Will becoming a Nurse practitioner be enough for me?

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Hi,

I'm currently debating weather I should set a course to become an acute care nurse practitioner or a doctor. I just turned 18 and I'm heading off to college soon and I want to pursue an undergrad degree in nursing because it'll provide me with a stable income quickly and I love the nursing model and it's holostic appaorch.

However, I've been reading different opinions on the education of advance nursing and I've heard very good things and very bad things. I've also researched the curriculum. I love knowing how diseases work and I feel like I would appreciate a doctors in-depth education, but I don't want to stay in school for 11 years to achieve that knowledge because I want to practice as soon as possible and I also love the emerging field of the nurse practitioner and identify their future importance. I also don't want to put up with the complications and the hoops that doctors have to jump through and put up with. I also value the flexiablity and multiple options for nurses and also the lifestyle freedom. I want to handle difficult and complex patients and I want to be properly educated and knowledable to feel confident to manage those patients. I want intellectual rigor and I also want to work at the Mayo Clinic to be apart of rare cases. So I was just wondering if I could become a nurse practitioner and be able to adequately supplment my college education with more doctor like coursework/research and maybe even join a NP residency. Is this possible and the best choice or should I just change my thinking and consider becoming a doctor?

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Doctor sounds like a better fit, to me ...assuming you have the scholastic ability. You're young enough to spend the time.

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Will becoming a Nurse practitioner be enough for me? I doubt it, based on your post and aspirations. I would advise going to medical school.

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Specializes in NICU.

You want to have all the knowledge, but not the years of work to get to it? You can't have it all, unfortunately. Good news is that you're young and have a lot of time to think about it.

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Thank you for your advice!

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Thank you! I'm strongly considering it now!

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You're right. I just have to put it in perspective because I'm young and have enough time to think and pursue it.

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Don't worry about the age thing. I know you're 18 and you probably think 24 or even 25 is ancient, but the truth is that you'll be hitting 30+ regardless. In a decade, do you want to be an NP at 30 or do you want to be a DO/MD? Medical school isn't a death sentence to your social life, but to be in this business, you have to like learning.

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The field is evolving very rapidly, so I would advise to follow your heart.

Be sure to get an A in everything! Which you will need for medical school.

Your passions will emerge with experience.

The NP role is definitely expanding, but there still are many things an NP cannot do.

On the other hand, I know of many people who have wanted to go to medical school, and could not get into an American program, because it is ridiculously competitive.

Some people with a 4.0 average do not get into an American medical school.

Instead, they went to a foreign medical school, but now can't get into a residency here, so they can actually practice.

They borrowed a bunch of money, and they are now totally screwed.

They cannot work as an NP, as some have suggested, and they are not welcome at McDonald's. Over educated.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but do some research on your own.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

The OP does not discuss your GPA. If you want to get into med school, you will have to work like a dog in college to have a 4.0 or as close as possible. A lot of people don't get into med school. Studying will be your life, along with a lot of stress over your grades. You will have very little social life. Assuming you get into med school, you will have another 4 years of extremely hard work, long hours, little sleep, and little social life. Then you have the stress of passing boards and getting matched for internship/residency. Not everyone gets matched. And then another 2 to 8+ years of internship/residency for little pay. If you get through that, chances are you will be carrying a boatload of debt with monthly loan payments of $1500 to $3000. Of course, people do get through this, but it requires an incredible amount of determination and hard work. Are you prepared to do this? If so, then go for it.

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I was a pre-med student once...three years ago...now I'm a senior nursing student and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

What really helped me was working at the hospital and seeing the healthcare team dynamic first hand, as well as helping me gain a deeper understanding of everyone's role. I thought nurses were pill passers-my first day in the ICU proved that to be completely untrue! It is hard to know at that age what is best. Your personality, likes, dislikes, etc are all changing.

One thing I wished I had done, even when I was pre-med, was pursued a four year degree that was actually in healthcare directly. I finished with my Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences in three years and I thought I wanted to go to medical school or PA school but ultimately decided nursing was more attractive to me. Unfortunately, my degree, although great for my part-time job now (as a health educator) isn't very lucrative or my true passion, since it does not enable me to work at the bedside. So, if you like both, maybe you could be a nursing major and take your premed classes over the summer? This will not only enable you to have a job within four years as a nurse working in healthcare, but also makes you stand out on medical school applications! At the very least, for your first year of college, to give you time to gain some shadowing or work experience in healthcare. Just a thought. :)

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Thanks for sharing your experience with me! I was actually considering that route (nursing major with premed courses). I've had a talk with my nurse practitioner who's my Primary care provider and she's happy to let me shadow her and she's been giving me a lot of advice. I can't wait to start my journey in healthcare no matter what route I decide on!

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