bluewater

hi all, i'd appreciate any input from people on here--i've recently been accepted to med school (i'm a nontraditional student, 27 yrs old, have a Master's in a quantitative science from a good school). i started working as a cna at a psych hospital a few months ago, and have gotten to see a lot of what nurses do--i really like the fact that they spend so much time with patients (though at the psych hospital, most of them push meds, but still). most of the docs i've seen and shadowed, not just psychiatrists, do not spend much time with each patient because they don't have the time; most of what they do is diagnose and prescribe..for the past few years i thought i was certain on wanting to go to med school--i finished prereqs, studied for the MCAT exam almost full-time for over a year, was an active volunteer in various hospitals, and did all that i needed to do. now i'm just confused--i've shadowed nurses in the past and thought at the time that i did not want to become one, that i wanted more book knowledge and the ability to diagnose and treat the way a doctor does. however, at this time, i've been very satisfied with my role even as a cna in terms of getting to know the patients well, having them thank me when they get discharged, and really trying my best to 'take care' of them in a much more tangible way than i have seen doctors do.. also, i have a SO with whom i plan to settle down in the next few years, hopefully, but the med school i've been accepted to so far is very far away from where we live currently; we would likely have to be long-distance for at least 4 yrs. this would be very difficult because we've lived together in the same place for almost 5.5 yrs, and i don't think we would function well being long-distance. additionally, i know that if we wanted to have a family in the future, it would be easier to do this as a nurse in terms of having enough time--if i became a doctor, unless i started having kids as a resident (and i've heard this is brutal) i wouldn't be able to start my family until at least the age of 36-37... of course my family would think i am crazy if i say no to med school and opt for nursing instead, and because of all the hard work i've put into trying to get INTO medical school i'm not sure how i would emotionally deal with saying no and starting over with nursing prereqs and a whole new career (nursing prereqs do not overlap with premed prereqs much). anyway, so sorry for the long post, but i'm wondering if i'm being too idealistic while thinking about pursuing nursing. i know that many nurses are dissatisfied with the level of respect they get and they income they have, but thought i'd ask if current nurses out there were in my shoes and had to do it over again, which would you choose--becoming a doctor or a nurse? thanks so much, everyone!

Thanks so much for all the responses! Actually, this position is in a well-establish psych hospital, but I can ask about funding issues when I interview.. from what I've been told, the psych assistant's duties are to observe patients, check blood glucose levels, take vitals, perform EEGs, update urine samples, sit down with patients, and facilitate groups--there's probably more, but this is the gist. Since I've never had a CNA job before, this is all very new to me, so this is why I was seeking advice from you people who are very experienced and knowledgeable about all this. Unfortunately, I cannot send a PM yet because this is only my second post. Anyway, thanks so much for your help!

hi, i recently interviewed for a position similar to a cna position at a hospital, on a med/surg renal pulmonary floor. the position is PRN, with duties comprising being a unit clerk half the time, and patient care the other half. i have another interview coming up for a full-time psych position (PRN is available, but i'd prefer full time) at a psych hospital on a floor with adult patients who have thought disorders. when i interviewed for the med/surg position, the unit clerk i talked to said it would be very stressful due to the position being an evening shift, when a lot of admissions happen.. i'm not sure how the psych position will be, but i'm wondering, if people here have experience, which of these positions might be better if i have the opportunity to choose? i know that the psych one would be less invasive, since the patients here don't have ivies, etc.; however, i'm interested in medical school in the future, and don't know which one might be better to get the most experience. i've never worked on a psych floor, and am a little nervous, but i know that it would probably expose me to a unique group of patients...i'm not really interested in the unit clerk portion of the first job, but i would have to do it if offered the job. thanks so much for your assistance and time!