Do you ever wish you were a doctor?

[adventure_rn]

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?

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I haven't been asked that in a long time. But when I was first going to college and people found out that I had chosen nursing as my major, I did get a lot of, "Nursing? No, you are smart, you should do a doctor instead." Which was pretty awkward....I mean, what am I supposed to say to that backhanded compliment? Thanks?

I agree. I once had a doctor upset with me because I didn't have something ready for him just right. He asked me if I was thinking like an RN because it didn't seem so. I was furious. He has no flicken clue how to think like an RN.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Never been asked, but the answer is no. And I'm someone who actually started out pre-med instead of nursing!

I've seen the massive amounts of call they take- some specialties are on call every other day. And I thought mine as a CVOR nurse was bad. Sure, they may not be running into the hospital every night, but that pager can go off almost constantly.

I've seen the massive amounts of student loans that are needed to get through medical school. My nursing ones are plenty, thankyouverymuch!

I've seen many (and not limited to just MDs but they seem to be the biggest offenders I personally know) living well beyond their means. Seems like with the salary they forget about the other obligations (like student loans) and just spend spend spend.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I agree. I once had a doctor upset with me because I didn't have something ready for him just right. He asked me if I was thinking like an RN because it didn't seem so. I was furious. He has no flicken clue how to think like an RN.

If you had been thinking like an RN you would have read his mind. Didn't they teach you mind-reading in nursing school? How did you pass that part of NCLEX?

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

Never been asked, and no I don't wish I was a physician. I don't want the headache of being a doctor. Being on call, the responsibility nsinilty of running a practice, no thank you.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I was planning to go to medical school but foolishly got married and then had to support my husband instead. I went to nursing school, and have never regretted not going to medical school. I think my lifestyle is infinitely better than that of a physician, and I've had an interesting and challenging career. I'm really glad I went to nursing school instead of medical school!

[BSN16]

I am actually pursuing my NP right now and i often have a lot of regret about it. I'm afraid that i am going to miss bed side nursing and miss being hands on. I love getting very sick critical patients and essentially stabilizing them. So no, i never wish i could be a doctor

[ED_Murse]

Nope. I deliberately chose nursing over medicine knowing that I could have been successful doing either degree. I'm extremely proud of my profession. I feel that the people who ask those questions haven't got a clue about the nurse patient relationship. Or the nurse doctor relationship for that matter. I work closely in conjunction with some outstanding physicians but I have zero interest in doing their job.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

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.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I thought about it but then I realized I wanted a life outside of work. I like my downtime, I like traveling and spending time on family and hobbies.

No I don't bring in a physician's salary, but I also don't have the crazy hours and stress that comes with being a doctor. Nor do I have any student loans and am I already saving for retirement.

Meanwhile, many med students graduate with 200k plus in loans, nothing in retirement and years before they start seeing a return on their investment.

Plus nurses have more flexibility in the work force. Doctors....not so much.

[cleback]

I would love their knowledge.

I would hate their debt, number of hours per week, the fact that women have to postpone family for quite a while or fear not matching or getting a fellowship.

I juse want their brains--everything else they can keep.

[ElectricCabbage]

Nursing is a career. Medicine, is a lifestyle. I am happy to have a a great career, that lets me have the lifestyle I want!

[wannabeny]

some people in my family do the skip-nursing-be-a-doctor speech. My mother is as skeptical as they come of doctors..I was born 4 1/2 months early & when she went into labor & went to the hospital the doctor at the time told her she wasn't in labor, and sent her home twice, and then mistakenly told her I was stillborn! She absolutely sings the praises of the NICU nurses.

nursing all the way for me. Don't want the debt, stress, or lack of life.