Premed to prenursing?

abelshan · Apr 3, 2007

Alright, I am definitely going to look at an Occupational Outlook Handbook. Also, I am starting the process of volunteering at a hospital to help facilitate my decision. I am two classes away from being done with my premed prereqs(physics II and bio). Oddly enough, without even trying I have taken all but one of my prereqs for nursing school. The schools I am applying to I don't think have a waitlist for their program. I do have a degree in business that I got in may of 2006, because I also have a love for business. There is just a certain part of me that feels that I have lost the love i would have had for being a doctor because of this process.

arciedee · Apr 3, 2007

There is just a certain part of me that feels that I have lost the love i would have had for being a doctor because of this process.

I think the questioning process is incredibly important and it's good that you're doing it now. That way when you apply (whichever direction you go) you will be able to speak that much more clearly about why you made the decision that you did. But often our goals do change as we grow and have new experiences. I realized that some (certainly not all, but some) of my desire to pursue an MD/DO wasn't related to the career itself but rather my ideas about expectations, not only those of my family/friends/fellow undergrad alums but my own feelings of what I "should" be doing. But when I really gave it some time for reflection I realized that A) my goals had changed, B) I made my goals when I was younger and time seemed more infinite, and C) I was the one who was going to be going to this job every day and I wanted it to be something I could get excited about. Which isn't to say that I wouldn't be excited about medicine, just that I place other things higher on my priority list and I wasn't sure if that prioritization would work with a career in medicine. But... as excited as I was to realize that I wanted to pursue nursing, I did grieve the loss of my former dream and I still wonder "what if". I don't know if any of this helps at all or if it's just random rambling from a stranger (which it is), but wanted to mention that.

abelshan · Apr 4, 2007

Wow its so nice to know that other people went through the same thought process. This is exactly the way I feel and exactly what I'm thinking about. Thanks so much for your help with everything. I am sort of mourning that fact that I may not be a doctor. I keep seeing friends of mine get into medical school and law school and I think I won't be able to experience getting into such a rigorous school. But you are right, I have to do it for me and what I want for the rest of my life.

FLAgal14 · Apr 4, 2007

Hi Abelshan

I'm another one who went pre-med to pre-nursing. Like the others - I did a double take on my choice when I thought about the amount of sacrifices that I would have to make, and let's not forget about the amount of debt I would have been in. I was accepted into med school last year and I think the acceptance actually made me reconsider it - it is really a huge committment. You have to want it 100% because there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears during & after med school. I have a lot of friends in med school and even they have their doubts about it sometimes - I even had a couple of friends that wanted to drop out and pursue nursing instead (but they hung in there). Similar to arciedee- for me, there were other priorities that were higher on my list such as family. The best way to really see if you want it or not is to volunteer and to talk to both doctors and nurses to get their takes on their career. Good luck with everything.

abelshan · Apr 4, 2007

I completely agree with the amount of sacrificies in my life that I am just not sure that I am willing to make, just to have MD behind my name. Also, I agree with something that was said earlier that I have always wanted to be a doctor, when I was a child it seemed like I had an infinite amount of time and now time is finite and I am realizing how long it will take and the amount of sacrifices I will have to make. The only thing I have known that I wanted to be longer than I have known I wanted to be a doctor, is a mom. I just can't make the sacrifice of being a mother and being there for my children to be a doctor. Anyway, thanks so much for all of your comments and advice. I really appreciate it. I don't have anyone around me that is really an objective party, so it is nice to find that here. Thanks again.