Advanced nursing vs. MD

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

If you enjoy having a life pursue the MSN and Advanced practice role. If you don't want to have a life and enjoy working 80+ hours a week pursue the MD or DO.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

what scott said. in spades.

decide whether you prefer the health care, holistic model of working with people who come to you for help, or the disease management model in which you diagnose a disease and treat the disease, but not so much the person, in the nine minutes per encounter the insurance company will reimburse you for. then you'll have your answer.

also think about picking up a copy of summers and summers "saving lives, why the media's portrayal of nursing puts us all at risk." that will give you a lot of pride in nursing, and a lot of good comebacks to the fools who will think you're just settling for a less-important life if you are "just a nurse," because all they see of nursing is on tv. personally, i'd like to strangle them. :clown: :

klone, MSN, RN · May 30, 2011

Totally agree with what Scott said. If you want to be an MD, you need to consider whether or not you want to sacrifice any life or free time for the next 10 years. Seriously. I work with a lot of residents and I've talked to many of them (I find the whole med school/residency thing very fascinating from an outsider's POV). Without exception, they all said that if they knew what it would be like before getting into it, they would have chosen a different path. The thing is, by the time they realize how totally brutal it truly is, they're already well into their internship year, and they've got way too much invested in it to give it up.

I think the making of a physician is like being submerged in a pot of room-temperature water and then slowly turning the temperature up. The brutality of the schedule happens in degrees, so they don't realize how unbearable it is (at first).

nola1202 · May 30, 2011

I'm preparing to apply to accelerated MSN programs, and have also been considering pursuing an MD. GPA for my pre-reqs is a 4.0; I've loved my science courses, but at this stage, some of the more nuanced differences between the fields are just becoming apparent.
Any input is tremendously appreciated! Thank you.

Apply to both so you have a choice. Also consider if you want to specialize does pathology, opthomology, dermatology interest you. It's very possible to have a sane working schedule in some MD specialties. Pharmacology is also an option if you're interested. Student loan costs, availability of scholarships, grants, it's all overwhelming and people will question your loyalty to nursing if you change to Medicine. Just know medicine is as political as nursing. The individual specialties have jealousies and competition. Focus on yourself and what makes sense to you, then jump in the pool.

10yearreunion · May 30, 2011

Thank you all tremendously. Truly, it is overwhelming, and I have heard pros and cons of both professions. I'm hoping to gain some shadowing experience in the upcoming year, and also proceed with applications to see what comes back.

Mostly, I can't wait to get started as a clinician. I love learning and science, value critical thinking, and can see myself handling responsibility and a leadership role, but I also care a great deal about having balance in my life and enough time to interact thoroughly with my future patients. I'm doing my best to make a careful choice before my career starts to unfold in either field. All of the input is valuable - thank you. And I look forward to finding a copy of the Summers and Summers book.

allnurses Guide · May 30, 2011

Hi,

I'm an FNP who did consider med school vs. MSN. I'm happy I went the NP route. I was done in a couple of years, I don't have enormous debt, and I have a life. I work in Primary Care and I don't have the obligation of being on call or making hospital rounds like the MDs in my clinic do. I have my own panel of patients to manage as I see fit. Granted, I don't make as much as the MDs do, but I also don't have all the aggravation. I'm happy with the choice I made.

DizzyLizzyNurse · May 31, 2011

Can you shadow a nurse and a doctor in whatever fields you are interested in?

10yearreunion · Jun 1, 2011

Yes, I'm planning to do more shadowing; thank you!

panamishe · Jun 9, 2011

I agree with a lot of what was said above however it is important for you to have a sense of what you want to do in life. Personally, I wanted to be a surgeon and there is no advanced nursing degree that will allow me to do that. If you enjoy what you are doing, I don't think the grunt work of med school, internship, and finally residency will bother you as much. Although it is very difficult, I don't regret at all my decision to go to med school since I know that ultimately I'll be doing what I want.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2011

many folks still want to be nurses but have the fun of working or, throwing in stitches, and such. a nurse practitioner who takes the rnfa (rn first assistant) has the best of both worlds. check it out.

10yearreunion · Jun 14, 2011

Thanks for the feedback. My ultimate interest is related to mental health, whether I end up in oncology or palliative care, student health, etc. Much as I love to study and believe that I could contribute to people's lives and to the field of medicine as a doctor, I'm just not sure it's necessary, given what I think I want to do.

Indeed, I'm doing my best to get experience shadowing and as a volunteer.

Thanks again for the input.