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Discussion

Torn over FNP or MD...

I'm currently pre-nursing. I have been interested in being a doctor for many years, but all the chemistry scared the bejeezus out of me. So I have planned to go for FNP, instead.

The trouble is....I have this nagging feeling that I am not a nurse-person. I feel very strongly about healthcare, treating the whole person, educating patients in disease prevention, and NOT throwing pills at every symptom, which is why I thought NP would be a good fit for me, but my proffessors keep telling me to go to med school instead.

(No offense to anyone please, I've gotten great advice from some of you here over the last couple of years, which is why I pour out my guts to you now.):yeah:

I have figured that by the time I get my DNP, I can be finishing Med school and beginning a residency. I'm 33 with 2 year-old twins...adding to my stress over which way to go. I don't want to abandon my family to go to med school. The NP program I'm heading into can be done mostly online. Luckily, I have a very supportive husband who is pushing me to go MD as well. :banghead:

Any advice from other mom's or NP's out there? Do any of you wish you had gone MD?

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I'd love to learn the stuff in med school, but I am not willing to make the life sacrifices needed to get there.

Plus, I really like being a nurse more than I imagine I would being a doctor. NP seems like a good mix of the two careers' skills and benefits.

Only you can decide which fit is best for your family and yourself.

If I had the time and money I'd go for the MD in a heartbeat. If professors are pushing you towards this know that you can slam the chemistry in a nanosecond.

There are aspects of nursing that I love but the autonomy of the MD can't be beaten.

Good luck, whatever you choose.

Assuming you can pass nursing school first, work a while then go to FNP school

Do you want to practice medicine or nursing?

Perhaps - if looking at mid level clinician... you get your BSN and get some experience and then move towards FNP if you like nursing, or towards PA if you like the medical model.

v/r

  • Author

Thanks to everyone who replied. I plan to get my BSN, and by then I should have a better idea about which way to go.

I've read that a BSN is a bad undergrad to have before applying to med school, which seems strange to me. I know the nurse/med approaches are different, but at least I'll have had contact time with patients by then as opposed to the kids right out of a biology degree.

Occasionally I have to step back and reassess my plan to make sure it still feels good. Don't be surprised if you see me fretting over the same thing next year. Or next semester. Or next week. :p

Reading the posts at the blog "Mothers in Medicine" is enough to make me never consider medical school as a Mom. I think there is a time and a place for medical school and I'm proud of those who do it. But I could never wake up in 6 years and realize I'd missed half of my kids lives.

With kids, I'd go the DNP route. If you didn't have a family, I'd say go for the MD. If you are willing to sacrifice a lot of time and experiences with your kids, then go for the MD.

If I had to do it all over again - I'd probably go the PA route instead of the NP route. There are huge holes in what they are teaching in NP programs for the most part - and that is because the specialty is declared up front. PA's learn first and specialize later. It's a broader knowledge base.

If I was young without kids - I would have gone to med school. I started my family young - and although I am sure I could have done med I don't think my family would have survived it intact.

If I had to do it all over again - I'd probably go the PA route instead of the NP route. There are huge holes in what they are teaching in NP programs for the most part - and that is because the specialty is declared up front. PA's learn first and specialize later. It's a broader knowledge base.

I've been wondering something....Can PA's transition to MD? That is, are there programs that allow PAs to fast-track through parts of med school in a way similar to that of LVNs entering as second year RN students?

Yes they can - however it requires going through medical school.... :)

There has been some talk on the matter as PAs have shown interest but there is not currently a mechanism for a 'quicker' route to becoming MD or DO.

v/r

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If I had to do it all over again - I'd probably go the PA route instead of the NP route. There are huge holes in what they are teaching in NP programs for the most part - and that is because the specialty is declared up front. PA's learn first and specialize later. It's a broader knowledge base.

Specialty how? I am doing acute care, but you are prepared to work in any acute care area. There are no specialties.

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Good question OC85. I've been wondering that.

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