iMTB

I completely agree with you about the expirience. I am certain that I have been desensitized enough to the gore involved. I have been what you would call an adrenaline jukie since I was very young. This exposed me to people getting some pretty grusome injuries. I myself have cut my hand open and it bled enough that it caused my friend to pass out. I remained calm and did my best to stop the bleeding. I then sat and watched myself get stitched up in awe. I also ripped a large portion of skin off of my arm that resulted in 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns. I have always been concerned with others needs and tried my best to help them. My aunt is a nurse and when I was younger I asked her to teach my simple first aid, so if people got hurt biking, skateboarding or anything like that I participated in I would have some ability to help. I am a deep and caring person and I connect well with others on an emotional level as well and love helping people work out their problems. I am a bit obsessed with science and medicine...I read my entire Anatomy textbook...I didn't even read half of the books we were required to read in my english classes. I have been borrowing books from my aunt for years and reading them. I even have a tattoo of a epinephirine molecule! haha I want a job where everything is out of control and it is my job to bring it back in control. I have some very expensive hobbies and I need a well paying career to keep up with them. I'm not going to say I don't care about the money because I do. I could easily be a firefighter or an EMT and love my job, but they just don't pay enough. I want a nice house, very nice cars, not have to worry about not being able to support my family, etc. I'm responding at work on my phone so I apoligize for any errors I may have made. Damon

Hey everyone! I've run into a little dilemma... I'll start by giving a little background- I've wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. As a little kid, while my friends still had basic career goals, I aspired to go to Duke and become a neurosurgeon. Things have changed since then but the general scheme still remains. I graduate high school shortly and will then be off to USF to start premed! I'm so motivated and driven to reach my goal of becoming a doctor and I'm finally getting to take the first steps. I'm outrageously excited to say the least! I already got a MCAT study book haha. Now when I got my MCAT book, I also stumbled upon the book Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse. I have been completely fascinated in my life by three main things, the world of science and medicine (stemming from watching ER nonstop as a child), flying (I LOVE flying, been to England many times, TOP GUN is my favorite movie ever, etc) and cars. I also considered going into the airforce to become a fighter pilot, or to go to Embry Riddle to be an Aeronautical Engineer minoring in flight. Now I find this career that combines two of my passions into one but just lacks the prestige of either. I feel like I would be limiting my potential as a flight nurse. As a doctor I would have so much more responsibility and control. I'm not going to lie either, the pay difference in monumental. I'm just having such a hard time with this right now. I wish "flight doctor" was available. I have some questions to help me: >What is the starting pay for a flight nurse? Pay potential? I've already done research on this but have found scattered results. I've seen anywhere between $37k/year all the way to $100k/year. According to Salary.com the median salary is ~$65k/year and the 25th and 75th percentiles come in at ~$60k/year and ~$75k/year. >I do not have much interest in being a general RN, especially over being a doctor. Is nursing experience mandatory in becoming a flight nurse? I would also greatly appreciate anyone's personal opinions on this issue as well. Thanks. Damon