Is it Enough?

[ERGirl83]

I've been planning on being a doctor my entire life, then I got married and had a baby before finishing school, and realized that the schedule wouldn't be fair to my family, and decided on nursing instead. I'm really excited about it, and planning on getting an NP eventually, but I'm nervous that it won't be enough. That I won't be satisfied with the procedures that are within my scope of practice, that I'll resent needing the MD's to give me an order I knew was coming, etc.

Was anyone else in this position? Do you feel that nursing is "enough" for you? Do you ever want to do things outside of your scope of practice? Any advice? I guess I'm not so solid in my decision as I thought, and looking for any advice you might have...

[RNperdiem, RN]

Sometimes a limited scope of practice is a benefit. To be a doctor means a very high chance of seriously harming or killing someone along the way. Human error is very real. It is very difficult to have to live with something like that and have to get up the next day and carry on.

Nursing is enough. I give all I can give to my patients, have the satisfaction of having done my work well. Oh yes, I am well paid and choose my own hours too.

Choosing a life career is too important to go into blindly. Make it a project to contact some doctors and nurses and find out about the work they do. Get a job in a hospital that puts you in contact with areas you may be interested in.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I find the limitations frustrating.

Explore becoming a nurse practitioner. Greatly expanded scope, less schooling than a physician. Mid-level practitioner.

[happydays352]

I too started as pre-med in college and switched to nursing over concerns for my family. I was nine when my Dad graduated medical school and I didn't want to have to choose between my family and my career. I had seen first hand how hard it was for him and he wasn't the one popping out the kids!

In my state NP's can have their own practices. I figured that the autonomy and flexibility was a worthwhile trade off for having a more narrow scope of practice. I'm not sure what the laws are in your state but you might want to look into it.

[CHATSDALE]

we spend so much of our lives in the workplace we should be happy with our choice if at all possible

working with limitations can be frustrating esp if you happen to [as we all do sooner or later] have to take patient orders from an incompetent doctor

whatever your decision good luck

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Have you considered becoming a physician assistant? I don't know much about their program, but, maybe that may saite your appetite a bit. You should take time to speak to nurse practitioners, physicians, PAs, to see how they feel about what they are doing. A career choice, especially in heath care, should not be taken lightly. Good luck in your choices!

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

Nursing and medicine are two different disciplines. I don't think you will be happy if being a doctor is your hearts desire, just as I would not be happy being a doctor. Follow your heart.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Nurse Practioners are very independent here. I'm not sure that would be an issue if it were me.

Good luck in whatever you do.

[loricatus]

I too had wanted to become a doctor my entire life. I finally went to a community college in my late 30's to start on that road, then transferred to a university. I wound up taking 2 nursing classes that qualified towards my biology degree requirements (patho and pharm), decided I was too old (along with other things) to follow my original career plan; and, then applied at the nursing school at the same university. Grades weren't an issue, so I easily was accepted to nursing school and finished up my biology degree when I started my first semester of nursing school.

I was worried about the same things as you when I started nursing; but, in areas of ICU and Emergency, you will find a certain degree of autonomy that bends the rules to the point they almost break. Many times you must make clinical decisions to save a patient's life and the doctors will back you up by writing the orders, to match what was done for the patient, after the fact. Additionally, you will find some doctors consulting with you on what you feel is best for the patient. This type of work environment will ease some of your concerns. Is it enough? Maybe not totally; but, I do plan on either obtaining my NP or PA in the near future-you could certainly transition into a MD later on since your age won't hold you back as much as mine did.

GOOD LUCK ON WHATEVER ROAD YOU TAKE