From Bedside to Bench? Maybe Bedside and Bench?

[nikkijay]

Hi all! I'm still caught in a heavy debate with myself over going into nursing. I do want to be a medical practitioner, but I would also like to be a medical researcher. To be more specific, I'm very much interested in physiopathology and pathophysiology and would love a chance to work in a lab, learning more about disease processes at the cellular/molecular level and then applying that information to develop new treatments that interrupt the disease process (rather than just treating the symptoms). However, in conjunction with that, I would love to work directly with patients, caring and treating them.

From what I've been able to find, the primary group able to complete both of these tasks are MDs, and within that group, MD/PhDs complete the bulk of the research. While that could possibly be an option for me, it would be an extensively long, expensive, non-income producing road, as my current degrees are all in mental health/human services.

I'm not interested in being an MD, solely because of the reduced level of interaction between practitioners and patients. Nursing allows for the establishment of relationships, which I feel enhances medical treatment plan adherence, as well as eases the stress/fear that comes along with needing medical treatment. Oh, I guess I should say that I'm very interested in chronic illness/internal medicine.

I guess what I'm wondering is:

(a) Are any of you aware of nurses (advanced practice) that conduct biomedical research? If so, what degrees/training do they have and what which schools?

(b) Does it seem even remotely possible to be a medical scientist and a nurse?

I've been reading a lot about nurses and research and recently came an article that discussed nurse principal researchers, and while they are very few in number, they are definitely out there. I figure, if nurses can lead medical research, how much of a leap would it be to actually conduct it?

Any information that anybody can say would be greatly appreciated!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

And yet, I'm not supposed to perceive condescension from your posts?

There was none, absolutely NONE in my initial post to you answering (I thought) your query about whether it was feasible to follow the path you were suggesting. My answer was that no, I didn't think it realistic and offered the suggestion that you choose one or the other. No condescension whatsoever. You didn't like the answer, that's fine, but it was offered honestly.

Then you made a snide remark about treating you like a child....no such inference was ever made, or implied. You asked why I said "nursing isn't medicine" and I answered it. Again, no condescension, but I was less than thrilled at YOUR open hostility. Still, let it go. Offered up the distinction that you did not seem to recognize.

So at this point, after further comments on your part, I am no longer concerned with what you might perceive. Loriangel14 simply gave up one post earlier than I did, and I acknowledged her frustration. I, too, must now bow out.

Good luck to you in finding whatever it is you seek...sincerely.

....

[nikkijay]

Can we start off with the understanding that people unfamiliar with biomedical/biological research in nursing shouldn't have bothered to respond?

There was none, absolutely NONE in my initial post to you answering (I thought) your query about whether it was feasible to follow the path you were suggesting. My answer was that no, I didn't think it realistic and offered the suggestion that you choose one or the other. No condescension whatsoever. You didn't like the answer, that's fine, but it was offered honestly.

I didn't actually ask for a suggestion, and given that you clearly have no knowledge of biological/biomedical research in nursing, it is clear that you aren't qualified to give one. And of course, not knowing anything about biological/biomedical research in nursing, it is clear that you would think it unrealistic. So the real question is, knowing that you were not knowledgeable of the field, why you would bother to offer an opinion on its feasibility?

Oh, and being the grammar nazi that I am, the appropriate word is "nothing," not none.

Then you made a snide remark about treating you like a child....no such inference was ever made, or implied. You asked why I said "nursing isn't medicine" and I answered it. Again, no condescension, but I was less than thrilled at YOUR open hostility. Still, let it go. Offered up the distinction that you did not seem to recognize.

My remark was not snide in the least (dictionary nazi coming out). The one I gave above? Definitely.

So at this point, after further comments on your part, I am no longer concerned with what you might perceive. Loriangel14 simply gave up one post earlier than I did, and I acknowledged her frustration. I, too, must now bow out.

Imagine how I feel with a thread full of posters that haven't a clue what I'm referring to and yet still feel qualified to provide suggestions as to what I should do. And not only that, but seem to think they have enough information to tell me my fate in the nursing field based upon the minuscule information provided and anecdotal evidence. Should I be cheery about that? There were a few that admitted that they weren't sure and advised me to talk to other people. Smart thinking.

I get wanting to provide information, but how relevant is that information when you don't know what you're talking about?

The responses should have been (a) I don't know any nurses conducting basic/biomedical research and (b) I don't know anything about this area of nursing, so I can't provide a credible opinion. Anything beyond those responses should have been based in knowledge of the field, and if you didn't have that knowledge, you shouldn't have responded.

Not nice, but at least it's honest.

Best wishes.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Fortunately........ and sometimes......unfortunately.....When things are posted in a public forum you will get a public response. We can't always control the answers. Allnurses promotes lively discussions as long as they are constructive and polite.

OP........What you are talking is a VERY miniscule specialized corner of nursing and I would bet that they are research scientists who happen to be NP/advanced degree nurses for the degree programs do not have this focus.

I would check out our APN forums.....Advanced Practice Nursing

or Post Graduate Nursing Student: MSN/DNP/DNSc/PhD

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

You would actually need to get your PhD in biomedical sciences most likely and your RN (and NP). That is if you wish to be a PI who does human subjects research vs nursing process related research.

[nikkijay]

OP........What you are talking is a VERY miniscule specialized corner of nursing and I would bet that they are research scientists who happen to be NP/advanced degree nurses for the degree programs do not have this focus.

Thanks for responding. Yes, this sub-speciality within nursing is small indeed. BSN programs do not allow this focus, but graduate level programs do allow for this type of training (such as UPenn, UW, UCLA), and there are fellowships that APNs can apply for to gain more KSAs in the biological sciences to allow them to conduct basic research. Each biological research nurse that I've found so far utilizing the Journal of Biological Research for Nursing has an advanced degree, and according to their CVs, started in nursing and then moved into research rather than the other way around. All also maintained licensure and certifications to practice.

I've run other searches for biological/biomedical research in nursing on this forum, and the responses have pretty much been the same as what was provided here. Unfortunately, most people aren't aware of this sub-speciality, and that's understandable, because it's still very small. Given the size of the field and the lack of common information, I think I'm better off investigating on my own.

Thanks again.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Closing thread per request.