I'm currently a nursing student in an accelerated master's program going for a CNL degree. My ultimate goal is to become an FNP and practice in rural areas and/or developing countries. I chose nursing with the vague idea that I wanted to eventually become an NP someday but also that it would be good to work as an RN for a period of time before that, so I could kind of have a look at both worlds (also I am not a fan of direct-entry NP programs with no work experience between RN licensing and the NP classes).
My question is: since my ultimate goal is to be a primary care provider, am I going to regret not just going to medical school and becoming a physician? I don't particularly care about practicing independently so that isn't the issue here. It also isn't about the money, since an NP's salary is enough for my needs. What I don't want is to have some nagging voice at the back of my head saying that I would have been happier if I had just gone to become a primary care physician.
Considering that I have already done the prereqs for nursing school and I'm in my second semester of pre-RN licensing, is it worth my time to drop out of nursing school (with the debt I've already accumulated), do pre-med prereqs (which will take be about a year; I was a liberal arts undergrad and had no idea I wanted to go into healthcare at the time), and then apply to medical schools? I'd rather not do this if I can avoid it, as I'm already kind of on a path here (in school already, doing well in classes and enjoying them, spent a year doing nursing pre-reqs already, and moved pretty far away from home to do it).
Will my life as a PCP will somehow hindered if I work as an FNP? By that I mean this: am I going to be less happy or satisfied with my life as a PCP if I go this route? I know that some people have strong opinions about NPs in this forum, which is fine, but I am not trying to start an argument. Anyone that has a perspective is welcome to chime in, especially current primary care doctors and FNPs, just try to put some thought into whatever you say.
My question is: since my ultimate goal is to be a primary care provider, am I going to regret not just going to medical school and becoming a physician? I don't particularly care about practicing independently so that isn't the issue here. It also isn't about the money, since an NP's salary is enough for my needs. What I don't want is to have some nagging voice at the back of my head saying that I would have been happier if I had just gone to become a primary care physician.
Considering that I have already done the prereqs for nursing school and I'm in my second semester of pre-RN licensing, is it worth my time to drop out of nursing school (with the debt I've already accumulated), do pre-med prereqs (which will take be about a year; I was a liberal arts undergrad and had no idea I wanted to go into healthcare at the time), and then apply to medical schools? I'd rather not do this if I can avoid it, as I'm already kind of on a path here (in school already, doing well in classes and enjoying them, spent a year doing nursing pre-reqs already, and moved pretty far away from home to do it).
Will my life as a PCP will somehow hindered if I work as an FNP? By that I mean this: am I going to be less happy or satisfied with my life as a PCP if I go this route? I know that some people have strong opinions about NPs in this forum, which is fine, but I am not trying to start an argument. Anyone that has a perspective is welcome to chime in, especially current primary care doctors and FNPs, just try to put some thought into whatever you say.
