RN vs. MD

[DonDraper]

Does anyone know why there seems to be a lot more people interested in becoming an RN than an MD? I know it's expensive and time consuming to want to become a doctor but it seems the rewards would be well worth it.

 

[rchristiansen]

I've heard many nurses state there is more patient interaction/care-giving as a nurse than physician.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Does anyone know why there seems to be a lot more people interested in becoming an RN than an MD? I know it's expensive and time consuming to want to become a doctor but it seems the rewards would be well worth it.

My friend became a PA instead of a doctor for a few reasons, schooling was shorter (and cheaper) and you don't need the same amount of malpractice insurance (or something like that). My friend had to pay for all his schooling so the cheaper option was the better one for him.

 

[Hillbeans]

I work with MD's and it's not just the amount of school, but they then have residency, fellowship....it's not as if you graduate school and get a huge salary and the perks, it takes many, many years of experience to make any money after getting that MD Diploma on the wall.

Also, the MD's in my office work almost 24/7. Not exactly very friendly to a marriage or starting a family. It truly becomes your entire life.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I've heard many nurses state there is more patient interaction/care-giving as a nurse than physician.

No joke! Every time I visit my OB, I'm AMAZED how much time I spend with the RN, and how little I see the doctor... I remember the same thing from my pediatrician, and I know tge same is true with my dentist!

 

[DonDraper]

I work with MD's and it's not just the amount of school, but they then have residency, fellowship....it's not as if you graduate school and get a huge salary and the perks, it takes many, many years of experience to make any money after getting that MD Diploma on the wall.

Also, the MD's in my office work almost 24/7. Not exactly very friendly to a marriage or starting a family. It truly becomes your entire life.

What type of office do you work at? What's the specialty? I shadowed an ophthalmologist and he works 12-5 everyday and then does surgery on Thursday. I think he's hauling in about 300k a year.

 

[Aisling]

MDs work A LOT of hours and the schooling is more rigorous. Not everyone can handle that.

 

[minkydog]

Well, I can tell you why *I* became an RN instead of a pediatrician. I got real honest with myself. I didn't have a Daddy with deep pockets. I didn't want to go to school for 9 years and have hundreds of thousands in student loan debt. I wanted a family and i did not want to be married to my job. After much serious thought, I decided to take the quicker, less expensive route to patient care. I have been an RN for 34 years, 25 years in peds, and I have never regretted that decision. Nursing has been a great career for me.

 

[KristaTX]

I don't mean to sound offensive (or offended), but I'm kind of at a loss about this question. I don't really even see how you can put a "vs." between RN and MD. They may both be in the healthcare field, but unless you are speaking of Nurse Practitioners (who are RNs first), "RN" and "MD" are very different careers, and very different career paths.

People have different interests. People have different priorities in life.

 

[Hillbeans]

What type of office do you work at? What's the specialty? I shadowed an ophthalmologist and he works 12-5 everyday and then does surgery on Thursday. I think he's hauling in about 300k a year.

OBGYN/Infertility

 

[LuvOrlando]

I wouldn't underestimate 12 years of someone's life and about a quarter million in cost between school costs and loss of income for those 10 extra years in school never mind the uncertain outcome in future earnings. This is why I redirected both of our kids away from being Dr's (not into RN but still) no-one here is independently wealthy or in line for financial assistance, not for folks like us at all.

RN is only 2years of college or a certificate program and if you go to a community college you can be done for a few thousand and go to school part time.... Much more accessible.

 

[laurie31]

I don't mean to sound offensive (or offended), but I'm kind of at a loss about this question. I don't really even see how you can put a "vs." between RN and MD. They may both be in the healthcare field, but unless you are speaking of Nurse Practitioners (who are RNs first), "RN" and "MD" are very different careers, and very different career paths.

People have different interests. People have different priorities in life.

I chose nursing because that's what I wanted to do. I didn't want to do what doctors do, just like I didn't want to be a lawyer, a teacher, or an engineer. Not that there's anything wrong with those careers, they just weren't what interested me.

Also, as far as medicine, residency is brutal. I can't handle sleep-deprivation; I would have killed someone! Four years of college, 4 years of med school, a 3 year residency, then possibly a fellowship, and you're 31 by the time you can ever start earning money, and that's IF you started when you were 18. If that had been my dream, I would have tried it, but it was NOT. I wanted kids before I was 31. Yeah, there are residents who marry and have kids while in the program, but I could not IMAGINE combining those crazy hours with pregnancy!

 

[Aisling]

Also, as far as medicine, residency is brutal. I can't handle sleep-deprivation; I would have killed someone! Four years of college, 4 years of med school, a 3 year residency, then possibly a fellowship, and you're 31 by the time you can ever start earning money, and that's IF you started when you were 18. If that had been my dream, I would have tried it, but it was NOT. I wanted kids before I was 31. Yeah, there are residents who marry and have kids while in the program, but I could not IMAGINE combining those crazy hours with pregnancy!

I agree. My FIL is a retired MD and he wanted my husband to become an MD so badly that he offered to pay for his education. My DH was interested in orthopedics at the time, but decided no thank you because he knew he didn't want to or couldn't take the grueling long education, sleep deprivation and long work hours. He went into Engineering instead, but still once in a blue moon talks about how he missed out on becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

 

[DonDraper]

I agree. My FIL is a retired MD and he wanted my husband to become an MD so badly that he offered to pay for his education. My DH was interested in orthopedics at the time, but decided no thank you because he knew he didn't want to or couldn't take the grueling long education, sleep deprivation and long work hours. He went into Engineering instead, but still once in a blue moon talks about how he missed out on becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

Orthos make some serious bank! I mean serious!

 

[mdsoccermom]

Reward is a subjective term. Everyone has different needs, wants and priorities.

You see the bigger paycheck as a reward. Yes, it's nice, but many people don't consider it to be a great reward if it means sacrificing years of your life and time with your family.

I know many people who find nursing to be very rewarding and satisfying.

 

[npmommie]

Nursing for me is a very rewarding career. Personally I don't want my job to consume my life.
I did the next best thing, I did a Masters program for Nurse Practitioner

 

[DawnM]

This. I wouldn't ask why someone would be a teacher vs. being an administrator. It is a totally different job and some people don't want it. I don't!

Dawn

I don't mean to sound offensive (or offended), but I'm kind of at a loss about this question. I don't really even see how you can put a "vs." between RN and MD. They may both be in the healthcare field, but unless you are speaking of Nurse Practitioners (who are RNs first), "RN" and "MD" are very different careers, and very different career paths.

People have different interests. People have different priorities in life.

 

[antmaril]

My son is graduating from nursing school next month. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and will have another Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. He originally considered medical school, but decided on nursing instead. I think he felt it was a better fit for him. His ultimate goal is Nurse Practitioner, but first things first - graduate with his BSN and GET A JOB!!!! He's been in a one year second degree program and it's been very rigorous. He could not work while completing this program, so I've been supporting him. Hopefully, he won't have too much trouble finding a job, but in this economy (in Michigan) you never know.

 

[MomRN]

Apples vs Oranges.

Plus my writing is way too legible to be a MD.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't mean to sound offensive (or offended), but I'm kind of at a loss about this question. I don't really even see how you can put a "vs." between RN and MD. They may both be in the healthcare field, but unless you are speaking of Nurse Practitioners (who are RNs first), "RN" and "MD" are very different careers, and very different career paths.

People have different interests. People have different priorities in life.