So... advising little sis on healthcare career

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

My little sis is 16 and a model kid with great grades, high hopes, and a dream to be a Doctor Without Borders. Of course, her perceptions are all based on society's stereotypes ("You're sooo smart, you should become a doctor!") She's saying that she wants to be a doctor and help people, but if she can't make it, she can "fall back on being a nurse." For some reason, this irks me. I immediately told her that nursing and medicine were two independent circles in a Venn diagram. If she wants to go into medicine, she should be a doctor or PA. If she wants to go into nursing, she should go into nursing rather than see it as a lower level of being a doctor. I also asked why she wants to become a doctor, and from what she described, she sounded like she really wants to do nurse work, but, "Doctors are smarter, have more power, and can do more, and I should aim for the most that I can be," according to her. I'm not downplaying the education that doctors receive, but... eh.

Luckily, she's a hospital volunteer, and I strongly suggested that she watch the roles of the nurses, doctors, PAs, etc. I'm not discouraging her to become a doctor in the least, but it just seems like she's doing it because society deems that smart people become doctors, and that nursing is just a subset of medicine and that if a nurse is smart, s/he is compromising his/her potential.

Yes yes, I know that it's not my job to change her mind, and that the kid's going to have to learn on her own (Oh crap, I'm becoming an adult, something I swore I'd never do as a teen, hehe), but it's just a bit irking how nursing is seen as a lower subset of what doctors do. This is especially grating on my mind because the other day, I was talking with a nurse who gave me a bit of encouragement but also said, "You seem so smart, you shouldn't be settling for nursing school, try med school." Yes, she was a nurse.

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

She's 16- just encourage her to do her best at school and pursue her dreams. She'll learn reality soon enough.When I was an undergrad everyone I knew wanted to go to med school. Very few of them made it past freshmen chemistry.

On a side note, maybe you two could look into Doctor's without borders/MSF together. They need nurses too!

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

Yeah, I remember freshman year when everyone was going to doctors, lawyers, PhDs, CEOs, etc. REality hit like a brick wall. Man, I am getting old.

At least she's being exposed to a healthcare setting rather than watching ER, Gray's Anatomy, Scrubs, etc.

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I wanted to be a doctor growing up as well. In hindsight, the people who were the most influential in my decision to become a nurse were those nurses who supported my goals and served as good role models. I learned (without them being forceful) that nursing was a great career to pursue and that it was composed of skilled professionals from every walk of life. The realities of pursuing medicine became evident to me soon enough.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

PeachPie,

I understand your frustrations in counseling your sister. I think the problem stems from the fact that the general public has little to no understanding of the difference between medicine and nursing. And, unfortunately high school teachers and guidance counselors are no exception.

I'll spare you the details of my high-school and college academic career, but suffice it to say that I had NUMEROUS people who should have known better try to talk me out of nursing and into just about anything else (chemistry, engineering, computers, medicine). Not because they thought I'd make a bad nurse, but because I was "too smart" to "settle" for nursing. Thankfully, I'm to darn stubborn to listen to anyone, and I found a career I love!

My sister, on the other hand, gave into the rhetoric, and became a very unhappy physician. She has told me numerous times that she would have been much beter suited to nursing, and I agree.

Just support your sister's efforts, provide her with accurate information, and she'll do fine!

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Specializes in NICU.

I graduated highschool early, and have always done well in school...so I've heard the "too smart to be a nurse" way too many times:angryfire. What annoys me most is that I heard it from the people in A&P classes especially-those who WANTED to be nurses.

I'm guessing that once your sister gets to know more doctors and nurses, she'll figure out what it is that she really wants to do. I wish our culture didn't have so many stereotypical views on medicine vs. nursing. Maybe remind her that she should do what she wants to do, and not just go into medicine so that people realize she's smart and respect her. Why go into a career just so you can have an ego trip? And you can be just as proud of yourself if you make it through nursing school. Heck, I'm going to be VERY proud of myself when I graduate (...not even going to say if ;)) in a year and half.

Also, does she know about NPs? That's always an option, too...

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

Hehe, lately I've come up with a non-pissy way to correct people who see nursing as halfway doctors:

Me (bimbo act): "So... like, you think that smart nurses are a rarity and are compromising their potential by not becoming doctors?"

Ignorant person: Mumble mumble "Yes."

Me: "So... uhh... like, you'd rather have a STUPID person assigned to directly monitor you rather than a trained, intelligent professional who knows anything and everything that can go wrong and can pick up on the subtlest symptoms and knows exactly what to do in every situation?"

They usually get the point and laugh along with me, and I'll quickly explain that nursing and medicine are separate fields with different approaches and philosophies, and if I want the title of Dr. attached to my name, then I'll get a Ph.D in nursing.

Ignorant person: "Wow, a nurse. You must be a caring angel."

Me (big smile and giggle): "Nope, I'm competant, I have an iron stomach, and I'm a genius with straight A's in my science prereqs, even better reasons to become a nurse!"

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

On a side note, maybe you two could look into Doctor's without borders/MSF together. They need nurses too!

Please note that recently, Doctors Without Borders was headed up by A NURSE!!!!! Not an MD.

While I do not know, whether she is still the head of DWB, I do know that she headed it up during one of the more difficult times, with the increasing danger levels in Africa and Asia to NGO healthcare workers.

And as far as MDs being smarter, etc., suggest that she cruise the some of the MD BBs, especially the more "informal" sections. That is a real eye opener for the lack of maturity and poor grammar/spelling/manners of prospective MDs.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

If I did not know any smart Nurses I would not want to be one either! You gave your sister the correct advice. She will see for herself the difference between the two fields if she pays attention. Don't worry.

I wanted to be a Nurse out of high school, but I was discouraged because I too was a straight A student, whom everyone thought would be better off becoming a doctor. In fact, I was told by people that if I want to work in Health Care I should not waste my time being a Nurse. I should just go to medical school and do it right; become a doctor.

Since I had NO desire to be a doctor, I went into a different field all together... I hated it... :angryfire and now I am back doing what I should have done all along.

By the way, I think within 20 years people will finally get a clue that Nursing and Medicine are different fields. They seem to have a clue that EMTs are different then Docs and are not necessarily inferior. Look at all of the shows for EMTs that make their profession look so good!

However, I think it will take someone to finally get some money and some backing and to create a show about Nurses doing Nursing and Docs doing medicine. As soon as that happens the Worm will turn for hospitals because the public will finally have a clue!

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By the way, I think within 20 years people will finally get a clue that Nursing and Medicine are different fields. They seem to have a clue that EMTs are different then Docs and are not necessarily inferior. Look at all of the shows for EMTs that make their profession look so good!

This is funny since my DH is a paramedic with a private company that deals with emergency ALS transports of LTC patients and is frequently referred to as an "ambulance driver" by nurses. :lol2:

Encourage your sister. She will find her niche when she is ready. If she loves the medical model of care, she will find her way just as if she loves the nursing model of care care. Just support her. Good luck. :)

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

I'm trying to explain to her the differences between the medical and nursing models... any helpful links? She's still under the impression that nurses are doctor's assistants.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I understand why you're irked. I would be to. I'm glad you're sticking us for nursing. But naturally she has to find her own way. When I went to college fresh out of high school I did the societal expectation thing and went pre-med for a year............HATED IT.

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