Family time?

[Anthonysmom]

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I am looking into med school but I am currently in nursing school. I have always dreamed of being a doctor and I don't think that nursing will exactly do it for me. The reason that I choose nursing instead of med school is because I am scared of not being able to have enough time with my family. Right now I have a 15 month old son and I plan to have more, not right now. I always wanted 5 children. As the mother, I am worried that I cannot have a big family and also be a doctor. I always wanted to be an OB/GYN but now im pretty interested in anesthsia and cosmetic surgery as well. If any one of these professions would allow me the time and financial supprt for a family of this size then I will pursue my dream as a doctor. Otherwise, I will have to go into the nursing fields of either midwifery or anesthestics. Please help, Do you or someone that you know have a large family and able to spend time with them while being in one of these fields? Thanks for your help.

 

[climbingdocs]

Finish nursing school and then become CRNA. As far as time for family you would not have much of it in med school or residency. Having 5 children...hmmm... if you have very dedicated husband, maybe. Either way good luck

 

[jennyboo]

Well, the decision may be a difficult one but the reality is a no-brainer: nursing of any kind is much more understanding of having a family than medicine. The inflexibility of a full residency schedule makes it very hard to get days off (to take kids for doctors appts etc), to arrane childcare and picking them up, etc. You really need a supportive partner and, if you have no family in the area to rely upon, a nanny. Day care won't cut it if your partner can't make it on time at the beginning or end of the day, because you certainly won't be there.

However, you might still find medicine worth it. Depends on you.

 

[zackmorris fan]

better teach your husband to breastfeed
The reality is that there is no time for children during medical school and residency (I think there is some leniency during your final year of residency). Those that did have children during medical school had husbands who spent a lot of time at home. I think if raising a large family is a priority for you, then nursing is definitely the way to go. Otherwise you will certainly have to forego having a larger family until residency is complete.

 

[cfdavid]

If those are REALLY your goals, then I'd say you should probably not consider med school.

Plenty of opportunities for ambitious and intelligent/scholastic nurses as mid-level providers.

 

[Pilot Doc]

The reality is that there is no time for children during medical school and residency

That's patently false

if raising a large family is a priority for you, then nursing is definitely the way to go.

But that's excellent advice.

 

[HoyaBlue02]

There are residents and attendings that have multiple children. I met one the other day who has 4 and her hubby is also a resident. That being said they employ lots of help.
Having children during the 1st two years of medical school is not impossible. Some schools do not require attendance at lectures. Therefore if you are organized and dedicated to self study it can be done. Having children during residency also not insurmountable. What you will need to give up is complete control of their upbringing. There might need to be more of a village approach to raising them.
I am going to put in some plugs for going into medicine. You will make more money being a physician than a midlevel. Therefore, if you decide to only work part time you will still make a descent living to support the family. Second, the years that your children are young will span a small portion of your career. Before you know it they will be out the door and you will still have the career that you made for yourself. Would you be happier as a doctor or a midlevel?
Not to go all feminist but I dont think that women should have to give up their dreams to be a mom. They just need to give up the paradigm of the super mother. I recommend reading Flux: Women on Sex, Work, Love, Kids and Life in a Half-Changed World by Peggy Orenstein. She interviews women in their 20's, 30's, and 40's about career and family life.
Good luck with your decision.