I used to want to be a doctor

kataraang, BSN · Nov 19, 2016

The most important thing is that you do something that will make YOU happy. You are almost an adult (or...already an adult?). These choices are yours. The idea that doctors are above nurses is such old and backward thinking, but a LOT of people still feel this way. It's starting to change though. Congratulations on being an aspiring nurse. It's a great career! Do what you love. Nurses don't make tons of money, but they certainly make enough to live very comfortably.

Libby1987 · Nov 19, 2016

I don't walk in your shoes so I cannot speak to your dad's perspective but I can say that both careers require that those in them know themselves and have the courage to persevere during the many rough spots. You need to know what you're choosing, why you're choosing it and then stand behind it.

And keep in mind, both fields are full of people who are disillusioned and working their tails off in today's healthcare.

Whatever you do, I'd caution you from choosing anything based on what status you think it might bring you. Remorse is not a good trade off.

Davey Do · Nov 19, 2016

My high school sweetie's Dad was a doctor and boy, did I admire him! Growing up on a small farm whose Dad was a welder at a lime quarry, I thought I was allowed to visit Shangrala!

Even though I always did exceptionally well in school, becoming a doctor seemed way too far out of my reach. Besides, I, like you, RiRi4life, didn't care about having a lot of money and just wanted to have a good income. I just thought I'd become a blue collar worker.

My life changed when I was fresh out of high school, had a semester of junior college under my belt and was in an MVA. I suffered a closed head injury with multiple fractures and internal injuries. After waking up from a three week coma, my Mom told me that, among multiple other injuries, I had a splenectomy. Heck, I didn't even know what a spleen was! I thought it had something to do with my spine!

Upon returning to junior college, I took a first aid course. Man, that intrigued me! Along with my Dad, who was a volunteer fireman, I got certified in CPR at the local fire department. I later went through an EMT program and was hooked!

Mom said, "You ought to become a doctor!" I thought about that, for about five or ten minutes, and decided I didn't want to have to go through all those years of schooling and have all that responsibility just to make a lot of money.

I used my EMT to help out at the Anomaly Volunteer Emergency Corps but made my way working as a weatherizer until I was snowed-in at a cabin I lived in the winter of '81 after being laid off.

I sat there in my cabin doing fun and possibly illegal things, and thought. "What could I do that would hold my interest, wouldn't take a lot of schooling, paid well, and had little chance of being laid off?" Nursing came to mind, so the next year I worked to save money, got accepted into an LPN program, and never looked back.

Thirty three years later and my temporal progeny is happy with the decisions my temporal ancestor made. I've had a great career, am financially sound, have but a few responsibilities, and regularly do whatever I want to do. I love my job, the patients I work with, and my coworkers.

But for those five or ten minutes, RiRi4life, in thinking maybe wanting to become a doctor, I was glad I chose to become a nurse.

And I think you will too, RiRi4life.

The very best to you in your endeavor!

RiRi4life · Nov 19, 2016

Thanks everyome for your helpful comments

. Hopefully in time he will come around. Its just in our culture, people view nurses as maids but whatever. I know being a medical doctor isnt for me. My dad is upset because he says that we came to this country for you to be better than us. I live in USA btw. They think that being a doctor will earn me respect and result in the American dream. I think I should tell him being rich isnt my goal in life. I honestly want to get married young and be happy. Who has time to worry about being better than other people. Well not me atleast.

nutella, MSN, RN · Nov 19, 2016

Thanks everyome for your helpful comments
. Hopefully in time he will come around. Its just in our culture, people view nurses as maids but whatever. I know being a medical doctor isnt for me. My dad is upset because he says that we came to this country for you to be better than us. I live in USA btw. They think that being a doctor will earn me respect and result in the American dream. I think I should tell him being rich isnt my goal in life. I honestly want to get married young and be happy. Who has time to worry about being better than other people. Well not me atleast.

When I decided to go to nursing school, I was a paramedic and worked in that job full-time.

I got a lot of discouraging comments because nursing is not seen as a desirable profession where I grew up.

In the US it is different though - it is highly regarded and a respectable career - also, I never regretted that I became a nurse and still find it the best profession for myself.

I am also a parent and one of my children is in college. As a parent, I want my children to choose a career that they feel strongly about, a field that they feel will make them happy and lead to meaningful career. Work is a big part of our life but also a means to pay for the life we are striving to have. Your father comes from a different culture, he also sees other things and perhaps also conveys some of his resentments, values, desires and wishes for you. I think it his heart and core he wishes for you to live a happy and satisfied life and feels that being a doctor would be a means to all of it.

Nursing is a great career in the US and in other countries, your parents may come around once you are in nursing school.