Any nurses wished they had become doctors?

llg, PhD, RN · May 15, 2020

No. I grew up surrounded by physicians. I chose nursing on purpose. They are 2 separate fields. I preferred nursing. As I wanted to learn more and acquire more credentials, I was able to do that while staying within nursing.

Future MSN · May 15, 2020

4 hours ago, llg said:
No. I grew up surrounded by physicians. I chose nursing on purpose. They are 2 separate fields. I preferred nursing. As I wanted to learn more and acquire more credentials, I was able to do that while staying within nursing.

That is my goal. To get my MSN and then get my doctorate.

Future MSN · Jun 19, 2020

On 5/1/2020 at 3:20 PM, NurseBlaq said:
I thought about a few seconds. The thought of being a resident for years made me just sit back and appreciate being a nurse so much more.

For real. Residents are abused so much its unreal that its legal.

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2020

No, for the simple reason that medicine's too limiting.

You become a cardiologist for example, you're generally a cardiologist for life. Become an oncologist, oncologist for life, usually.

Nursing has given me variety: oncology, infectious diseases, occupational health and hepatology are what I consider my real specialities, but I've also worked in respiratory, cardiac, burns and plastics. I've worked with inpatients, outpatients, hospital, community, outreach and for an international inter-governmental organisation. I don't believe I'd have had such variety as a doctor.

In further studies too, doctors are limited largely to the clinical whereas my higher studies have taken in a lot of sociology, psychology and social theory which I adored for the more global view that gave me of patients.

As stated above, different jobs and I really get quite annoyed at the "when will you go on to be a doctor?" "A masters! You should have been a doctor!" type reactions - as if nursing is somehow not worthwhile.

Best of luck with your MSN!

Subee2, BSN, MSN, CRNA · Jul 19, 2020

No. Never. We nurses never have to go to a partners' meeting
Lots of squabbling on top of a job that is hard enough.

HiddencatBSN, BSN · Jul 23, 2020

No, I thought about it when I was shadowing an NP and got to go to the Infectious Disease Department rounds with her. It was so fascinating seeing them review cases. But by that point I’d spent 8 years getting a BA in lit, was doing nursing prerequisites, and the thought of how much more school plus residency and possibly fellowship and potentially never being “off” when not at work swayed me away. I’m 10 years in to being a nurse and am really happy with my decision and my specialty, and with the possibility to find new challenges if I get bored. And I love that other than con ED and keeping my knowledge fresh, when I clock out my responsibility ends and I own my free time. Well. My kids own my free time LOL.

I do prefer working in teaching institutions. For the price of July interns everyone is in teaching mode and there’s always something new and interesting to learn. When I worked at a nonteaching institution my experience was that docs viewed questions as challenges rather than a request for more information on the rationale for the plan of care.

NurseGDJ, BSN · Jul 25, 2020

On 5/2/2020 at 12:53 PM, amoLucia said:
That's also about how long I had once considered SCHOOL nsg. I have the utmost R E S P E C T and admiration for those nurses.

Hi amoLucia,

I am new to the country and was exploring options. I have a toddler and plan on another one in a couple of years. Then, I was thinking, school nursing would come handy to me. I know nothing except holidays and school hour works. Do you mind providing me why school nursing is not a good option in general (not taking into account my desire to be with my children.)?

Future MSN · Jul 28, 2020

On 7/18/2020 at 3:59 PM, DavidFR said:
No, for the simple reason that medicine's too limiting.
You become a cardiologist for example, you're generally a cardiologist for life. Become an oncologist, oncologist for life, usually.
Nursing has given me variety: oncology, infectious diseases, occupational health and hepatology are what I consider my real specialities, but I've also worked in respiratory, cardiac, burns and plastics. I've worked with inpatients, outpatients, hospital, community, outreach and for an international inter-governmental organisation. I don't believe I'd have had such variety as a doctor.
In further studies too, doctors are limited largely to the clinical whereas my higher studies have taken in a lot of sociology, psychology and social theory which I adored for the more global view that gave me of patients.
As stated above, different jobs and I really get quite annoyed at the "when will you go on to be a doctor?" "A masters! You should have been a doctor!" type reactions - as if nursing is somehow not worthwhile.
Best of luck with your MSN!

I briefly attended medical school and found medicine to be narrow in the way you are describing. It helps with specializing in one area and offering the best care to patients in that field but it can be very stressful on the doctors who see their options limited to what the score on the USMLE and most importantly match to.

I think nursing is definitely worthwhile and furthering your education in nursing is admirable and useful for the field of medicine. People that look down on this definitely lack perspective because after going to medical school, I think if I had a time machine, I would have chosen the nursing round from the very beginning.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 25, 2021

Never. ever. ever.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Oct 13, 2023

Occasionally I wish I was a doctor.

But only if could happen without the years of long hours, thousands of hours of education, and immense pressure.

I want to be like Doc Welby MD. Laid back practice where like is good and where most recoveries were pretty unremarkable.

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2023

Future MSN said:

Any nurses wished they had gone to medical school and developed their skills further? I am torn because I feel like the quality of life of a doctor is just too poor to be worth the rewards of accumulating more medical knowledge. I also feel like nurses that want to excel can do so on their own.

Well my goal in Childhood was to become a rancher and live a subsitance lifestyle. That didn't work out and nursing allowed me a degree of independance I hadn't experienced before.

Stareyes4 · Jan 25, 2024

Never crossed my mind!