Why did you become a nurse instead of a doctor?

[GlowBear500]

I'm just curious about what made you decide to become a nurse instead of a doctor.Or did becoming a doctor never even cross your mind?

It took me a while to figure out that I wanted to work in the medical field. After that was done I only had to figure out in what profession I wanted to be in. I always thought it would be great to become a doctor but although I think I have the potential to be a good doctor and would like their work, I decided that nursing was the better way for me. Some of the reasons for that were that I liked the schedules better, schooling takes less time, it's easier to get into the schools and I'm not willing to give up my family life or marriage for a career as a doctor.

It would be intersting to hear why you guys think that nursing is the better career (or not?!)

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I didn't want to spend half of my life in school.

I didn't want to be on call 24/7.

I didn't want to develop a God complex.

[jaimealmostRN]

energizerbunny05 said:

well yes that is your choice of a degree. you want the MPH i rather have the MD. The fact is that physicians in general are given a bad rap by nurses when bad behavior doesnt apply to all physicians. And yes I have met very compassionate doctor as well as nurses. I have also met very nasty nurses including my preceptors so lets not act like doctors are the only ones behaving badly. You know whats funny i see alot of doctor bashing on this forum but not as much in pre med forums funny isnt it.

:chuckle What? I'm sensing hostility. I simply answered your honest question. I would also like to get my MSN too, but that (and the MPH) is a while off. And I don't understand the "bad behavior part," can you clarify?

[energizerbunny05]

jaimealmostRN said:

:chuckle What? I'm sensing hostility. I simply answered your honest question. I would also like to get my MSN too, but that (and the MPH) is a while off. And I don't understand the "bad behavior part," can you clarify?

the kind of snotty, disrespectful commemts physician make to nurses, at times abusive. No no hostility its cool to each his own. live and let live thats my motto

[jaimealmostRN]

energizerbunny05 said:

the kind of snotty, disrespectful commemts physician make to nurses, at times abusive. No no hostility its cool to each his own. live and let live thats my motto

Kewl. ? Things often get misinterpreted online. :chuckle

[energizerbunny05]

jaimealmostRN said:

Kewl. ? Things often get misinterpreted online. :chuckle

yeah tell me about it. best of luck

[Soleilpie]

marie_lpn said:

i didn't want to spend half of my life in school.

i didn't want to be on call 24/7.

i didn't want to develop a god complex.

while i agree that there is a lot of schooling involved and some doctors (not all) are on call 24/7, i don't think it's inevitable that all doctors will develop a god complex. if you think you'd succumb to that, then the md route probably isn't the best one for you, but if you truly want to help people medically and want to play a large role in the decision making of their healthcare, then you may be on the right track.