What would you do in my situation...?

hospicemom · Aug 12, 2004

I know many nurses who are capable and would make great doctors...do I think they lowered their standards? no....however.....if your heart is to have that M.D....then thats what you should do.

Chevelle · Aug 12, 2004

i just think that maybe you should stick with med school or go work in a lab, research...whatever...

KailuaNurse · Aug 12, 2004

Nursing takes on a different focus than medicine does. Nursing is focused more on the holistic approach, which is totally different than medicine which just focuses on diseases and pathology etc. I personally had this debate before I started college and I did alot of soul searching along with volunteering in the local ER to see what the two professions had to offer. For me, nursing was what I was looking for. I don't think that nurses have sold themselves short. I have seen nursing collegues whom I highly admire and who our physicians respect and listen to what they are saying. That said, it sounds like medicine is what you would like to do. If that is the focus that you want then I say go for it.

jaimealmostRN · Aug 12, 2004

It sounds like you want to be a doctor. Go for it despite what your parents tell you about the job market...if your not happy in your choice of nursing you'll end up going back to school anyways. But having said that, nursing is in no way full of people who just couldn't cut it in med school. Not only do I have the grades, I also have the $ to go to med, dental, law etc school (just stating a fact, don't yell!) however, NURSING is my passion. Nothing could make me be, say..., an accountant or a doctor, or a tractor operator. Nursing is my life and the only thing I can see myself doing 20 yrs from now. I love how nurses get to administer meds, give injections, foleys, assessments, gastric lavage (just did my first!), collaborate with social work, doctors, pastoral care, etc. I also love when I tell someone I'm in nursing school and they're like "wow...you must be smart." So if you don't feel strongly about nursing then don't do it. But don't take that "nurses are mini-docs" attitude with you to either med or nursing school b/c it's not nice nor is it true.

suvilin · Aug 12, 2004

:nono: I was surprised to read about your choice of nursing school over medical school. Always set your goals high and you'll have no regrets!

Good luck!

I went to a prestigious University, majoring in General Biology as a PreMed student, and was planning to go into their Medical School as a Grad student to become some sort of Doctor.
Now I am at a less academically challenging College majoring in Nursing becasue my parents think there is a more open job market, and my previous University didn't offer that major.
This new college is not as rigourous and research oriented as my previous University. For instance, if I was at my previous University, I would be required to take multiple level courses in Physics, Calculus, Humanities, Languages, Chemistry, etc. even though they don't relate to my major. And I also had to take over 50 units(about 15 classes) each year to graduate in 4 years. But at this current college, I was only required to take necessary Biology and Nursing courses, and typical, easy G.Es. Also, I only needed 24 units(about 8 classes) each year to graducate in 4 years.
But this doesn' t relieve much because I was always a studious student.
What I want to know is if I made the right decisions(did I lower my standards since I was capable of becoming a doctor?) and what would you have done if you were in my shoes?
All I know is that I always wanted to go into something related to the medical field and working in the hospital and currently, I'm indecisive so I'm going with my parents, and I don't think I prefer either professions over the other yet.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2004

I see in your profile that you are only 19 years old, so I will cut you a little slack because of that. You may want to re read your post and consider who you are asking for help with your problem. Right off the bat, you inferred that nursing school is not difficult and certainly not as prestigeous as your previous program. You also said that you would be lowering your standards to become a nurse. So after insulting every one of us for our career choices and our intelligence you come to us for answers? Those are things that stand out to me in your post. So are you here for real answers or are you just bitter and angry at your parents and are here to take it out on us? Since you apparently have such a low opinion of nurses, I don't think we can be of help to you. Maybe you could find a board for aspiring physicians who are more on par with your intelligence level. Good luck with your choices.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Aug 12, 2004

Have you started any of the nursing program courses yet or are you taking prerequesites? Nursing program classess require tons of READING, studying, and WRITING, and research too.

Think the real question is "what do you personally see valuable in nursing compared to medicine" and do you really understand what nursing is about?

With all the pressures on physicians due to the "business" of healthcare, many doctors are reconsidering their profession too.

Often I've been told "why didn't the doctor tell me that...your so smart why don't you become a doctor" (just last month by my 18yo son). 30 years as a nurse has shown me that helping patients understand their illness, medications, learning how to care for themselves due to illness or disability, advocating for clients to maintain themselves at home etc. is much more personally satisfying than diagnosing an illness/ performing surgery or only seeing the patient for a 10 minute office visit.

UCLARN · Aug 12, 2004

I went to a prestigious university (UCLA) for my master's and loved every minute of it. I don't need to explain further because the name speaks for itself. For my undergrad degree, I went to a slightly less prestigious university (Cal state) but is considered still pretty good. Even if my BSN didn't come from UCLA, we still had to take classes such as micro, anatomy and physio, physics, bio, chem, stats, research (qualitative & quantitative) and so forth as well as typical easy GE's like humanities and foreign language. For you to say that the only prereq into the nursing program at that less prestigious school is bio, nsg courses and GE's is wrong. Even ADN nurses must take micro, bio, chem, a&p, etc. So it's either you're fooling yourself into thinking that it is that much easier, or you have been gravely misinformed.

