Becoming a nurse vs. becoming a doctor

algebra_demystified · Nov 2, 2008

I'm a high school junior so I know I have a lot of time but I'm starting to look at colleges so it would help to know exactly what I'm going to major in. I'm torn between becoming a doctor or a nurse. The extra school and residency to become a doctor does not sound fun at all but to me it seems like you have a lot more options if you become a doctor and the money doesn't hurt either... But then to me it seems like nurses interact so much more with the patients. Has anyone decided between the two? Any advice is really appreciated!

As with anything in life, reach as high as you can. We need nurses, and we need doctors, too.

SunnyAndrsn · Nov 2, 2008

I decided to be a nurse vs. going the medical route because nursing care appealed to me more than medical care. Most nurses make good money too, in a lot less time and commitment than it takes to be an MD.

To help you make your decision, talk to both nurses and doctors in person vs. on a message board like this. Ask them why they chose the route they did. I don't want to be on call like MD's have to be, and I went back to school when I was older (32), and my college grades were not all that great. It would have taken a lot more time, money, and schooling than I wanted to go through.

Howver, at your age, this is not a consideration. If your heart is in medicine, then please go for it. If you have a heart for nursing, then go for it! Both have a lot of options...nurses work in schools, clinics, hospitals, all sorts of specialties for pediatrics to occupational medicine to public health nursing.

Good luck in your decision.

I'm a high school junior so I know I have a lot of time but I'm starting to look at colleges so it would help to know exactly what I'm going to major in. I'm torn between becoming a doctor or a nurse. The extra school and residency to become a doctor does not sound fun at all but to me it seems like you have a lot more options if you become a doctor and the money doesn't hurt either... But then to me it seems like nurses interact so much more with the patients. Has anyone decided between the two? Any advice is really appreciated!

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 2, 2008

I think that the important thing to understand is that you have to do what your passionate about and that you don't settle. Please don't think I mean settling for nursing school when you really want to go to med. school because I also mean people who go to med. school instead of nursing school because they think being a physician will provide them with more financial security, respect etc but they really want to be a nurse. If you are unsure of what you want to do with your life then you need to ask nurses and physicians why they are doing what they do (in person and through websites like allnurses.com) and you should call your local hospital and see if you can shadow a physican and a nurse or see if you could volunteer so you can watch physicians and nurses in action. I think only then will you be ready to decided what is best for you but do what you really want to do not what you think other people want you to do. Good luck!

!Chris :specs:

sam3992 · Nov 4, 2008

Thank you guys so much for your help!