"You're too smart to be a nurse. Be a doctor"

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Every time someone asks me what I want to do with my life and I say nursing, this is what they say, even my parents! I'm sure it's something every nurse has experienced. When people ask you this question, how do you reply? Do you have a good sassy comeback?

Consider something else. If your grades are good, you have a whole lot of other options before you. Please, don't go into nursing. It's not worth the heartache. I wouldn't recommend becoming a doctor either, but if you want to choose something in healthcare, please do not choose nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Critical Care.

Respectfully, although this has been your experience, the OP should also know that nursing does not always involve backbreaking labor and disrespect from doctors and administration...I'm not saying it doesn't happen at all because it does. However, at the institution where I work I am respected by all of my colleagues, especially the physicians and nurse practitioners that I directly work with. Mutual respect and teamwork are so important in order to deliver safe and effective care to our patients.

As for the ridiculous hours...most hospital nursing jobs require three 12 hour shifts a week, sometimes rotating days and nights, working holidays, and sometimes overtime as well. I knew this before even going to nursing school and was more than okay with it. I actually prefer it over working a 9-5 schedule 5 days a week. But again, this is just my experience. The amazing thing about nursing is that there are so many different opportunities to pursue!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I tell them some variation of the following:

1) didn't want the debt

2) already on my second career

3) wanted work/life balance

4) actively declined grad school

Neatly summed up when a resident looked confused about how to administer Chloraseptic spray to a patient. He'd brought it back to me from the tube station for our patient. I was like "yeah, I should probably do that, doc". :D:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
"Let me put it straight. You wanna someone STUPID taking care of your mother?"

Usually this ends the discussion. And I'd heard that more times than I care to count.

Yeah, I respond along those lines too. I usually say that I think it helps if nurses are more intelligent in addition to being "caring" because of the complexity of clinical decision-making in modern nursing. I thought that before I trained, I think that now.

I've heard it a lot too: from other nurses during my training, from doctors, from many people. It's usually meant as a sort of compliment and most people don't really know what a nurse does so I'm never offended by it. Becoming a nurse was a very carefully considered decision. I like my career, I'm never bored, which is important to me. I don't want my job to be my life. It was much cheaper and quicker to train as a nurse. We also have a flexibility to change specialities that the medical profession don't have. And it is a very powerful position from which to make a difference and help others. Sometimes I will explain these things if someone is actually interested in why I chose to pursue nursing rather than medicine.

There have been a few times - not many - when I've thought I made the wrong decision- they are paid more, better respected and the work looks very interesting. Sure you aren't tempted OP?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

While discussing career paths with a resident, I was once asked, "Why didn't you become a doctor?" I answered him with, "Why didn't you become a nurse?" and that was the end of that line of questioning.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..

I have heard this a few times in my career. From my family, pt family members and friends.

Being able to succeed in nursing does not by default mean one could/would (and especially not should) do as well as a doctor. Same is true the other way around.

Different fields, different approaches to pt care, different skills. We just end up on the same team eventually so, everyone wants to put us in the same box.

You are in highschool and having a vision for your future is great. You may or may not change your mind.

I do though agree with the poster who said nursing is not a calling. Being a nurse does not mean resting in a bed of roses while we comfort the sick. It can be difficult, on a personal and professional level.

Why tell you that? Simple. Its important not to think less of yourself or think you are unworthy of a 'calling' if you change your mind. Many would even say you dodged a bullet.

If you don't change your mind.......welcome to nursing. And do keep us updated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Why would I want to do that"? Then just look at them with a puzzled expression and complete silence.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am old enough to not need assurances.I am one of those nurses that moved to the cushiest office of all... home .. making 6 figures. I was attempting to get the point across to the ORIGINAL POSTER that nursing will involve backbreaking labor, ridiculous hours, and no respect from doctors and administration.

Wow. Sorry nursing has treated you this way. I work with awesome administration and wonderful docs . I guess I've been blessed in my career so far. Nope Not a new grad or cob but I've worked enough to know not all nursi g jobs are back breaking and full of crap

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow. Sorry nursing has treated you this way. I work with awesome administration and wonderful docs . I guess I've been blessed in my career so far. Nope Not a new grad or cob but I've worked enough to know not all nursi g jobs are back breaking and full of crap

How fortunate for you that you have not been there. Certainly, many nurses have better working conditions than others. However, 60% of nurses work in hospitals and the corporate goal is to treat us like a commodity to make money for their bottom line. This is only going to get worse.

As I said in my response to the ORIGINAL POSTER, read some of the threads here on AN.. in order to get a feel for what the hell is going on in nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Med Surg, Ob/Gyn, Clinical teaching.

People will ALWAYS have stuff to say about WHATEVER you do in life. Don't be surprised that if you had pursued to become a physician, the same people will say, 'you are too caring to be a physician'. My rule is be comfortable with whatever your heart sets to do in life. I was told same thing over and over and over again. My parents even threatened not to fund my school fees if I choose to continue with nursing. But, I can tell you that. I have had many amazing, emotional experiences as a nurse that I WOULD NEVER have had if I had become something else... All the best! [emoji106]🏾[emoji106]🏾

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

When I was a senior in high school I heard this from A) a colleague of my mother's and B) a Dentist who gave me a scholarship (that I qualified for based on the neighborhood I lived in). I told person A that I was going to be a nurse and marry a doctor. (The Dr. Ross to my Carol Hathaway.) In real life, I have never considered even dating a doctor. I was a homeowner 4 years after I graduated from my BSN program. Had I gone to medical school, I would have just been graduating, with even more debt, and starting out making 1/3 of what I make to start work as an indentured servant (Resident) working 80 hours a week. No thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many years ago I had a professor tell me that I was too smart to be a nurse. I told him that when day came that he needed a nurse I hoped he got the dumbest one they could find.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment