My I'm going to medical school

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Why I'm going to medical school. Ill keep this short and simple. How does this relate to everybody else? Read the entire thing and see, this explanation is not at all about me.

Overwhelming amount of masters level nursing programs. Never before besides law and maybe the MBA have I ever seen such a large amount of specific programs pop up. Every school in america seems to have a masters level nursing program in their academia. This includes the notorious for-profit schools that everybody excluding people who hold degrees from these institutions seem to loathe. Our credentialing bodies, by allowing all of these poorly regulated programs to pop up, have lowered them selves to the level of weaksause, bile-like vomitus.

decreasing job market. Again, with every soul in america for going an advanced practicing nursing degree, our job availability will decrease severely in the next few years. This has already began to take place, with many NPS across america, varying geographically of course, fighting for entry level jobs making substandard wages.

Low barrier to entry. This is where the nail gets hit on the head. Essentially, to keep enrollment high, higher level nursing programs (excluding a few from higher end schools) have DROPPED their admission standards, in fear that somebody will go to another program instead of their own. NO GRE, NO GPA, NO EXPERIENCE, NO INTERVIEW. I mean come on people, really??? Your so money hungry you will lower your admission standards just to get more applicants and provide more seats. At least in the medical world, schools keep it competitive, for which is mostly to make their school look better.

Role confusion. This is not prevalent everywhere, but even with all these nurses pushing for education of the np model to patients” a large amount of people still don't know what we are. PAGING DOCTOR NURSE, DOCTOR NURSE. I mean how ridiculous does that sound. DOCTOR NURSE??? while the DOCTOR NURSE complication may be DNP and PHD specific, there is much confusion to a nurse wearing a while coat, prescribing medication, etc (not anything wrong with it but it is confusing to patients)

Weaksause curriculum. I am sure there are very difficult schools out there that provide the MSN needed to obtain the overly sought nurse prackk” status, but many of these online programs at for-profit universities have really dumbed the requirements. I know of many schools that require no closed book tests, being the only one you take is your majorly feared BOARD EXAM, which was so notoriously easy i don't see how anybody can fail it. I think the hardest question I had was. SOMEBODY COMES IN WITH THAT BILE-LIKE- VOMUCKUS AND RIGHT QUADRANT UPPER PAIN IN THE ABDOMINALS AREA. WHAT LOLTEST DO YOU ORDER IMAGING WISE FIRST SO U CAN DIAGNOSE THIS PATIENT LIKE A 1337SAUSE NURSE PRACKK AND BE EPICLY LEET AND GET A LONGER WHYT KOAT. But anyway…. it is too easy, to short, and does not always prepare people for the level of knowledge required to do his or her job. If you disagree, then why do we aways get these ZOMG I CANT TAKE MY JOB ITS TOO HARD AND HARD AND I CANT FUNCTION, DIDNIT LERN ENUFF, HELP” posts on all nurses from these inadequate providers that went to the university of the FEENIX at western senator university and didn't even learn what lisinopril is? epic failure my fellow PRACKKS.

I could keep going but i will spare you all from my wonderfully notorious grammar and poor use of capitalization to go study the MCAT since medical school actually has requirements to get into it. By no means am I smarter or think I'm smarter than anyone else, but by taking this path I will have a much more rewarding career, more job options, and an overall better outlook than most (if not all) NURSE PRACKKS. None of this is due to any quality I possess besides the fact that I have been imbued with the knowledge that Low barrier to entry, overly easy schooling, hot popularity, and poor credentialing bodies will lead to a severely saturated market for current and future nurse practitioners, which I have chosen not to be a part of.

If anybody else wants to follow me through a more difficult and rewarding pathway than advance practice nursing can provide, you will reap the rewards of the hard labor you shall put forth, if not, enjoy the last few years of excellent salary guarantee (excluding excellent providers, which most people think they are but they are not even close) and wallow in your despair once your fighting for jobs that pay a couple grand more than RN positions.

Eat dirt you poorly managed nursing credentialing bodies, for imbuing all these poor people with high hopes and dreams which will burn in fumes faster than the dotcom bubble did.

THE PRACK BUBBLE WILL POP, ARE YOU READY?

#incoming hate

#pulverize the dead horse

#all of the people who cherish his or her APRN license will be super MADZLOL and be offended by this which is awesome

#hanging out under my bridge

#overly sensitive nursing population

Oh, and I also put down a 200k+ year job to do all this, for all you people who will be like "LOL YOUR BADZ AND NEED MORE SKOOL TO BE GOODS AND PROBABLY MADE LIKE 55K PER YEAR ROFL ROFL ROFL."

