I can't decide what healthcare profession I want.

[mtrotchie]

I am posting this in the non-traditional thread because I'm currently a pre-nursing student who will probably get a BSN regardless of which route I take for a few reasons, it's a great fallback job that will also land me clinical experience for when I decide what kind of school I want to apply to. I'm 20 years old right now and plan to have my BSN by the time I'm 24 and will hopefully be working in some sort of critical care environment.
With that being said, I already know for a fact I will not be satisfied being a bedside nurse for the rest of my life, I know that I am capable of more. Right now I am considering many careers such as, CRNA, NP, PA, and some sort of MD. As a kid it was my dream to be a trauma surgeon saving lives, but I doubt I would even be a fully practicing physician until I was in my mid 30s and I also hear many people say that if I choose the MD route that my career will take my priority over possible family. As much as I want to be a physician I do want to eventually settle down and have a kid or two, and preferably before I'm 35. My second choice is to be a CRNA, but I'm reading a lot about how the U.S. is pumping out way more grads than needed and that the supply/demand of that job is in danger in the future. My 3rd choice is a PA as I hear they can do a good bit of what an MD can with a lot less schooling and less responsibility (I read general surgery PAs can do as much as 1/3rd of the procedure to help save the MD time and money). My last choice is an NP and I'll explain why. Whatever career I choose, I want to be actively doing something with my hands to fix/help the patient, whether it's procedure or surgical based and it seems NP is farthest from that aspect. I guess my question comes down to what the lifestyle of these careers are like. I understand as a medical student I'd be required to sacrifice a lot, but would it allow for me to have a family as well as actually see them? Salary isn't really a factor, as long as I can make a comfortable living to support myself and a potential family it doesn't really matter. I'm just sort of at the beginning of a huge crossroads in my life that I'm having a difficult time deciding on, sorry for the long post. I'll be volunteering in the emergency dept of a nearby hospital soon, hopefully I can talk to some professionals there, I'd really appreciate any/all input,

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[Jewels86]

Hello,

I happened upon your posting and have some pretty good questions I'd like you to ponder before embarking on your journey.

You are very young (to me) and are a pre-nursing student. This tells me, to which I am an ER nurse (BSN prepared), from your posting that you have not been accepted and, from your posting, are doing this only to obtain clinical experiences. Bad decision. One, it will take you two years to finally figure nursing out, ICU or ED or whatever you do. Two, you won't get it, fully, until you've been doing this for five years. I know first-hand. Three, I'd rather see you focusing on getting into a program that fits your needs and seeing that you fit the school's needs. It has to be a win-win on both sides of the coin, not just yours. If you want clinical experiences, become a scribe. If you want to become a nurse, then become a nurse. But for some reason, I don't think you have a full grasp at what a nurse does. Let me tell you a little about it.

Nursing is a symbiotic relationship between the provider and yourself. They rely on you, who is at the bedside more than them because they have a heavy patient load. You need to recognize real reasons to call the provider and ones you can manage until rounds. Next, you have to know your clinical parameters before giving a med; not just because it was ordered. You need to grasp the science behind the type of floor you are on (tele, med-surg, ICU, psych, ED) and then keep up with all of that. Study EKG's without looking at what the machine says it is; know what CHF looks like and the pathophysiology behind it (BNP, MAP, ejection fraction), everything.

Now...onto what you really want to do. You are 20. Enjoy it. What you want at 20 probably will not be what you want at 24 because we all mature through the natural course of time. Instead of deciding where you're going to end up at 35, decide what your short-term goals are now. Do you want to become a nurse to get clinical experiences...you are going into nursing for the wrong reasons. Do you want to become a CRNA? You need to get a lot of chemistry in for that program; go work L&D since they do a ton of epidurals there. Do you want to become an NP? Research whatever state you live in and what they can and cannot do. MD/DO? What if you meet the love of your life on Tuesday and you get a pet together; studying will take a back seat because you're in love, then what? Do you see how things can change on a moments notice...

