Nursing or Medical School

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jjjoy, LPN

2,801 Posts

The original post was in 2001. Yosemite may well already be a nurse or in med school... Yosemite, are you still out there to tell us what you decided to do and how it's turned out or is coming along?

If you want to get rich nursing is your worst choice. If you want to care for people it is the best. Your personality is part of your treatment, and you get to know people at their worst and best. We see some real characters in the hospital, and you will be ringside for all of the drama and emotion. You must pick your hospital carefully though as with a patient load of 10-15 you won't have time to enjoy your career. I love my job and would never change it, but I have good staffing and a supportive hospital community. Make sure you plan on giving yourself the same advantages.

If I could snap my fingers and be a multimillion/year plastic surgeon, I would take that money and go to nursing school to feed my soul as well as my wallet.

Well written, well said :icon_hug:

Dancin'Mom

32 Posts

I am also in my mid-thirties and just finished accelerated nursing in Dec of '07. Once upon a time I was a pre-med major. My first degree was in Biology/Medical Technology and I worked in the lab doing patient testing for 12 years. I decided to go into nursing because I wanted to be more involved in patient care and wanted to apply my knowledge from the lab. I think in making your decision about medicine vs nursing you might want to consider in what way you want to help patients. Nurses spend all of their time helping patients, they really get to know their patients while doctors, who are responsible for the overall care of patients, buzz in and out, write orders, come around when things go bad. I guess consider in what way you want to help patients. I think that is really the difference in nursing vs. medicine. Good luck in your decision!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

This thread is 7 years old, since it was originally created in 2001.

Therefore, bestowing advice upon the OP (original poster) might be pointless, because I'm quite assured that he/she has made a decision about schooling and career pathways a long time ago.

LifeSupport

3 Posts

Well for med school I believe it's 4 yrs then if you specialize it can be up to another 4 yrs - putting you in your 40's. If you just become a general practitioner, completing your 4yrs of medical school is enough and if this is enough to satisfy you then go for it. Another alternative to general practitioner is the NP programs. If you plan to specialize there are many other option also in the NP programs.

Have you checked out the direct-entry MSN option where you can obtain your NP?

Being an NP you can prescribe medication and work independently while for a PA you need the doctor's approval for your actions. Also for NPs, your liability is less than that of a doctor but more than a PA's. I would say if the amount of years (and finances) is preventing you from becoming a MD, maybe NP is better for you if you want similar responsibilities. I think there are more financial help/grants for those going for their graduate degrees but it might be limiting depending on the area of graduate work.

Hope it works out for you!

ProLogic

121 Posts

If you want to get rich nursing is your worst choice. If you want to care for people it is the best. Your personality is part of your treatment, and you get to know people at their worst and best. We see some real characters in the hospital, and you will be ringside for all of the drama and emotion. You must pick your hospital carefully though as with a patient load of 10-15 you won't have time to enjoy your career. I love my job and would never change it, but I have good staffing and a supportive hospital community. Make sure you plan on giving yourself the same advantages.

If I could snap my fingers and be a multimillion/year plastic surgeon, I would take that money and go to nursing school to feed my soul as well as my wallet.

If you rely on just the salary of a nurse, then yes, you will probably never become rich. But if you invest wisely, anything is possible.

ProLogic

121 Posts

This thread is 7 years old, since it was originally created in 2001.

Therefore, bestowing advice upon the OP (original poster) might be pointless, because I'm quite assured that he/she has made a decision about schooling and career pathways a long time ago.

OMG, they must have finished what ever they were doing. I was 11 years old! LOL!!!

JStyles1

353 Posts

Stay in medicine but definitely make your goal a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or MD. Stay away from bedside nursing. You'll feel better about yourself. :cool:

Don't castrate your earning potential...

Do anything BUT nursing.

sounds like you two need a career change

Specializes in Adult Stem Cell/Oncology.
sounds like you two need a career change

Seriously! Don't castrate your earning potential??? Lovely! :down:

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