College Student who wants to be an pediatrician

NurseGirlKaren · Sep 18, 2002

Please visit http://www.studentdoc.com. If you'd like to become a pediatric nurse, we can help!!

dcc43210 · Sep 18, 2002

4 years of college. Major in basket weaving if you want, but take the required science courses for med school admission.

4 years of med school.

Several years of residency....little money and even less sleep. Pay attention to the nurses. No matter what the other docs tell you, the nurses are the ones who know what's going on.

Violent Kittie · Sep 18, 2002

residency? what is residency.. does that mean I have to had lived in ny 7yrs.

PediRN · Sep 18, 2002

Residency is when you are finished with med school and get tortured for 1-10 years more by doctors and doctor trainees while being responsible for many fragile lives.

Oh yeah, you get paid spit, and you don't get any sleep.

And if you pull rank on the nurses (i.e. "You have to do what I say, I'm the doctor") you will get called at 4 in the morning for every low grade temp.

Good luck.

WalMart_ADN · Jan 27, 2003

Originally posted by PediRN
And if you pull rank on the nurses (i.e. "You have to do what I say, I'm the doctor") you will get called at 4 in the morning for every low grade temp.
Good luck.

good point.....

cincygirlpnp · Jul 12, 2003

My fiance is going to be a pediatrician. He has a Bacheolr's degree in Chemistry (4 yrs), Medical school (4 years) and residencey (3 years). Total time is 11 years before you start making decent money (~100,000 starting out). He will be 29 when he can be an independent practicing pediatrician. If you want to specialize- such as pediatric cardiology, add a couple more years to your resedency.

nicudaynurse · Jul 13, 2003

If being a pediatrician is what you want to do, I say go for it! As almost everyone has already mentioned it is a big sacrifice initially, but I wouldn't let that sway your decision. Just be realistic about what you will face ahead in your education/training. Maybe you could shadow a practicing pediatrician.

Studentdoctor.net will be a good resource for you so I would encourage you to check them out. My suggestion is to find people who will support and encourage you in your future career goals.

Good luck to you!