Specializes in FNP.

Synaptic, although your post(s) may contain some truth, your message gets almost completely lost due to your angry, bitter, childish style of delivery. You are disillusioned; I get it. Being an NP is not for everyone, whether due to personality, perceived lack of respect for the profession, desire for higher income, etc.

Nurse practitioner is a relatively new profession. Medical schools did not magically appear as the organized, high-quality, science-based programs you see today. NP education and the NP profession continue to evolve just as med school and the medical profession took time to evolve.

That said, perhaps there is an alldokturs” site where you would find a more agreeable audience.

Specializes in FNP.

Hi Jules,

More shifts and more hours does not necessarily mean an NP has a good work ethic. Work (working hard, diligence) + ethic (honesty, integrity) = work ethic. If those doctors don't know that, then I feel sorry for their patients.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Hi Jules,

More shifts and more hours does not necessarily mean an NP has a good work ethic. Work (working hard, diligence) + ethic (honesty, integrity) = work ethic. If those doctors don't know that, then I feel sorry for their patients.

Wow, thanks for pointing that out for me. :yawn:

Specializes in FNP.

I have no interest in becoming a nurse practitioner because I haven't worked long enough as a RN to supplement the piss poor education I would get in a NP program. I don't believe 3 years is enough, and yet I see other nurses starting or currently in NP school at the 3 year mark. I thought about PA school or even med school, but at this point, I'm so burnt out on any career that involves dealing with unreasonable people or people with non-functioning brains. But if I was still clinically inclined, I would choose PA school or embark on the long journey known as med school.

Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

Where do I fall? I'm a hungry FNP student absorbing the available knowledge in the hopes that I will not be too naive.

You're also incredibly intelligent and a fantastic Nurse who puts her patients first and makes a major difference. I've no doubt you'll be an even better NP.

Hear hear. Looking around at the medical field as it is, I made a decision to finish my BSN and head to medical school once I complete the prerequisites. I love being a nurse, I will always be a nurse, and nothing will take that from me. At the same time, there is one other important reason I am doing this that you did not mention: A seat at the table. I want to be someone who has influence and is able to contribute to the shape of how things develop in our world. No matter how desperately we nurses try to convince ourselves otherwise, the world will never see us as having the same level of expertise and authority as doctors. Whether it comes to governmental policy or institutional boards, we never make up more than a token presence. Take a look at the board of your hospital and count how many RN's are on it.

In the community, it's even worse. Don't believe me? Go to any committee meeting where some piece of legislation is being considered. The other day I went to the capitol of my state for an education committee meeting having to do with nurse to student ratios in our public school system. Nurse this and NP that got up and each time they spent the first few minutes defending their title, their experience, and explaining to the committee why their work, education, etc. makes them an expert witness. Dr. So and So gets up to testify. "So, what do you do?" "I am a pediatrician." "Okay, thank you very much. What do you want to present today?" They respected the pediatrician over a nurse on a nursing issue. Take a deep breath and absorb that before you throw stones at me.

My main concern is not to protect my ego as a nurse. I understand the frustrations of people who think we're not taken seriously enough. But to get the things done that I care about, I'm not holding my breath that society will wake up to the role of nurses. To many people - and I hear this a lot from "civilians" - our constant reminders that we are educated professionals, not doctors' assistants, sounds like we're insecure. People tell me, "If you people are more than 'just a nurse' then why do you have to keep saying it so much?"

The day will come when I will wear with pride the badge that says, "José Quiñones, RN, BSN, MD."

Specializes in Medical and Behavioral Health.
I'm not trying to call you out because it sounds like your sentiments about the hours and shifts is a common reason many chose to be a NP however I believe this is also one of the reasons NPs won't be taken seriously as providers on par with physicians. Perhaps also one of the reasons our salaries are historically so much lower despite a very small difference in reimbursement. I have been told by two physicians I work with that I have the work ethic of a physician. Some of their experiences with NPs in the past haven't been positive. I don't think we can have it both ways, either we are heavy hitters or we want bankers hours. We are cementing our niche as mid level providers because of this, imo.

