I feel like I'm asked this question surprisingly frequently, often by family and occasionally by friends, acquaintances, dates, and even patients. Maybe it's because I come from a family of doctors, or because many of close friends from my first degree were pre-med because nursing/pre-nursing on my campus didn't really exist.
I can say with honesty that I've never come home from a shift and thought, "I wish I was a doctor." However, there have been a handful of shifts where I've come home explicitly thinking, "Holy crap, I'm so glad I'm not a doctor."
I briefly worked in x-ray during nursing school, and I found that some x-ray techs expressed regret that they hadn't become physicians. However, I think x-ray differs from nursing because there aren't as many opportunities for advancement (vs. nursing, where you have the option become an NP, CNS, etc., along with many non-clinical paths).
I'm just curious to see if other ANers are faced with this (well-intentioned but occasionally insulting) question. What's your go-to response?
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
I was sitting in the nurse station awaiting my next call, and a physician who belonged to the most successful orthopedic group in the city was writing in a patient chart. He struck up a conversation and he asked me where I was attending school and what I was studying. He then began to express regrets about his own career choice. "If I had it to do all over again, I would do something else. I make a lot of money, but I don't have time to enjoy it. If I take time off, I feel guilty about leaving my patients. All of my time is spent at the office, making hospital rounds or performing surgery. The phone rings at all hours. When you are a doctor, your life is never your own."
And that is why many newer physicians are seeking employed positions vs setting up an independent practice. They do their job for X hours, and then someone else is responsible.
In my case, I was in the process of trying to get into med school when life intervened and I chose to let it go. I do regret it and I would certainly prefer to be an ED physician than be an ED nurse. This job suits me but given a choice between the two, I would choose the former.
In the rare times that it's been mentioned to me I say pretty much what I just said. It just wasn't in the cards.
Same here. At a certain point, you just gotta get on with your life and whatever happens is what was actually meant to be. But, like others have said, as much as I would prefer the workload and interesting case studies as a doc, I don't relish having the hours and time away from family. Nursing definitely lets you be you while you still have a chance. Plus, I work in hemonc and there are some spells where it just seems like every other kid in the world has cancer and the docs are the ones breaking it to the families. Eff that.
No - I never wanted to be a physician - otherwise I would have gone to medical school.
Also, for the same reason I will not study to be a NP though I am almost done with my MSN. The simple reason is that I do not want to be a provider. I value nursing and the essence of nursing - the fact that our action are rooted in nursing theory and the professional caring. I like to interact with families and patient as a palliative and hospice nurse. In my role I have the time to do what I enjoy - which is rare nowadays in healthcare - and I find my work meaningful. Nurses view patients differently, the medical model is not the same.
I am very happy with what I am doing, I am happy to be a nurse and I think becoming a provider would actually decrease my job satisfaction and the level of happiness.
I know more NPs who are unhappy in their provider role than NPs who are happy with it.
going down that long path and have it turn out as a poor life decision on my part. I've shadowed and work amongst them, I've thought about it a long time, but I'd be the first in my family to go down this road and its a lonely feeling making all the mistake I've made with no guidance at hand. I just want to be happy with the choices I make. And succeed.
I feel like I'm asked this question surprisingly frequently, often by family and occasionally by friends, acquaintances, dates, and even patients. Maybe it's because I come from a family of doctors, or because many of close friends from my first degree were pre-med because nursing/pre-nursing on my campus didn't really exist. I can say with honesty that I've never come home from a shift and thought, "I wish I was a doctor." However, there have been a handful of shifts where I've come home explicitly thinking, "Holy crap, I'm so glad I'm not a doctor." I briefly worked in x-ray during nursing school, and I found that some x-ray techs expressed regret that they hadn't become physicians. However, I think x-ray differs from nursing because there aren't as many opportunities for advancement (vs. nursing, where you have the option become an NP, CNS, etc., along with many non-clinical paths). I'm just curious to see if other ANers are faced with this (well-intentioned but occasionally insulting) question. What's your go-to response?
I take it as an attempt at a compliment. It doesn't land that way for me, but I'm pretty sure it is usually meant that way. That said however, Nursing has fought for a long time for recognition as a career worthy of respect (and dare I say pay) more commensurate with the the job we do. Not glorified handmaidens, rather skilled professionals. So my go to response is usually smile and reply: "I'm glad to be a nurse." And I leave it at that. I think our profession has a ways to go to get the respect we are due, but we have come a long way also. Most days I AM glad to be a nurse. A very few days, not as much. Still, I'd never trade the one to one time we get working with patients, for the student loans and training years and malpractice fees that bind docs to their career choice.
I actually had a whole year or so where I planned on going to med school. But ultimately the debt, the stress and the work hours made it a clear "nope" choice for me.
One of the things that drew me to nursing was the upward mobility. I can become a RN, then down the road get my Masters to specialize as a FNP, CNS, CRNA, Psych NP, etc. And the salary for these professions is actually on the rise as more Americans age and depend on more urgent care clinics vs. ED's (yes, that's another discussion you don't want to have with most doctors). Most all NP positions nowadays are six figure. That's good enough for most people ANY day. All I want is a salary that will allow me to retire at a decent age, pay the bills, and allow for a handful of trips around the country/internationally each year.
But what I really like is the patient interaction. I'm a hands on type of guy. I feel like I've got a heart for people, especially those who are less fortunate. I've always wanted to work in an area with a people of a variety of backgrounds--which is why I'm learning Spanish and hope to (eventually) conquer Chinese! (my little brother is fairly fluent).
Oh, and those 7 on 7 off schedules. WOW. Cool! When I was in my early 20's I regularly worked 12-16 hours a day on the construction site, sometimes 7 days a week. It was grueling but I got used to it. I'm not saying that the clinical setting will be easier (heck, i KNOW it won't be!), but at least i'll be doing what I love to do--help other humans.
I like that I'm a nurse and because I wanted to do more with my education I went to NP school. I love this role. But I must say I'm annoyed with the perception that being a nurse practitioner is like having the "brains of a doctor, heart of a nurse." That phrase is emblazoned on a lot of kitsch I found out yesterday when I went looking for some cute little gift ideas for myself. I think that mentality is pervasive enough without needing to advertise it. The phrase insults both professions because we are each smart and educated in our own right and most of each are caring.
Being a nurse is very rewarding. Although I want to further my career and continue to become more specialized, I would never want to be a doctor. It's a great profession, but it just doesn't stir up the fire and passion in me the way that nursing does.
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djh123
1,101 Posts
No. (And dang, it made me add several more characters or it wouldn't post my succinct answer :^).