Medical school?

Tenesma · Nov 10, 2004

med school isn't more challenging - it is a different challenge.

for all those who are thinking about going to med school... go for it... it is the most rewarding thing I can think of.

If, however, having a family and minimal debt is more important then medical school and residency will be nothing but torture.... but otherwise it is well worth it. I am friends now with 2 crnas who went on to med school and into anesthesia - they are happy with their decision, but financially they lost out on 8 years of income...

are-in · Nov 10, 2004

At times I do worry that when I am finished w/ CRNA school, I may become incontent with my position and wish to keep going. I worry about this because it is what I have always done. I am 32 now and think that I have missed the Med school opportunity. Has anyone else gone through this thought process, finished school, and gotten another "itch" to keep going?

I'm right there with you. Sometimes I wonder, but then I think that next year I will graduate from nurse anesthesia school...if I had gone to medical school I would just be starting my (long) residency. Thinking about all that school and pushing back starting a family... If I had gone to med school, I was going to go for anesthesiology, and seeing how in many places, the CRNAs do fully optimize their scope of practice, I am very happy with my decision.:)

Tenesma · Nov 10, 2004

i have quite a few friends who started med school at the 35 to 37 age range... in fact, the age of people starting med school is increasing - the average is 28 right now i think.

Dita · Nov 13, 2004

pushing back starting a family... :)

Does everybody have to procreate? Take the road less traveled. More people need to escape that mindset.

Jim CRNA

JimmyMallo · Nov 17, 2004

pushing back starting a family... :)

Does everybody have to procreate? Take the road less traveled. More people need to escape that mindset.

Jim CRNA

Amen Dita! However, I believe we need to keep practicing often to keep our skills sharp, just in case!:rotfl:

TennRN2004 · Nov 21, 2004

pushing back starting a family... :)

Does everybody have to procreate? Take the road less traveled. More people need to escape that mindset.

Jim CRNA

I believe this is one reason why the CRNA path is more appealing vs. med school to those who have/want a family (see Tenesmda's post). Nothing wrong with NOT wanting to have kids, or people who WANT to have kids. It's a personal thing. Besides, what are people who already do have kids supposed to do with them if they want to advance their career? You can't send 'em back once they're out. Having a family and a worthwhile, challenging career don't have to be mutually exclusive.

Dita · Nov 21, 2004

Does everybody have to procreate? Take the road less traveled. More people need to escape that mindset.
(see Tenesmda's post). Nothing wrong with NOT wanting to have kids, or people who WANT to have kids. It's a personal thing. /QUOTE]
My comment was spoken from a more abstract level. Just from a cultural/societal arena, having children,etc is pushed/emphasized much more than it should ever be. For decades, its practically automatic that starting a family is what your supposed to do. This is droned into us on many, many obvious and subtle levels. Its dissappointing that many are oblivious to this, and many others who are blindly unquestioning. So friends, just because your relatives, friends and neighbors are having kids by the boatload, doesn't mean you have to.
Jim CRNA

Tenesma · Nov 22, 2004

dita....

huh? your posting didn't make much sense... having children is not cultural or societal, it is natural...

sonessrna · Nov 24, 2004

dita....
huh? your posting didn't make much sense... having children is not cultural or societal, it is natural...

I agree with you tenesema. It is natural...it's societal/cultural not to have children.

nitro23 · Nov 24, 2004

I actually had several physicians both pulmonologists and MDA's encourage me to go to CRNA school versus medical school. One put it by the time he pays off his 400,000+ worth of student loans it really won't be worth it. He figures he will be 50 before he surpasses the income of coal miners and nurses who were working why he was trying to get through school.

Tenesma · Nov 24, 2004

$400,000 is way out of the norm - the normal post med school debt (including undergrad debt) is about $160,000. I would think that by age 50, from a financial point of view, you will have recovered your expenses and saved up quite a bit from the crazy salaries being paid currently.

smk1, LPN · Nov 25, 2004

$400,000 is way out of the norm - the normal post med school debt (including undergrad debt) is about $160,000. I would think that by age 50, from a financial point of view, you will have recovered your expenses and saved up quite a bit from the crazy salaries being paid currently.

tenesma is 160k norm for state schools? 400k sounded very high to me also but wondered if it could be for an ivy league medical education?