My fellow collegue,

I can understand where you come from. I understand that whatever practice you are in, you must work within your scope because that's what you applied for. NP must respect their scope just as a MD must respect his or hers. And NPs should not expect having same salaries as MDs, but if one knows this, then why be an NP or any other mid level? However, I knew what I signed for, and what I want, however, long hours does not make you a great provider or earn respect. Your "quality of care" does. Working an 8 hrs a day doesnt make me or anyone else less of a provider. If I have to work more hours at my practice to educate a patient on their acute or chronic disease or when their managing severe symptoms e.g. stroke, heart attack until ambulance reaches them then I will. I have always done so. Which provider will not? I could never sleep well if I did not give it my all. But also when you add the 6 or more hours of charting/reviewing new labs you have to do at night and the follow up calls to patients you have to do in the morning as well signing heaps of paperwork...then how much extra work is needed? I dont understand this MD vs NP thing. Arent we all here to help each other? To serve and change the life of the patient?

Having more loans, extra schooling, and residency does not mean an MD will not make mistakes. Also, does not excuse an NP from making mistakes either. We are not gods. We are just prilvilaged to provide a service to those in need. I have had docs misdiagnosis my patients. What do I do? I correct it and move on case closed. But I know if that was NP that misdiagnosis a doc's patient. Well, that NP is in deep **** or worse some docs call the board on that NP.

However, society is understanding the value of midlevel practice. If midlevels are underclassed then there wouldnt be 21autonomous states in the US regardless whether the ANCC or AANP lobbied. I understand why NPs want to practice independently because some MDs dont want to do their job, but still want the NP to be under their thumb. You have independent NPs paying a supervising physcian thousands of dollars to assess their charts and do occassional rounds. But some MD does not step their foot in the NP's office. Either because they are too busy chasing that dollar or they just want to take advantage of that NP. Is being an MD and having 4 private practices where the NP works alone and (MD) working at the hospital earning respect or working hard??? No. Just like some nurses just want a paycheck same with some docs.

I had an former MD who I worked with that was like that. He was medical director here and there, but would never see his patients. Yeah, chasing that $$$$. Thats job fulfillment for you. I did all his work. He wouldnt even see his patients when they would request for him to come during their dying process. I did. And he didnt have to attend to all, but he couldnt attend to one either. Patients would die disappointed. Later on, it came to the point that patients didnt want to see their MD because I was reliable and took care of them apprioprately. They wanted to see me. And soon after, it made my supervising physician jealous, but he still couldnt commit to his patients.

The point of the matter, is everyone should do what they feel is comfortable for their livelihood. I am happy with my pay. I sleep well knowing my patients are ok and happy-thats an added bonus. I am satisfied and have a sense of fillfullment helping my patients with my NP license. Maybe others not so much with their RN or APN license. Maybe others are not satisfied with their current position, feel they are not contributing, etc. But, thats the beauty of healthcare. We have options. Do what makes you happy. If you want to be MD fine. Just be a good one. If you want to NP or PA then fine as well. Just be a good one too. But lets not let the patients down. Because what is life or fillfullment anyway?Lets work together to achieve the greater good.

Specializes in Med-Surg, OB, ICU, Public Health Nursing.

Can't respond to someone who has so little respect for the English language. Learning to write before pursuing any career should be #1 on the list.

The day will come when I will wear with pride the badge that says, "José Quiñones, RN, BSN, MD."

I doubt that v. much. I've known plenty of physicians who started out as RNs, but none of them volunteered that info other than to close friends. I've never seen a physician with a hospital-provided badge that said anything about any prior occupation/role other than "MD" (although plenty of them have other backgrounds). Just as RN's badges don't say anything about how they were a CNA, LPN, RRT, whatever, prior to becoming an RN. I guess you might choose to wear some kind of personal "RN" pin or badge to identify that you are (were) a nurse, but expect your work setting (outside of your own private practice) to have a problem with that.

Becoming a physician isn't about becoming a nurse with more, better credentials. It's about leaving nursing and entering another discipline.

Can't respond to someone who has so little respect for the English language. Learning to write before persuing any career should be #1 on the list.

I think you meant "pursuing".

8:12 pm by elkpark I doubt that v. much. I've known plenty of physicians who started out as RNs, but none of them volunteered that info other than to close friends.

All due respect, elkpark, but I will. I think both sides of medicine are hugely important, both the nursing and the doctor side. We all need each other. Perhaps I won't run around on the floor with that badge, but in my public life I will. Heck, I'll put it on the jackets of my books too (supposing I write books, but you get my drift).

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