Nursing vs?

[Annieee]

I just wanted to ask all of the Michigan nurses out there: Why did you decide to pursue nursing over med-school?

I wanted to become a nurse.. but I recently changed my major to pre-med. I'm not sure if I'll stick with it, so I'll be applying to the nursing program as well.

I'm assuming many of you had families or want to work instead of going to school forever, but I still can't decide which I want to do! I just don't want to regret not trying to get into med school later.

Do any of you feel the same way?

Thanks :)

[RN1982]

I'd like to have a life outside of work that doesn't require me to be on-call 24 hours a day. I don't regret becoming a nurse because there are other advanced degrees within nursing that I'd like to possibly pursue..i.e. CRNA or NP. Good luck with your academic choices.

[mel421]

I chose nursing because of the hands on care I can provide. Physicians are seeing so many pts and only have a limited amount of time to spend with each one. I on the other hand, depending on the number of patients I have, have the ability to sit, talk, hold a hand and even sometimes cry with the pt. I am the drs. eyes and ears when they are not around. Sometimes I am able to make a difference that no one else would be able to make for that pt on that particular day. I have yet to see a dr. sit down at the bedside, hold a hand, and just let a pt. vent.

[jennileigh8182]

This may sound like a cop-out, but I honestly didn't want the life-or-death responsibility of a doctor. Yes, nurses carry a LOT of responsibility, but there is, ultimately, a doctor in charge. I know that nurses can also end up being the source or continued life or expiration for the patient, but I'm more comfortable with the idea of being the caretaker instead of the physician. Plus, my mom works as assistant to an associate dean at a med school, and she advised that most med students graduate with the equivalent of a mortgage in student loans, even after living very cheaply while in school.