I'm a pre-health student and I will be able to apply for nursing school at the end of the summer. I started out pre-med and have since then heavily considered all my options.. please note I'm a freshman!
I have spent a lot of time on this website and another rather well known 'medicine' forum.. I don't want to call any names out.
Cliche.. but I am attracted to helping people. I understand med and nursing are two different beasts, but I am still a freshman trying to grasp as much knowledge as I can!
Here goes it:
Those of you that know the 'forum' I speak off.. the premeds seem to be so concerned with their premed status, gpa, mcat, and .. er money.. that it really bothers me!
Here we talk about our experiences, our 'vocational callings' to the nursing profession.
On allnurses, I see more 'happy' people than on 'that' forum.
It just kind of further validates the fact that I think nursing is more where I belong. I am just kind of bothered by the lack of "why I want to be doctor" "i cant wait to treat my patients".. like we have here for nursing.
Am I just being silly? I think there is a correlation between today's premeds/med students and their dissatisfaction and a correlation between the nursing students/prenurses and our happiness.
Just tell me if you know what I mean..
[i spend my "study breaks" being an internet goof]
I am not sure why people get all huffy when someone makes the statement that some people actually pursue nursing for money. You can make a ton of money in nursing in our present day. I know of many new grads walking out of nursing school taking on a full-time job and working a few per-diem days and making over $100K their first year out.
We don't get huffy when the statement is made that "some people" get into it for the money. We get huffy when someone makes the statement that "everybody" does it for the money and "nobody" has a true calling. I am being completely honest when I say that I had no idea how good the money is in the nursing profession. Money was not an issue for me.
We don't get huffy when the statement is made that "some people" get into it for the money. We get huffy when someone makes the statement that "everybody" does it for the money and "nobody" has a true calling. I am being completely honest when I say that I had no idea how good the money is in the nursing profession. Money was not an issue for me.
Perhaps you should re-read my postings. I will quote them:
"Why does it bother you that pre-med's are concerned about their GPA and MCAT? Medical school is extremely competitive and they NEED to be concerned about their GPA and MCAT. And in regards to the money they are going to make -- that is something you need to consider when embarking on the journey to pursue medicine. They are spending 12+ years in school and residency before they begin making "good" money. And then most have well over $100K in student loans (some have excess of $300K in loans).
And it is hog wash that people who enter the nursing profession are doing so because it is a "calling". Yes, some do it because they are driven to help people... but I guarantee most would not pursue it if they knew the field of nursing was not lucrative. If I knew that I would walk out of nursing school making very little... I would not pursue it.
And everyone who enters the field of medicine has a reason to enter it -- they may not be as cliche as "I want to help people", but they have their own reasons. Some people may want the money, but then again the individual who is entering finance may be pursuing the money as well."
"I understand that it is a calling for many, as I did not dispute that. However, most people would probably not enter the profession these days if they knew it did not pay well."
Now, could you point out where I said "everybody" goes in it for money? I did not. I simply made the point that people DO enter the nursing profession in today's society for $$. And again, I never said money was an issue for you. Times have obviously changed dramatically from the time you entered nursing to today. It is just a fact that people in today's society look at their potential earning power when walking out of nursing school. I really don't understand where my statements should have caused others to get defensive/angry.
I wasn't talking about you. This has been a hot topic on here before, and it has been said before. Sorry if you thought it was directed at you, it wasn't.
You're initial response to my post did raise my eyebrows.
HAVING BEEN a pre-med, I did get bugeyed over my gpa and stress about MCAT preparation and fret over B's as the kiss of death.. and mind you I'm only a freshman.
I was pointing out my feelings towards a correlation that that particular group of pre-allopathic students had less "positive" and "encouraging" feelings/vibes I get from allnurses.com.
I just, IMHO, MY OPINION, feel that pre-meds these days (and well some nursing students) aren't in it for the patient caring and love for medicine and treatment of the diseased and sick.
You know, if I walked out of nursing or even med school not making cheese, as long as my bills are paid, I'm fine. I want a job that I love and look forward to doing so long as I'm not living pay check to pay check. All else is lagniappe and comfortable spending money.
One reason I got sick of being pre-med and lost interest in med school is that it's too political for me. NOT THE WHOLE REASON, NOT EVEN A BIG REASON, but it's a reason.
----
Once again.. my post was just express a correlation I felt...
I'm into nursing for a lot of reasons, personal experiences, love for helping people, because I truly feel I belong, and other factors like job security, financial independence [not being a millionaire] so I can raise a family.
