You should never ask a nurse this question.

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Why didn’t you become a doctor?

This question is, by far, one of the most provoking questions you should never ask a nurse.

Nurses are wired; differently, we have different goals and different backgrounds.

Not every nurse’s dream was ever to become a doctor. There are people whom I work with that I always wanted to become nurses for so many reasons.

Some say they became nurses because they’ve always had the desire to take care of the sick. By the way to nursing means caring by definition.

Some say they got into nursing because a parent, relative, spouse, or friend introduced them into their career.

Others say they became nurses because they were sick and were impressed by the level of the care they got from nurses.

Others say they wanted a career that was more fulfilling and rewarding and thought that nursing was worth it.

Others reveal that the path to becoming a nurse is way shorter than medicine.

Others would say medicine was harder for them, and they wanted something achievable without having to go through the stress of medical school.

See! Not every nurse wanted to be a doctor.

We are professionals that play a vital role in the business of caring for people, and we deserve some respect.

A better way to ask would be, “why did you decide to become a nurse?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Business, Health, Finance.
22 hours ago, nlkimmel said:

Great thought provoking question. I love being a nurse first and foremost. It is very rewarding. However, I can say first hand that my experiences with physicians have not been pleasant. I know that I'm preaching to the choir, but how many times have we had to correct their mistakes, reduce the IV fluid rate so our patient didn't go into cardiovascular overload or shock and have to justify with a litany of reasons for calling them at 2am just to get our patient pain medication or something to sleep. Very frustrating. Let us not forget some of the nurses aides who flatout refuse to help us. It takes a strong nurse to stay in nursing and a strong nurse to stand up to physicians. Being a patient advocate and protector is what we do. May God give us strength.

Nice one, Nurse Kimmel! I could not have agreed more with you. Thanks for your comment.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

I get asked this a fair amount, too. As if nursing is some sort of consolation prize. Nope, I love being a nurse. Nope, I don't want to be an APP. I don't want the responsibilities of being a provider/doctor. The providers at my facility have to give at least 90 days notice for vacations. They have a tremendous amount of liability and responsibility that I don't want.

I took your post more as a rant than a question, and that's ok. Sometimes we just need to get it off our chests.

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Specializes in PICU.

I'll bite...

I wouldn't say this is never a question not to ask a nurse... Why is it wrong to ask someone this? It can be a good starting point to educate someone on the role of a nurse and how nurses, physicians, and other health care providers work together as a team. I have been asked this and have had no problem answering. I never even consider it an insult rather I thought they were just curious. I think if you take every question to be a perceived slight or something negative you will only view things that way.

Again, I don't view this as a questions you should never ask a nurse.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Business, Health, Finance.
1 hour ago, DowntheRiver said:

I get asked this a fair amount, too. As if nursing is some sort of consolation prize. Nope, I love being a nurse. Nope, I don't want to be an APP. I don't want the responsibilities of being a provider/doctor. The providers at my facility have to give at least 90 days notice for vacations. They have a tremendous amount of liability and responsibility that I don't want.

I took your post more as a rant than a question, and that's ok. Sometimes we just need to get it off our chests.

Facts, couldn't be further from the truth.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
14 hours ago, Nurse Yoni said:

You just read it. Thanks for your comment

You still have given no context and I am taking this reply as sarcasm.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

Tell us why you posted.

11 hours ago, Nurse Yoni said:

Facts, couldn't be further from the truth.

What????

By definition facts are as close to the truth as it is possible to be.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/facts

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To clarify the point I made:

The OP is telling an audience of nurses and nursing students to "never" ask a nurse why she didn't become a doctor instead.

Nurses generally don't ask other nurses this question. This question is usually posed by patients or other lay people.

Often they ask it in the following ways:

"You seem too smart to be just a nurse. Why didn't you become a doctor instead?"

or

"Why would anyone rather be a nurse than a doctor?"

Again, not sentiments that nurses generally would express to other nurses. So the fact that the OP is posted here, where really he is basically preaching to the choir, just struck some of us as odd. His feelings about this question (whether or not people agree with him) would be better posed to the general public, since they are usually the ones asking this question of nurses.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I feel that it is a perfectly reasonable question to ask a nurse. Particularly some nurses about whom there are some factors that would lead people to think that the nurse might have wanted to be a physician at some point in his/her life.

For me, it was the fact that my father was a physician and that fact that I was a good student. I had the ability and resources to choose either path. I think it was/is perfectly reasonable for people to ask me why I chose the path I did -- why I rejected the career path and yes, lifestyle and culture, in which I was raised.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Business, Health, Finance.
9 hours ago, Horseshoe said:

To clarify the point I made:

The OP is telling an audience of nurses and nursing students to "never" ask a nurse why she didn't become a doctor instead.

Nurses generally don't ask other nurses this question. This question is usually posed by patients or other lay people.

Often they ask it in the following ways:

"You seem too smart to be just a nurse. Why didn't you become a doctor instead?"

or

"Why would anyone rather be a nurse than a doctor?"

Again, not sentiments that nurses generally would express to other nurses. So the fact that the OP is posted here, where really he is basically preaching to the choir, just struck some of us as odd. His feelings about this question (whether or not people agree with him) would be better posed to the general public, since they are usually the ones asking this question of nurses.

Thoughtful!!!

9 hours ago, Horseshoe said:

To clarify the point I made:

The OP is telling an audience of nurses and nursing students to "never" ask a nurse why she didn't become a doctor instead.

Nurses generally don't ask other nurses this question. This question is usually posed by patients or other lay people.

Often they ask it in the following ways:

"You seem too smart to be just a nurse. Why didn't you become a doctor instead?"

or

"Why would anyone rather be a nurse than a doctor?"

Again, not sentiments that nurses generally would express to other nurses. So the fact that the OP is posted here, where really he is basically preaching to the choir, just struck some of us as odd. His feelings about this question (whether or not people agree with him) would be better posed to the general public, since they are usually the ones asking this question of nurses.

I like your perspective on things. Thanks

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
13 hours ago, GrumpyRN said:

You still have given no context and I am taking this reply as sarcasm.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

I thought that was puns

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I would welcome this question from my patients. Many people do not understand that a nurse is not a doctor wanna be. The system is complex and confusing. If I can help demystify any of it, I am happy to do so.

If you take offense to the question, then perhaps you need to reflect on why.

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I would like to hear about nurses that wanted to be doctors> I believe that would be more interesting.

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23 hours ago, GrumpyRN said:

You still have given no context and I am taking this reply as sarcasm.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

Tell us why you posted.

What????

By definition facts are as close to the truth as it is possible to be.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/facts

Trolls are physiologically incapable of detecting sarcasm, it's a survival mechanism.

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