Why are people encouraging me to become an M.D. rather than an RN?

[tnewman]

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and another degree in Chemical Engineering. Just last year, I applied to various accerelerated nursing programs and medical schools across the nation. I have completed the pre-requisites for medical (year of...biology, english, physics, calculus, general chem, and o chem) and nursing school (chem, micro, physio, and anatomy). In addition, I have taken the TEA's and MCAT. As I grew up, I have garnered a significant interest in the sciences, particularly involving and dealing with the human body itself. It fascinates me to extreme levels and makes me closer to life than itself. I don't know much about the medical field, but I'm prepared to learn and give it all I got. With this being said...

I have been volunteering at my local hospital and the staff was curious to discover where I was headed in life. I informed them that I was deciding between nursing or medical school. However, something really attracted my attention. The majority of the staff ranging from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, security guards, receptionists, and resources department have all encouraged and strongly advised me to become a physician instead of an RN. I wanted to know why, but most of them were very busy with work. Until I stopped by the labor and delivery, an RN who had experience in the field of nursing for 45 years (20 in the military and 25 in the civilian sector). She stated to me that "if your ever going to get any job in the hospital, you go into medicine." As she proceeded to speak, she began speaking of how nobody takes nurses seriously, politics behind the field, and that they are overworked. That's all she said because she was becoming very busy. Another RN told me "become a leader, not a follower" Other than that, my parents, professors, mentors, peers, friends, and others have advised me to take the medical route and they bat another eye when it comes to nursing. Why is this? I come to notice that many of the respondents or repliers here are nurses and I welcome any biased/nonbiased judgments, criticism, advocates, or any other comments.

Anybody have any ideas/suggestions/notes?

[orangepink, NP]

to the threadstarter: considering that you have background in chemical engineering, i'd say go for pharmacy! woohoo! i wish i did before i took up nursing. that or occupational therapy. anyway with pharmacy, you earn the same salaray as a md (but not surgeon) and you are not overworked at all unlike mds.

the only disadvantage with pharmacist is that you are most likely holed up in the pharmacy room hehehe

and yes, being a md is more prestigious but after working in a hospital, i'd be more impressed with a pharmacist than a md. in fact, i'd rather marry a pharmacist than a md. anyone wanna hook me up? hehehe

[nightengalegoddess]

Reply to very original poster...Sounds to me like a pretty obvious message that if you have some obvious qualitities of being a physician..than you ought to go for it if you have the time and money!.. Here's my little story about that...... 15 or so years before I became an RN I imagined that I would become that and somehow went on another lucrative but spiritualy- difficult field.

When I started nursing school I had to be frequently reminded to ,"think as the RN not the MD...". I was more fascinated as ever with the actual analysis and implementaion of a physician plan...so eager to imagine what the results could be. So happy to spread the benefits of the sciences for the better of humanity and its health. (Im a nerd). But for economical, practical reasons, I took the more immediate route to providing for my babies. This being understood:....

Now that I am an RN; my primary confilicts with my job which provide most of my stress (not the patients, at all...love that part)...........and which have provided problems in minor subconcious insobordination on my part ( or fantasies thereof)..all because I knew that something different needed to be followed upon...and because I have almost insisted at times within advocation.......Oh, I have made some problems re: co-worker's perceptions of my borderline insubordination...ALTHOUGH GRANTED...I can't say I regret nursing at all.....it continues to be a humbling spiritual and sacred journey for me...and by the way...you work a lot less as an RN......have a lot more time for a fun real life of your own.

But now, I so wish that I would have started the process of being that RN all the way back 15 years ago when I had the hunch...as well as the passion ( and the extra earning and saving ability of a non- parent!).....Because I would have went into medicine ASAP.....So I say....my friend.....if you possibly have the time and the money.....If you stick with being a physician including school...you have a very excellent crack at a really morally, spiritualy and economicly secure job. I think it takes at least 20 years to make a name in which you may have more people with you so you can have as much time as an RN does with which to have a really fun personal life as well..............

That's my very personal reply........Let's all work together, to the best of our natures, for the best of all's natures.........

[nightengalegoddess]

After reading more posts...when I finish my BSN....if I live long enough...WHEN i live long enough...BAM!!! Maybe I'll get to be a N.P......this community never fails to inspire me!! : -)

[orangepink, NP]

@nightengalegoddess: i agree with you that nursing is a very humbling job. my patient once asked me if i liked it. i said vehemently yes. i told her that i've always known that nursing is not a glamorous job. nobody looks up to me with a glazed look of admiration nor does anyone worship the ground I tread on but it is a very fulfilling job. and yes, it is backbreaking, hard work but i really like the feeling when i see my patients all clean with fresh linens and that is just one part of the huge nursing process.

[rkitty198, BSN, RN]

I am insulted that you would even ask a question like this on a NURSING website. Yet again another example of how nurses don't get the recognition that they should.

To say that the OP is in so many words- overly qualified to be a nurse.......

If you are as smart as you say you are, then you would know the only answer is to become a nurse.

[nightengalegoddess]

Sorry Rkitty...no offense...I'm an RN myself! I was just pointing out the different models / medical and nursing. They are very different, I'm sure you already know ...and different mindsets may work better within either framework depending on where the thought process naturally is inclined to go. Neither occupation is better or worse in my eyes...just very different. And I wholeheartedly aggree with you.....there are MANY nurses with MUCH more brains than MANY physicians!!!!

[GwizBob]

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and another degree in Chemical Engineering. Just last year, I applied to various accerelerated nursing programs and medical schools across the nation. I have completed the pre-requisites for medical (year of...biology, english, physics, calculus, general chem, and o chem) and nursing school (chem, micro, physio, and anatomy). In addition, I have taken the TEA's and MCAT. As I grew up, I have garnered a significant interest in the sciences, particularly involving and dealing with the human body itself. It fascinates me to extreme levels and makes me closer to life than itself. I don't know much about the medical field, but I'm prepared to learn and give it all I got. With this being said...

I have been volunteering at my local hospital and the staff was curious to discover where I was headed in life. I informed them that I was deciding between nursing or medical school. However, something really attracted my attention. The majority of the staff ranging from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, security guards, receptionists, and resources department have all encouraged and strongly advised me to become a physician instead of an RN. I wanted to know why, but most of them were very busy with work. Until I stopped by the labor and delivery, an RN who had experience in the field of nursing for 45 years (20 in the military and 25 in the civilian sector). She stated to me that "if your ever going to get any job in the hospital, you go into medicine." As she proceeded to speak, she began speaking of how nobody takes nurses seriously, politics behind the field, and that they are overworked. That's all she said because she was becoming very busy. Another RN told me "become a leader, not a follower" Other than that, my parents, professors, mentors, peers, friends, and others have advised me to take the medical route and they bat another eye when it comes to nursing. Why is this? I come to notice that many of the respondents or repliers here are nurses and I welcome any biased/nonbiased judgments, criticism, advocates, or any other comments.

Anybody have any ideas/suggestions/notes?

So did you get into Medical school??? Or is this all wishful thinking?