My mom raised me on her own and so if I ever become a single parent, I want to be financially okay.
You're initial response to my post did raise my eyebrows.
HAVING BEEN a pre-med, I did get bugeyed over my gpa and stress about MCAT preparation and fret over B's as the kiss of death.. and mind you I'm only a freshman.
I was pointing out my feelings towards a correlation that that particular group of pre-allopathic students had less "positive" and "encouraging" feelings/vibes I get from allnurses.com.
I just, IMHO, MY OPINION, feel that pre-meds these days (and well some nursing students) aren't in it for the patient caring and love for medicine and treatment of the diseased and sick.
You know, if I walked out of nursing or even med school not making cheese, as long as my bills are paid, I'm fine. I want a job that I love and look forward to doing so long as I'm not living pay check to pay check. All else is lagniappe and comfortable spending money.
One reason I got sick of being pre-med and lost interest in med school is that it's too political for me. NOT THE WHOLE REASON, NOT EVEN A BIG REASON, but it's a reason.
----
Once again.. my post was just express a correlation I felt...
I'm into nursing for a lot of reasons, personal experiences, love for helping people, because I truly feel I belong, and other factors like job security, financial independence [not being a millionaire] so I can raise a family.
My mom raised me on her own and so if I ever become a single parent, I want to be financially okay.
Still nursing is a great career.
::off the soapbox::
I understand where you are coming from. I personally will pursue medicine after I graduate nursing school (I graudate in a few short months). Medicine is something I started to pursue my first few years of college but changed direction to nursing, but have realized I will be far happier in the field of medicine (personal reasons).
As you only being a freshman (as you stated), I don't know if you truly understand the stress pre-medical students have of trying to attain the perfect CV, perfect GPA, and perfect MCAT in an attempt to land a position at a medical school.
And yes, many pre-med students are less encouraging and do not have the positive attitudes that nursing students do. But there are two totally different cultures between the two.
And of course you will find many nursing and medical students that are not in the profession for the patient care. Everyone has their story and their reason for entering the health care field. This goes for any field of work though. But if someone chooses to pursue nursing or medicine with the intention to make money rather than the ideal goal of "helping people", does that make them inferior to those who do go in to it because it was a calling? Not necessarily -- you probably could not tell one from the other.
And I agree, the satisfaction of oneself with a career far surpasses the money being made; however, I doubt that you would be truly that happy in life if you spent 12 years in school/training to walk out and just make ends meet. The same goes for nursing. Although those ideas and values are idealistic, but they are not realistic.
lagniappe means a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase, such as a 13th beignet when buying a dozen, or more broadly something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure; a bonus
I'm wasn't being huffy. But I will tell you one thing; I do not get paid enough money for what I do or what I endure. So if the money was the draw, this career choice would have been short term. We frequently endure short staff, incompetent residents, flippant fellows and or attendings. Sick, sick patients who at times, we wonder just what in the heck are we saving? Not to mention, the drive home, when you are beating yourself up after your pt codes and wonder what could have been missed. Oh then there is the family of the gang banger who refuses to follow the rules of the unit and just as a safety measure, we take off our badges so they don't know our full names. But even more so, worrying about walking out to the garage and praying that you won't be followed. Yes this is a bit of a tandem. But my point is, it is more than money that motivates me and keeps me coming back day after day. It is about making a difference and seeing the long term outcome of my nursing care. It is about being appreciated for my hard work. But more profoundly, it is watching a pt whose injury had a 90% mortality rate walk into our unit months later just to pay us a visit. That my friend is what truly motivates me and reminds me of why I went into nursing. People who enter our profession just for the money will not last long.
Anyway, back on topic, I do read for humor the other forum for premeds. Yes, it is very different there. The maturity level is way lower, and if you expose any sensitivity or emotion, you get mocked and insulted. It is a different culture. You had better not express self-doubt there.
Anyway, back on topic, I do read for humor the other forum for premeds. Yes, it is very different there. The maturity level is way lower, and if you expose any sensitivity or emotion, you get mocked and insulted. It is a different culture. You had better not express self-doubt there.
Wow........and they say that nurses are hard on each other, don't support each other, etc...........
TazziRN, RN
6,487 Posts
We don't get huffy when the statement is made that "some people" get into it for the money. We get huffy when someone makes the statement that "everybody" does it for the money and "nobody" has a true calling. I am being completely honest when I say that I had no idea how good the money is in the nursing profession. Money was not an issue for me.