My advice to you is to follow your heart. If you do not want to become a nurse, then don't. I wouldn't want you to be burnt out way before your time. The nursing profession is full of intelligent people already so if you don't want to become a nurse, that would be fine. Our profession does not need people who think they have "lowered their standard" just to become only a nurse. You asked what would I do if I were in your shoes. Well, frankly I don't know at this time. But what I do know is that I wouldn't come to message boards for reassurance.

Good luck in all your endeavors.

I went to a prestigious University, majoring in General Biology as a PreMed student, and was planning to go into their Medical School as a Grad student to become some sort of Doctor.
Now I am at a less academically challenging College majoring in Nursing becasue my parents think there is a more open job market, and my previous University didn't offer that major.
This new college is not as rigourous and research oriented as my previous University. For instance, if I was at my previous University, I would be required to take multiple level courses in Physics, Calculus, Humanities, Languages, Chemistry, etc. even though they don't relate to my major. And I also had to take over 50 units(about 15 classes) each year to graduate in 4 years. But at this current college, I was only required to take necessary Biology and Nursing courses, and typical, easy G.Es. Also, I only needed 24 units(about 8 classes) each year to graducate in 4 years.
But this doesn' t relieve much because I was always a studious student.
What I want to know is if I made the right decisions(did I lower my standards since I was capable of becoming a doctor?) and what would you have done if you were in my shoes?
All I know is that I always wanted to go into something related to the medical field and working in the hospital and currently, I'm indecisive so I'm going with my parents, and I don't think I prefer either professions over the other yet.

jemb · Aug 12, 2004

Who is paying for your education? It doesn't seem reasonable that your would make any major change in your life that you personally do not want if you are financially independent. Since you switched schools because of your parents' wishes, I am wondering if they are paying your way. Would it have something to do with what is affordable/ doable for your parents as much as how they perceive the job market?

Actually, the job market is better for nurses in most locations than it is for doctors, and some nursing positions can even pay as well as some physician positions.

And, no, becoming a nurse is not lowering your standards! :roll It is a different choice altogether. Most doctors would not make very good nurses. Most nurses are not interested in becoming doctors. It just depends on what you want to do.

I believe that you might benefit by taking basic classes for a year or so (requirements for graduation not related to your major, or prereqs for other courses), while you check out the different professions on your own.

It could be quite an eye opener for you if you presented the same questions to a group of doctors.

Maybe you should consider becoming a surgeon. :chair:

Agnus · Aug 12, 2004

I went to a prestigious University, majoring in General Biology as a PreMed student, and was planning to go into their Medical School as a Grad student to become some sort of Doctor.
Now I am at a less academically challenging College majoring in Nursing becasue my parents think there is a more open job market, and my previous University didn't offer that major.
This new college is not as rigourous and research oriented as my previous University. For instance, if I was at my previous University, I would be required to take multiple level courses in Physics, Calculus, Humanities, Languages, Chemistry, etc. even though they don't relate to my major. And I also had to take over 50 units(about 15 classes) each year to graduate in 4 years. But at this current college, I was only required to take necessary Biology and Nursing courses, and typical, easy G.Es. Also, I only needed 24 units(about 8 classes) each year to graducate in 4 years.
But this doesn' t relieve much because I was always a studious student.
What I want to know is if I made the right decisions(did I lower my standards since I was capable of becoming a doctor?) and what would you have done if you were in my shoes?
All I know is that I always wanted to go into something related to the medical field and working in the hospital and currently, I'm indecisive so I'm going with my parents, and I don't think I prefer either professions over the other yet.

If you feel you "lowered your standards" then you did. I am sorry. I am sorry that you feel that nursing is somehow "lower"

You can not ask someone else if you lowered your standards. They are your standards. If your standards says nursing is not as high a standard as medicine then that is your standard. For someone so smart you are not very bright.

You want to be "some sort of doctor" you let your parents tell you to change to nursing. Huh hm. You have no clue what you want. But you have it in your head it must be prestegious. The little silver spoon is going to cause you a lot of trouble until you grow up.

Farkinott, RN · Aug 12, 2004

I see in your profile that you are only 19 years old, so I will cut you a little slack because of that. You may want to re read your post and consider who you are asking for help with your problem. Right off the bat, you inferred that nursing school is not difficult and certainly not as prestigeous as your previous program. You also said that you would be lowering your standards to become a nurse. So after insulting every one of us for our career choices and our intelligence you come to us for answers? Those are things that stand out to me in your post. So are you here for real answers or are you just bitter and angry at your parents and are here to take it out on us? Since you apparently have such a low opinion of nurses, I don't think we can be of help to you. Maybe you could find a board for aspiring physicians who are more on par with your intelligence level. Good luck with your choices.

Ditto from overseas too.