ER nurse to ER doctor

Published

Just have a question on becoming an ER nurse then become an ER doctor. Is this even possible? And if this route is possible what are the responsibilities of an ER doctor and an ER nurse. If I strictly wanted to be an ER doctor after being an ER nurse for a couple of years (3-4 years) are the roles of both drastically different from each other?

A nurse is not a junior, less educated doctor. A nurse is a nurse and a doctor is a doctor.

Choose one.

She's just asking a question.

To Al3x117 - get to a Guidance Counselor immediately. I assume you are in high school, forgive me if I am wrong. You need to figure out if you want to be a nurse or a doctor.

Talk to your school nurse or to a nurse at your local hospital so you can learn what nurses do.

Talk to your doctor or another doctor to learn what doctors do.

I personally would advise becoming a doctor, but that is because of my own life experiences and has nothing to do with you. I don't know you, so can't really advise you.

Doctors are the bosses. Nurses might supervise other nurses and nurses' aides, but doctors give nurses orders to follow.

Some nurses do what's called Advanced Nursing Practice. That means they might be a nurse anesthetist, a midwife, a nurse practitioner, or a nurse educator, nurse administrator, nursing director, nurse manager of a certain department in a hospital or clinic, they might hire and fire people, they might be responsible for policies and budgets.

Doctors go to Medical School then they pick a specialty, like Pediatrics, Women's Health, or Open Heart Surgery. They do a Residency in their specialty - anywhere from 2 years to 4 or more depending on the specialty.

Doctors generally get more respect than nurses. That is a very generalized statement and some here will heartily disagree.

They have special parking and their own dining room.

Nurses usually make less money than doctors and spend a lot more time with patients in the hospital or a nursing home or rehab hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Both doctors and nurses work hard.

Best wishes to you as you do your research and make your choices. I say to start immediately so you can take the courses you need to get into either Medical school or Nursing school without delay. It is particularly important to start young if you want to do Med school, as admission is very competitive.

Specialties for Nurses: hospitals for adults who have surgery, those who have medical conditions - like a bad heart or diabetes or liver problems, pediatrics, nurse at a summer camp, school nurse, caring for infants and children, Intensive Care, Hospice Nursing, Home Health Nursing, doctor's office nurse, nurse who teaches Nursing students. Lots more.

Specialties for Doctors: Radiology, Pathology, Surgery of various parts of the body (each one is a specialty in itself - like hand surgery, eye surgery, bone surgery (Orthopedics), and lots more. Doctors do research, nurses often assist in this research or might even do it on their own. Many more - Plastic surgery, dermatology, breast conditions, ear, nose, and throat specialist, there are MD, DO, and doctors of psychology and oriental medicine. Check out all of these and you will have a much better idea of what doctors and nurses do.

Don't forget dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, podiatrists, oral surgeons, probably others that aren't coming to mind just now. Oh, there are social workers, dieticians, various therapists - Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, probably others.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Telemetry RN.

Hey man thanks for this post! I know exactly that I want to be a nurse because I want to be caring for as well as advocating for my patient. My patient is everything and that is the soul reason I became a nurse is to be with my patient when they are the most vulnerable. My plan is to be an ICU nurse because it fits my personally better. I am a very meticulous person and I like to keep myself very detailed. I am a bit OCD so that helps. Anyway thanks for the advice I appreciate it. Nurses Rock!

She's just asking a question.

To Al3x117 - get to a Guidance Counselor immediately. I assume you are in high school, forgive me if I am wrong. You need to figure out if you want to be a nurse or a doctor.

Talk to your school nurse or to a nurse at your local hospital so you can learn what nurses do.

Talk to your doctor or another doctor to learn what doctors do.

I personally would advise becoming a doctor, but that is because of my own life experiences and has nothing to do with you. I don't know you, so can't really advise you.

Doctors are the bosses. Nurses might supervise other nurses and nurses' aides, but doctors give nurses orders to follow.

Some nurses do what's called Advanced Nursing Practice. That means they might be a nurse anesthetist, a midwife, a nurse practitioner, or a nurse educator, nurse administrator, nursing director, nurse manager of a certain department in a hospital or clinic, they might hire and fire people, they might be responsible for policies and budgets.

Doctors go to Medical School then they pick a specialty, like Pediatrics, Women's Health, or Open Heart Surgery. They do a Residency in their specialty - anywhere from 2 years to 4 or more depending on the specialty.

Doctors generally get more respect than nurses. That is a very generalized statement and some here will heartily disagree.

They have special parking and their own dining room.

Nurses usually make less money than doctors and spend a lot more time with patients in the hospital or a nursing home or rehab hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Both doctors and nurses work hard.

Best wishes to you as you do your research and make your choices. I say to start immediately so you can take the courses you need to get into either Medical school or Nursing school without delay. It is particularly important to start young if you want to do Med school, as admission is very competitive.

Specialties for Nurses: hospitals for adults who have surgery, those who have medical conditions - like a bad heart or diabetes or liver problems, pediatrics, nurse at a summer camp, school nurse, caring for infants and children, Intensive Care, Hospice Nursing, Home Health Nursing, doctor's office nurse, nurse who teaches Nursing students. Lots more.

Specialties for Doctors: Radiology, Pathology, Surgery of various parts of the body (each one is a specialty in itself - like hand surgery, eye surgery, bone surgery (Orthopedics), and lots more. Doctors do research, nurses often assist in this research or might even do it on their own. Many more - Plastic surgery, dermatology, breast conditions, ear, nose, and throat specialist, there are MD, DO, and doctors of psychology and oriental medicine. Check out all of these and you will have a much better idea of what doctors and nurses do.

Don't forget dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, podiatrists, oral surgeons, probably others that aren't coming to mind just now. Oh, there are social workers, dieticians, various therapists - Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, probably others.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion