Doctor and nurse

westieluv · May 27, 2014

Level of responsibility, amount of schooling, and cost of schooling. Those three reasons, but my main reason was because I was raised by a mother who had to work full time out of necessity (my dad died when my siblings and I were very young) and I always knew that if and when I had kids, I wanted to be there for them more than it would be possible with a demanding, full time career. By being a nurse, I spent my kids' childhoods at home full time (the early years) and then only worked per diem when they got older. If I had put all of that time and money into medical school, I would have felt like I couldn't have taken the necessary time off to be a full time mom.

Another thought: Many of the doctors that I have known over the years don't really seem happy doing what they're doing. Sure, they have a $700,000 house and a Mercedes, but they don't have any time to enjoy what they have accumulated, so what good is it anyway? I think that time with the people we love is more of a quality of life marker than having material possessions.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 27, 2014

My story is similar, Here.I.Stand! I was a music education major for two years and I realized I didn't want to teach music. I also realized that at the time the market for music teachers was almost nil due to the glut of qualified candidates. I married at 22, had my first child at 24. I watched my uncle go through med school, internship, residency. Medicine had always fascinated me, but that was a strong deterrent to doing it with four children. So, I sat on my dream for ten years. I decided to go to nursing school for various reasons at age 36. I know I chose the right path.

Oh wow, our stories ARE very similar! We have almost the same number of kids too--I have five. I married pretty close to the same age--I was 21 and 11 months. :laugh: I really didn't know how many candidates were qualified to teach music history, but with maybe two profs per college who appear hold onto their positions until retirement...it didn't look good.

So glad you're happy with your decision. I am too; I love being a nurse!

nnadozieogechi · May 27, 2014

Hmmn! With all these experiences i cant wait to be a nurse :-D

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 27, 2014

- Physicians specialize very early...before they know much about anything. Many don't get their desired specialty. Once they choose they are stuck unless they want to go back to another residency. In nursing you can do anything from bedside care, to school nursing, to education, to community health, to leadership, to research. I can't think of many other degrees with that amount of flexibility.

Very good point! I actually never thought of this, even though I have colleagues on my unit with L&D and psych backgrounds. There is so much opportunity for mobility in this profession--laterally and upwardly!

kalevra, BSN, RN · May 28, 2014

Did the math, I could not afford the living expenses of not working and going to school for undergrad and med school. It was cheaper to do ADN then BSN. Programs are more flexible, your able to work at least 24 hours a week and not be drowning in debt. Otherwise, i would prefer the other route, in my opinion it has better quality of life return in the long run.

Just my honest opinion.

Dranger · May 28, 2014

I am actually the opposite of everyone here.

Reasons I would rather be a MD or PA:

1. I want to write orders and not have have to carry them out. Q3 Lactulose enema? No thanks.

2. I don't mind billing or writing up long admission or progress notes

3. In most instances and on an average shift (even in critical care areas) nursing is very task oriented with road blocks derailing you at every turn. (i.e. falls/incident reports, admissions, transfers, ETOH/psych craziness). As a provider I want to look at a patient figure out a plan of MEDICAL care, write the orders and leave until rounding the next day. Only exception is if I have the pager and I am the night provider on call.

4. I like school more than work, would have the military pay the way like they did my RN and do not mind responsibility.

5. I like being in charge of treatments or the care plan.

Nursing is well paying and somewhat satisfying but I will not do this forever, bedside or not.

resumecpr · May 28, 2014

" I have seen the difference education and experience in nursing makes. Nurses look at their patients...sometimes reading even the smallest cues that things are wrong, this includes physical and emotional aspects. I have rarely seen physicians with such abilities"

YES!!!!

wooh, BSN, RN · May 28, 2014

Same thing that made me want to be a nurse over a toll booth operator or a librarian. I wanted to be a nurse. Not a physician. Not a toll booth operator. Not a librarian.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 28, 2014

Very good point! I actually never thought of this, even though I have colleagues on my unit with L&D and psych backgrounds. There is so much opportunity for mobility in this profession--laterally and upwardly!

In the 9 years I have been a nurse, I have been in 5 different specialties; and even moved up the ladder once I became an RN because of that experience. :yes:

I even enjoy the work-life balance...I truly believe that more occupations would have happier people if they adopt our flexibility. :cool:

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · May 28, 2014

One of the reasons was age, I didn't become a nurse until my late 40s. Also, the same reason I did not go to vet school after getting my Biology degree or a PharmD. $$$$$$

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · May 28, 2014

- physicians working within US medical system are trapped within EBM as the system and culture understand it. Both do it wrongly, making people who have 12+ years of intense training a little more than glorified pills' distributors. Believe me or not, there's more creativity, resourcefulness and free thinking in nursing.

- the way American healthcare is working actively pushes physicians to do "everything possible", whether this "everything" beneficial for patient or not.

- there are way more legal troubles and potential pitfalls in medical practice than in nursing. Even if you do everything 100% correctly.

- nurses, even APNs, can change specialties with minimal or no trouble. For doctors change specialty when already in practice is near impossible (it involves much more than finding another residency)

- nurses, if they want to do so, have much more opportunities to affect society's and communities' baseline needs, healthcare related or not. There are reasons, including legal ones, why physicians almost never lead community support groups, for example.

- with US RN diploma I can go to Canada or Australia at any time and find job right out.