Enjoy the process and enjoy being 20.

 

[mtrotchie]

I want to be a nurse because it's great fallback job regardless of what happens and although indirect for PA/MD, still gives me eligibility for CRNA, I want to (or at least idolized in my head) work in a critical care hospital type environment for awhile, and I want to serve people in the healthcare profession and this seems to be the most direct route, I'm currently in A&P2 and have consistently made the highest grades in my class since A&P1, I absolutely love the subject, and I'm in gen chem1 which I am making an A in and also enjoy. I really do have a passion for sciences, especially health related sciences, which is part of the reason why I know I'm capable of more than just a BSN. I know nursing is more on the patient care aspect of the medical field which is also why I want to do it, like I said whatever profession I end up in I want to be actively involved in fixing said patient, not just going from room to room with a clipboard diagnosing and prescribing.

 

[italiancowgirl]

You need perspective and patience. Shadow everyone, ask lots of questions about what a day looks like for them. Explore the variety in each field (you seem to be describing a love for procedure based medicine not a role in medicine). We can't explain the variety to you, it is something you have to observe and feel through shadowing, volunteering, and in depth discussions. Get off the forums and make calls to get in and and prioritize learning about the options before you move forward. If you go through nursing school and don't practice (ie you immediately apply to another program) you will not be looked upon super favorably. If you continue with the BSN you are committing to working for 3-5 years before you change your direction most likely. Is that what you really want? Also be aware that how you describe what you think the roles do is ignorant, so maybe it is better if you listen more and learn more before assuming you know. If you were to speak about roles like this in person with a medical practitioner they might get upset about your assumptions and I would hate for that to tank your interactions. Describe the things you like, that draw you in. Then ask what they think and where that might fit in their profession. GL.

 

[Jewels86]

To the OP, please don't look at the BSN and "just a BSN". Being a nurse is not an easy job and I'm getting the idea that you look a little down at the profession. I think Italiancowgirl has a lot of wisdom and I'd like to you listen what they say.

If you do see the BSN as a fall back to obtaining a bachelor degree, please do a BS in Biology or Chem or Biochem. It sounds as if that may be more tailored to your desires. Nursing is not just order taking, butt wiping, pt turning, giving meds only because I was told to. Follow an ED nurse, which is the easiest to follow since many volunteers come through the ED. Follow a provider, CRNA, NP, PA, MD/DO. Look at what each does, analyze it and then see what fits you.

Again, please don't take a spot away from another just because you have the desire to fall back on Nursing. You'll hate the job and it will bleed through to your patients.
I've seen it done and it's obvious to everyone except the "Oscar winner" nurse.

Again, enjoy being 20!! Although I'd never want to be 20 again, it's a great age nevertheless 🙂

 

[mtrotchie]

I definitely don't expect nursing to be easy by any means and sure don't look down on it, I just know that I'm capable of doing more education wise than only a BSN and want to reach my potential. I expect to work in a critical care department as a nurse for at least 2 years even if I decide to go to med school, that might even give me a broader/better understanding and respect that nurses play if I do end up choosing med school later. I thought about switching to pre-med biology or chem, but then again if I'm not accepted into med school than I won't even be getting a job I close to want. I would be satisfied doing just about any type of healthcare professional job at a hospital and a BSN would at least allow me to do that, but if I can go beyond that then why not. Also quick question, I'm reading that for a trauma surgeon a general surgery residence is required. Does that mean a trauma surgeon could switch to being a general surgeon after awhile without doing another residency? While I'm young it seems like an awesome job, lots of procedures and high acuity, which is what I really want. But maybe one day when I'm 50 I'm not sure I'll have the energy for the type of hours it requires (like being called in at 3am). I really appreciate the opinions and perspectives guys, thank you!

 

[NoTownPreMed]

It seems to me you want to have a career that requires you to utilizes all of your capabilities as well as have the free time to start/spend with family. If that's the case, then perhaps you should look at careers other than the health field.