am careful not to present a "shopping list" to doctors. I say, "So and so is...can we give (or do you want to give) him something for that?" not "Can you give me an order for ....." Or say they want to give X and I think Y is better based on what I have seen, then I say, "Do you think X is better than Y?" and it gives me the chance to learn something and if gives them a chance to consider a different option. I would not let Dr.-Nurse interaction influence your choice. And nurses can easily change from one specialty to another if they get burned out, there's a lot to choose from in nursing. In that way, I would think it is more flexible. But really, you have to follow your heart.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

i agree that medicine is not what it used to be and it is highly likely you really won't make that much money. i agree with the other posters that you should ask yourself what you want from your job on a day to day basis. and a lot of nurses have been asked the same questions. nurses do deal with patients on a holistic level and they are the front lines, holding a patient's hand when he dies dnr, talking someone's anxiety down, and really having that "connection" but also that responsibility.
this is the very reason i love nursing so much.
also, i have found that most doctors have a lot of respect for nurses. if you work in a teaching hospital, many of the residents are often at a loss when they start and actually look to you for a little direction sometimes. communication is key and i am careful not to present a "shopping list" to doctors. i say, "so and so is...can we give (or do you want to give) him something for that?" not "can you give me an order for ....." or say they want to give x and i think y is better based on what i have seen, then i say, "do you think x is better than y?" and it gives me the chance to learn something and if gives them a chance to consider a different option.
yes!!! i do this often. in fact, i just did this today. one of our residents was at a loss as to why one of his patients was still having n/v on pod #2. he went through the meds this pt was on, which included zofran 4mg. the zofran was not doing the trick, and the pt had a terrible rxn to phenergan. i could tell the resident's thought process was going toward r/o sbo, because he was thinking outloud. i asked him if he had tried reglan for his pt. (insert hung head and closed eyes from resident here.) he said forgot about reglan and that he would try it.
i would not let dr.-nurse interaction influence your choice. and nurses can easily change from one specialty to another if they get burned out, there's a lot to choose from in nursing. in that way, i would think it is more flexible. but really, you have to follow your heart.

that is the other thing i love about nursing. it is so diverse! if you try a specialty and you don't like it, you can go on to another.

op, i would also like to point out that there are programs sponsored by hospitals that will pay your tuition in exchange for a certain length of time of employment at that hospital. i am unsure as to whether this still exists, but that is how i got through school. there are also various state sponsored scholarships for nursing. i not only got through nursing school debt free, i was able to use my scholarship money for books, materials and had some extra left over. look into all of your options.