new to this site… sorry if this is in the wrong forum!
I’m coming up to my senior year of HS. I’m definitely set on a career in the medical field. I love how fascinating the human body is and I just find it really interesting all around. For a while, I’ve been going back and forth between the career of nurse/doctor. I know they are SO different, that’s why I want some opinions. When people ask what I’m going to school for, I always say nursing. But sometimes when I hear about doctors, med school, or other people going pre-med, I think that I’d love to do that. I also don’t want to end up being a nurse and think "What if… " about being a doctor. Not that I wouldn’t love nursing, it’s just too soon to tell.
On one hand, I think nursing school is definitely more practical. I’m a girl, so I want to have kids some day. Nursing seems like a better career to raise kids (since med school and residency are so time consuming). Nursing school is also a lot shorter and of course less expensive. I’d be entering the workforce, therefore making money much sooner.
And then looking at being a doctor, I love how they are at the top of the medical field. I like how they are the ones making the decisions. I think constantly being able to learn new things about the field would be great. And just the over all more medical knowledge doctors have than nurses. But obviously it’s a lot more work (which I think I would be okay with since it’s studying what I’d find interesting) I know it’s possible to be a mother and a doctor, but is it practical?
Also, unsure on this but it could be a possibility, what about a nurse practitioner? What does a NP do that nurses don’t? What does a MD do that NP’s can’t? and what do they do the same?
I don’t want to offend anyone at all by suggesting the doctors know more, they are both very important. I could be wrong on some things I said, but that’s just me typing up what’s been in my head. I just think it’s crazy how I’ll have to pick a career for the rest of my life so soon, while knowing so little about them.
Anything you have to add (opinions, experience, etc.) will help!
I’ll add to your dilemma by suggesting you also consider another profession: physician assistant.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are what is called a mid-level provider. That is their scope of practice is higher than that of a nurse, but below that of a physician. NP and PA jobs are very similar, although in some states NPs may have slightly more autonomy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010704936.html
The training path for PAs and NPs is quite different and the philosophy of their training is quite different.
The scope of practice (the things a NP or PA are allowed to do) varies from state to state because it’s state law that defines those duties.
In general, NPs and PAs can diagnose and treat simple, uncomplicated acute and chronic illnesses and injuries; manage long-term care for uncomplicated chronic conditions (like high blood pressure or asthma); perform physical exams; order & interpret tests and x-rays and write prescriptions.
Physicians have a much vaster base of knowledge than do NPs or PAs. They are the treatment team leaders and the ultimate decision makers.
I want to suggest that you don't need to make this huge, life-altering decision right this minute. It's OK to wait and it's OK to change your mind later. I'd strongly recommend you try to shadow some people in all these professions to see which one best fits your personality and future plans.You are asking really good questions. I would suggest you read the blog “Mothers In Medicine” to get a really balanced idea of what you will face as a physician and a mom. Be sure and read the “Mailbox” portion where physician mothers write in for advice. The stories of those women trying to figure out when to squeeze in three weeks of maternity leave are heartbreaking. A lot of those women will say they wish they would’ve gone the NP or PA route.
Try to spend some time shadowing MDs/DOs and also NPs and PAs to get a better idea of what you might want to do. It is very very hard to decide your life fate at this early age so cut yourself some slack!
I am an NP and enjoy a TON of flexibility with my schedule and have carved out and created several part-time positions. Your salary will be $90K-125k for a FNP and possibly more if you want to be a psych NP or acute care NP.
Good luck!