Aspiring Nurses: Why not Med School??

msdobson · May 30, 2007

I don't know Cardiac.
We'll just have to wait and see. It does appear that the OP has only posted twice on allnurses; however, when my life is quite busy, I don't get back to the internet very often . Sometimes, I am one of those "lurkers" who is just too tired to log in.
Whatever has happened to our OP, let us all wish him/her the very best with all they do. Okay? :cheers:

:yeahthat: :biere:

3rdgenRN2B · May 30, 2007

Med school is a huge time commitment. With a husband and a young child I can't imagine going days without seeing them. Plus it is super expensive...

And as a nurse I feel I'll have more personal contact with my patients...

My mother has been an RN for 30+ years and she pratically does the doctors jobs for them....

But it's an interesting question. As a little girl I often said I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up but never had any desire to become a doctor...

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · May 30, 2007

I don't know Cardiac.
We'll just have to wait and see. It does appear that the OP has only posted twice on allnurses; however, when my life is quite busy, I don't get back to the internet very often . Sometimes, I am one of those "lurkers" who is just too tired to log in.

So you'd start a controversial topic (bordering on inflammatory) and then bail once you get the expected responses? I don't think so...

I smell a troll. Don't feed trolls.

Mercy83 · May 30, 2007

This question reminds me of the problem that many LPN's have in nursing. They deal with people constantly asking them why they didn't become RN's. I've also dealt with this and I'm still in nursing school. Quite honestly it is demeaning. But a lot of the reason people ask the question is because they have a lack of information. Few people outside of the healthcare industry actually know what nurses and doctors do. They have no idea that our focuses and goals are seperate and unique. People don't see that. They think of nurses as doctor's assistants instead of unique and integral necessities to healthcare. Doctors are definatley a huge piece of pt. care. But think about what life .....and health care would be like without nurses and the wholistic approach. Food for thought.

As I mentioned in my previous post, a lot of the problem is just ignorance about what each profession encompasses. I'm still in school and every day it amazes me how much information I'm learning in nursing school. Even I, as an aspiring nurse, had absolutely no idea the depth of knowledge that I would be expected to master. My professors, who are all nurses of different educational levels, are some of the most knowledgeable and intelligent human beings I've ever met. And what's more, they have a passion for their craft! Listening to stories about their experinces in Maternity, Oncology, ICU, and a plethora of other areas has ignited a flame of excitement in my entire class. These people are amazing. I want to be a nurse now more than ever.

Logos · May 30, 2007

Troll- no doubt- but to answer the question like so many others- it takes to long to be a doc and I'm to old for that crap now.

msdobson · May 31, 2007

So you'd start a controversial topic (bordering on inflammatory) and then bail once you get the expected responses? I don't think so...
I smell a troll. Don't feed trolls.

Controversial topics are started in forums across the internet (including this one). One person's "controversial" subject is another's outstanding question.

Oh, and by the simple act of posting to the thread, you've fed the troll.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · May 31, 2007

Controversial topics are started in forums across the internet (including this one). One person's "controversial" subject is another's outstanding question.
Oh, and by the simple act of posting to the thread, you've fed the troll.

Well, somebody had to call them out. I'm sorry it took so long.

msdobson · May 31, 2007

Well, somebody had to call them out. I'm sorry it took so long.

Right. However, doesn't the fact that you have posted three times now (thus continuing the thread) completely invalidate your "don't feed trolls" comment?

gentle · May 31, 2007

So you'd start a controversial topic (bordering on inflammatory) and then bail once you get the expected responses? I don't think so...
I smell a troll. Don't feed trolls.

Cardiac,

I never said I would start a controversial topic and bail!??

I truly do consider the topic to be innocent and started in the correct forum--the Pre-nursing student forum. Now perhaps if this was started in the General Nursing Discussion Forum with a more aggressive tone, I would view it differently. However, I think this is an appropriate place to ask the question.

I did say, irregardless as to what their intentions are, I wish them well. And to be honest, I do wish him/her well with their decisions.

CuriousMe · May 31, 2007

Cardiac,
I never said I would start a controversial topic and bail!??
I truly do consider the topic to be innocent and started in the correct forum--the Pre-nursing student forum. Now perhaps if this was started in the General Nursing Discussion Forum with a more aggressive tone, I would view it differently. However, I think this is an appropriate place to ask the question.
I did say, irregardless as to what their intentions are, I wish them well. And to be honest, I do wish him/her well with their decisions.

Gentle,

I don't know you at all, but I would say that you are living up to your screen name

On the other hand, I'm a cynical New Yorker, and think the OP was a big ole:troll:

Seriously though, it's great that you wish them well.

Peace,

Cathie

Peace,

Cathie

Barbiegirlnurse · May 31, 2007

Actually, you are quite wrong. Nursing and pre-med do not have most of the same class requirements for entry into the prospective programs. Pre-med majors, are actually either chemistry or biology majors as an undergraduate, whereas nurses are nursing majors. Many medical programs do not even introduce anatomy and physiology until the Gross anatomy portion of the curriculum, whereas with nurses A&P is introduced early on and then at an advanced level.

As a recent graduate from a MSN program to be a nurse practitioner, I get the same question asked here on this forum more than I care to say. What you must realize is that nursing is actually very different. We may implement some of the same practices and interventions, but often the thought behind the care differs. Nursing practice and research are based on the theoretical models that are specific TO NURSING. Nurse practitioner programs focus very heavily on this topic, as this is really what defines our craft as uniquely our own. The best example of this is Florence Nightengale and her writings and research on how the use of environment affects the patient. While a MD may also consider the environment in the plan of care, a nurse considers it and plans care accordingly, implementing needed nursing interventions to ensure the best outcomes. (Other great theorists include Orem, Pender, and Watson)

Medical doctors are neccessary and they should be held in high regard. Their education and preparation is very exhaustive, and I, in no way, want to make it sound inferior. I feel that nurses and MDs are on the same team. The old thought that doctors are superior to nurses should be laid to rest, as it has already created a subsurvient self fulfilling prophecy for many nurses. If we could break down the barrier within the healthcare profession and then within the general population, it would give way to better care from the interdisciplinary team.

More nurses than ever before are choosing to go on and get there doctorate degrees. There is even talk of the Doctorate in nursing practice becoming the entry level of education for the NP. The thought behind it is to create parity among the health professions. So, in the end, I may end up in school to get my doctorate, and my total time in school may equal that of a medical doctor, but I will be doing what I love--and that is NURSING!!

EricJRN, MSN, RN · May 31, 2007

Pre-med majors, are actually either chemistry or biology majors as an undergraduate, whereas nurses are nursing majors.

While I agree with most of your points here, keep in mind that pre-med students can actually declare any major. Just off the top of my head, I know physicians who majored in English, music, psychology, nursing and French. At one time I was a pre-med student with a biomedical engineering major.

Biology and chemistry are popular choices for pre-med students (largely due to the fact that the med school prereqs are built in) - but they are not the only choices by any means.