Why have you decided to become a NP and not a Doctor?

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Just what the title says.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

In high school I did not have family support or encouragement to pursue something other than a menial job. I was too immature and hard headed to be future oriented. Unfortunately I was too old by the time I realized college was not only for untalented egg heads with no street smarts and that I have a talent for this field. Although nursing has been very good to me and I am thankful I found it I do regret not having things in place as a young person because I absolutely should have pursued medical school. It is what it is and in some ways I'd imagine a natural part of Erickson's Stages as I age and reflect back. Overall I have definitely made lemonade out of lemons so its all good. Great topic!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'll be even more blunt - I was an idiot!

Was in nursing school right out of high school - quit going with only one semester left (didn't drop any classes, just quit going) - college was BORING! Joined the Navy, left the next day....life happened, got married, had some kids, lived overseas, at 30 decided college wasn't so boring as I was never going to get a decent job without it.

However, at 30 with two kids, husband deployed - well not the time to apply to med school. So...nursing school was next option....

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Similar story to those above. I went to college right from high school, but viewed it as a place to have fun and be social. I did well, but I certainly didn't want to go to school any longer than 4 years at the time. I worked for years in laboratory medicine, got my MBA and went into management for a while. By the time I realized I wanted to go into direct patient care I was already in my 40s. I had 2 kids and medical school was out of the question. I could not see incurring that much debt and being out of the workforce for the length of time medical school would demand. I also wanted my life to belong to me, and that wouldn't happen if I chose the MD route. To be honest, my real regret is that I didn't go to vet school.

I don't see being an NP as "settling". I get to do what I love, I'm not married to my job, I have little debt, and I make a good living. Nothing wrong with that, in my eyes.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I'll be even more blunt - I was an idiot!

Yeah I should have just written this which sums it up nicely. :D

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Same song, second verse.

I actually wanted to be a Nurse growing up and did just that right after High School.

And, from the get-go, knew that I had chosen the wrong profession.

Marriage, children, zero support from spouse/family.

Years go by ...

I am an exceptional NP, have paved roads for those coming after me, have brought many a babe into this world, and am a doggone good diagnostician.

But, if I had it to do again, knowing exactly what I know now, I would be retiring as a Physician.

Still, in saying all of this, at this stage of my life, I can say ... no regrets.

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bombed organic chemistry from playing too much world of warcraft back in 2007. changed major to nursing. did nursing for a while. did nurse practitioner for a little while longer. retook organic and took MCAT 8 years later and put proper work ethic in and am now in med school.

So yeah bombed organic chemistry and gave up cuz pwning noobs and raiding was >life at the time.

I mean given ample opportunity its so much more financially and knowledgably wise to do if given the opportunity. But its not like Doctor or bust so just do what you like

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Specializes in Neuroscience.
bombed organic chemistry from playing too much world of warcraft back in 2007. changed major to nursing. did nursing for a while. did nurse practitioner for a little while longer. retook organic and took MCAT 8 years later and put proper work ethic in and am now in med school.

So yeah bombed organic chemistry and gave up cuz pwning noobs and raiding was >life at the time.

What do you mean raiding isn't life?

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I am currently an RPN (with previous university degrees in another field) and am almost finished my BScN. I will be applying to Med school once my BScN is complete, at which point I will have the following letters after my name: BA, MA, BScN... I feel I've got a hearty curriculum vitae and experiences to apply. I have already done all the Med School admissions requirements: Orgo, Physics, Calculus, Stats, Advanced A&P (scored nothing lower than 82%) and I am scheduled to write the MCAT in the spring 2017. I could technically apply now, but completing my BScN is important to me. SO... Personally, I would consider the MD over the NP program because of the wider scope. Also, it's longer and I am of the personality type that is extremely driven, needs consistent stimulation and likes new challenges all the time. I can dedicate the next 7 years to med school + residency because I have nothing else in my life. I am not married, no kids, nothing and no one else to consider except plenty of time that could be filled with more work, studies, self-improvement and professional advancement. So, I figure why not give it a try. Honestly, I would be happy to make the compromise of becoming an NP instead if I had a husband and children... but I've been very unlucky with romantic relationships (ex. abuse) and life is proving that those things are unlikely going to happen for me/ will be very difficult to come by so all my energy gets poured into studies. So, instead I will be a lonely yet extremely over-educated, accomplished spinster and potential-MD.

So, for me I am choosing the MD over NP route is because I have the time, space, resources to dedicate to do it. I was always going to advance my credentials but am choosing this direction because my life can accommodate it. If I wasn't single/childless, I would chose to become an NP. I really don't see one route (MD vs. NP) as "better" than the other, just suitable for different reasons and circumstances.

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What do you mean raiding isn't life?

sorry, its gamespeak stuff. aka getting into groups online and killing bosses and stuff lol

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Yeah kids are a major determent it seems when it comes to education. There are a few people in my class with kids and the top rated student in the year ahead of me has three kids (hi can i have your mind plz), but more often than not its tougher.

I am married but that doesnt seem really to be a big issue. esp since my wife is also in med school and a year ahead of me and I still have enough money to walk us through 2-3 more years of school from previous salary and when I sold off my business, without taking out living expense loans, which is nice.

Only bad side is once you start the investment is so high if anything knocks you out of the race your in financial crisis for a ridiculously long time. Takes so much money to sit for mcat and apply its insane

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A few reasons...

- This is the biggest one: I like the versatility that both an RN and MSN provide you... for example you can work in geriatrics for years and then go into pediatrics or one of many specialty practices that hire FNPs. I've always been the "jack of all trades" type and love variety and adventure. I would hate to be confined to one type of setting for the rest of my life.

- When I was 18 years old, academics were not my #1 priority. I started pre-med in college and did alright, but decided being a doctor wasn't worth giving up my social life and hobbies for

- NP means no residency and no fellowship. I didn't want to give up my 20s to 80 hour work-weeks for 50,000$ a year. I dated a resident for a while and it is NOT a pleasant lifestyle

Of course, as it turns out becoming an NP was not nearly as easy (or inexpensive) as I thought it would be. There are times I think that, if I had to go back and do it all over again, I should have just become a physician... especially with the movement towards DNP as the entry-level requirement! But what's done is done :)

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