Have any NPs considered med school?

[HealthyRN]

I know threads about considering medical school are often posted in the general forums, but I'm wondering how many NPs have actually considered med school as an option? Why did you choose to become a nurse practitioner instead of a physician? Have you ever regretted your decision?

[KimHFNP]

Hi, I have been an FNP for a year. I am also a Registered Dietitian. I did a Master's Entry Program to be an FNP. Anyway, I love being a Nurse Practitioner. I do not want to be an MD. The roles are completely different from my perspective and I think that there is a place for both MDs and NPs in the health care field. I am not meant to do everything an MD does, that is why we do not have as much schooling. Now I know that many NPs do a great deal of 'on the job' training and do function in a closer role to an MD, and that is fine. Those NP's have, in a sense, completed a 'residency'. I love having the ability to refer very complicated patients out to MDs and I love not having all of the responsiblity of the MDs that I work with. Now, I have that privelege because I am not paid as well as the MD's I work with. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers out there, this has been my experience and I realize that it is not everybody's. Just wanted to give a different perspective.

[CrazyPremed, MSN, RN, NP]

Bump.

[NPs Save Lives]

I can't seem to make up my mind between eventually becoming a NP or a MD...not that I really HAVE to, now (although, what I decide will change what classes I need to take during the summers now...). Making it through nursing school first is a good idea .

I guess, one question I have, is, do you NPs feel that your education was adequate? That seems to be the one thing that doctors get all riled up about... when I look at what I want to do, eventually, NP seems to fit in much more with the type of life I want (eventually, I do want a family and I feel that as a NP I'd be able to see my family more...) and I like the nursing model and I wouldn't mind collaborating with physicians, but I worry that not having those four years of med school and residency would make a big difference in what I'd be able to do. That doesn't SEEM to be the case, at all, since NPs do give such good care, though...

I guess what keeps stopping me from being SURE about wanting to be a NP is that I really want the medical EDUCATION (especially all of the science)...but I think I want the outlook, and the job of a NP... aah, it's all so confusing.

I think that anyone's education is what they put into it. I've seen incompetence on both sides of the coin (MD or NP). We diagnose, treat and take care of patients very similarly to MDs. I think the main concern should be taking care of people and not quibbling over what kind of degree they have.

[Psychaprn]

And I hope the same someday becomes true for nursing to further legitamize that we are not cheaper Doctors or their assistants etc-No shortcuts to being an NP! I don't think we have to have PH.d's though-lawyers and Doctors don't!