BSN vs MD?

[nicuhopeful97]

I'm currently in my first year of university taking pre-nursing courses for a BSN program. For several months now I've been unsure if this is really the path I want to take.

I originally decided on nursing because my goal has always been to work in the NICU, and I know the nurses spend the most time dealing with the patients while the doctors spend a few minutes with everyone. I didn't like the idea of that style.

But recently I've been debating if medical school would be more suited for me. The medical aspect of the courses I'm taking is so interesting, and I love the idea of diagnosing and treating problems instead of just carrying out orders (obviously that's a simplification and nurses do much more than that, but I've always struggled with letting others take command).

I'm also not a great people-person, and due to my disability I can get fatigued and overwhelmed fairly easily. I know that both jobs are stressful, as well as both school experiences. Is this a deal breaker? Medicine is my passion, I just don't know what path to take. If it makes any difference, I live in BC, Canada.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

As for NICU, from what I hear from former NICU staff, it can be extremely stressful. Parents who question their every move, stare with a very critical eye as they are trying to care for the baby...these parents are stressed out beyond your worst nightmare.

Yes to this. Very much this.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

To be brutally honest, I don't see either career path being the wisest choice for you. The MD drawbacks have already been listed. Take a good look at just how many "new nurse" threads are detailing how stressed, how anxious and how depressed they are, simply because the nursing role is so very hard. New nurses daily wondering if they made the right career choice due to the unrelenting physical & mental stressors. Many of us had our first panic attack or diagnosis of anxiety while in our first nursing job.

In terms of part-time work, that would t happen in my facility. We don't hire new grads for part time. They're not nearly done learning and need to have some years of experience before going part-time.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

The reason I no longer in ICU is because I wanted to go part time, and then just PRN. I found that without that frequent reinforcement of my critical thinking skills and comfort with technology and high acuity, I began making mistakes or staying really late because my time management was suffering. I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to work more or quit. I chose to quit. I now work PRN in endo, where it's pretty repetitive and I can keep up even after being gone for a week or two. Even so, whenever I go to work I always ask "Okay, what's changed, what's new, what are now doing or no longer doing?"

No way you could do part time at the BEGINNING of your career. Absolutely no way.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I'd love to get a nurse's (or doctor's, if they're on here too) perspective on the differences between the two, other than the obvious things like schooling and money, and if certain people are more suited towards one or the other.

There are lots of differences between an RN and and MD. Both are interdependent but function in entirely different roles. Both assess patients and intervene: medicine is focused on the disease nursing is focused on the individual.

Is burnout and/or satisfaction seemingly higher in one profession?

Burnout is very high in both professions. Both professions work long and stressful hours. There is a fair amount of dissatisfaction on both sides.

Is there more flexibility with one?

There is likely more flexibility in nursing, however, there is less than many other professions.

[KThurmond]

Hm, okay. I probably worded that poorly. I suppose "not a people-person" has become internet slang for "total ******* who hates everyone". there's those people skills I'm just kidding, that was funny. I don't have any advice I just want to say I hope you find some kind of middle ground that makes you happy. Yes, both fields may be challenging due to a disability but I know it is a bummer to hear your dreams may not be possible due to an illness/disability. There has to be a compromise. Good luck :)

[nicuhopeful97]

Thanks for all the feedback. While is is a bit discouraging to hear some of these comments, it does make me look at the whole situation realistically. I'm on medication that's making my life easier, and I'm in therapy for the same reasons. I'm hopeful that as my life advances I'll continue to mature and be able to handle more. Medicine in general has always been my dream, and I really don't want to give up on that just because of my disability. It won't be anything close to easy, but I'm persistent. So far I am leaning towards nursing, mostly because I'm already in pre-nursing and it just seems like a simpler path at the time being. I'd just hate to finish nursing school and realize I would have been happier as a doctor, you know? The past three or so years of my life has been trying to figure out the balance between health and goals, and it's a balance I'm still trying to find.

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

As someone else mentioned - if you go nursing now you can always go neonatal nurse practitioner later to get more diagnosis and treatment. Plus often the NP's and PA's are a bit more flexible on scheduling because it's the MD's who have the ultimate responsibility in those settings.