Hi all! I am new to this forum and hoping that I can learn lots! I am 26 years old and have been accepted to medical school, starting in August. I know you all work with doc's, so please give me advice! I don't know whether to go to medical school, or to start nursing school. I am married, and my marriage is VERY important to me, no kids yet, but they are desired in the future. So, knowing what you do now, after working as a nurse and with doctor's, please give me some advice. What would you do? I have struggled with this decision for months and I do not know what to do. Please help!
FLAgal, I actually was thinking about deferring a year, but I know that I if I did that, after a year I would not go. I know myself and if I defer, I might as well just say no. Our situations are so similar with feelings regarding children and families and work schedules. You are right about med school always being there and if I change my mind in ten years, it can still be an option for me. I have to say this is the most difficult decsion I have ever had to make. I am meeting my sister for a long lunch and a heart-to-heart tomorrow, my family always makes it better :) Thank you all, for all of your advice, keep it coming and in the mean time if I make a decision, i will let you know :)
Tell you what. You make the best decision for you career-wise, financially, personally, etc. And we'll all call you doctor either way. Sound good, Dr. Merry?
Out of curiosity Merry, do you have a really clear idea of what nurse practitioners/advanced practice nurses actually do? It's not the same as what RNs do, and advanced practice nursing might fulfill the parts of you that want to do medicine without making the extreme demands of medical school. Think about it!
Ohhh, I like that idea, Dr. Merry either way!! :) I am definatley giving serious thought to NP, I belive the field of medicine I would enter as a doctor would be ob. and I know as an NP, I could not deliver babies. I am doing some research on nurse midwives, but I am not sure that is the route for me. Do you know an NP's? What are there schedules like? It's got to be better than a doc's. Could you tell me more about NP's? I know without a shadow of a doubt that I do NOT want to be a PA, so where do NP's fit in? Thanks :)
I am currently in my 2nd year of med in Australia so I have definitely dealt with the moving thing. Believe me, I know what it is like to be far away from family and friends--you miss them every single day (and sometimes many times a day). But listen--4 years is not that long a time commitment in the grand scheme of things. You can always go back to your home town for residency, etc. Plus, VA can't be more than a couple hours' flight away so you can go home for breaks etc. And when you do go back the people/things you miss are that much dearer to you because they aren't around all the time, so you appreciate them more...
As far as your husband is concerned, he sounds like a supportive guy if he is willing, even excited, to move. In my class there are relationships that have worked and ones that haven't, but who's to say what they were like before med school. The main problems I've seen are a) ones involving the need for "alone time" to study and therefore the partner's need to do more chores, etc, and b) problems related to the fact that you're going to meet tons of new people and want to go to school social events. Many partners don't realize the commitment it will require from them. But I'd assume there would be the same problems at nursing school. You're going to have to bust tail studying either way.
Hope this helps!
PS I am new here...I hope it is OK that I'm in med school and not nursing :) But this forum is the greatest! Besides I used to be an ER tech and have tremendous love for the nursing profession...
Thanks for your post, Quinze! It's great to hear from med students, docs, etc, etc. We'll all be working together some day, right? So of course we should share info.
Dr. Merry - Quinze is right. It's definitely a lot of work to be an advanced practice nurse, and it's not cheap either. It's not like "doctor lite." It's just a different path. I can only speak for myself, but here's what helped me:
WHY do you want to be a doctor? I think you will find it easier to imagine what you want to do, and then figure out the best way to get there.
Well, I am going away for the week, to the beach, yeah!! I'm going to do a lot of thinking, praying, and talking with my hubby, we will have a desciion by the time we return. Thnak you all for your help, comments and advice. I appreciate it!! You have all definatley given me a lot to think about. I'll talk to yuo in a week :)
BAtoCNM
47 Posts
No, it's not terrible that you want to be a Dr. Merry, if this is so hard, could that mean it's the wrong choice, at least for now?