Nursing or full out MD??

[Queen_Nefertiri]

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I am currently a college senior waiting to hear back from a few nursing programs. However, I really want to drop nursing and go MD ( I lack three classes for med school). I had originally chose to get my bachelors of nursing because 1) it's just easier and I didn't want to really go an additional 7+ years, 2) I want to eventually have a family and being a mother and a physician can be tricky. However, the more I read about medicine, the more I want to go to medical school. I would absolutely love to be an OBGYN, but I know that their schedules are crazy. A few doctors I have talked to suggested family practice as it has better scheduling and I can deliver babies, work with women, etc. I will be shadowing a few doctors this next week to get a feel of things.
My gpa is pretty solid and I'm confident that I can handle med school. My only concern is that I'll be a 3rd year and realize it's not what I really wanted. With this said, I want to get advise and make the best educated decision that is right for me. Anyone regret med school and if so why? Would you recommend the MD route to family and friends? Suggestions, thoughts?? Thanks.

 

[raiderette]

What is it about ob/gyn you love? You can also become a nurse midwife. I love medicine, and want to be ob/gyn, but I also love surgery. If you simply want to deliver babies and care for basic women's health, you could continue on your plan.

 

[863168]

@Queen_Nefertiri OBGYN is a field that really incorporates a multiplicity of disciplines and requires a lot of attentiveness to both the mother and the child. It's difficult to gauge how much you know about the field considering the exposure most pre-medical students have to specific medical specialties is minimal and even more so with specialties that involve surgical/anesthetic intervention case work on a regular basis. Stating that you love OBGYN, but also want work-life balance are two statements that are a bit at odd ends with me because my impression is that the field tends to be one of the more demanding specialties you could go into as a healthcare provider.

 

[Melchizedek]

Do you care more about the delivery and execution of healthcare or the planning and development?

 

[trobinsonmd]

I would recommend the MD route to pretty much anyone who is passionate about it, but in your position, it's important to stay open-minded wrt specialty. Your only stated concern is that you will hit 3rd year and realize it is not what you wanted -- if this happens, there are other specialties you can pursue. Aside from the cases, OB/GYN was still my least favorite clerkship just because of the personalities and more specifically, the attitudes of the residents and attendings. They all seemed on edge and have some serious attitude... thought it was just at my school, but then I did some away rotations and even now during my intern year, about 90% of them have horrible attitudes for some reason

If you want to have a family and have good work life balance, look into specialties like rad onc, optho, radiology, etc... going the MD route is a huge commitment and it is important to stay open minded and realize there are many other options

 

[Queen_Nefertiri]

What is it about ob/gyn you love? You can also become a nurse midwife. I love medicine, and want to be ob/gyn, but I also love surgery. If you simply want to deliver babies and care for basic women's health, you could continue on your plan.

I thought about a nursing midwife- so many nurses love it! I love ob/gyn because I am fascinated by pregnancy, delivery, and just the woman's body in general. I also love the aspect of the surgical part. C-sections hysterectomies actually sound very entertaining to me. But like one of the comments on here, I'm not an actual medical student and haven't had any real experience in ob/gyn so I think I really like it, but I can't be sure. This is one of the challenges I'm facing. How am I supposed to know if I don't have real experience?

 

[Blanky]

Take a couple chemistrys and see how you feel.

 

[Queen_Nefertiri]

@Queen_Nefertiri OBGYN is a field that really incorporates a multiplicity of disciplines and requires a lot of attentiveness to both the mother and the child. It's difficult to gauge how much you know about the field considering the exposure most pre-medical students have to specific medical specialties is minimal and even more so with specialties that involve surgical/anesthetic intervention case work on a regular basis. Stating that you love OBGYN, but also want work-life balance are two statements that are a bit at odd ends with me because my impression is that the field tends to be one of the more demanding specialties you could go into as a healthcare provider.

I agree. That is one of the things that is hard. I think I really like the idea of OB/GYN because of research I've done and the doctors I've talked to, but I can't be completely sure as I do not have real experience. Do you have any experience in this specialty? If so, what are your likes and dislikes about it? Thanks.

 

[Queen_Nefertiri]

Do you care more about the delivery and execution of healthcare or the planning and development?

Delivery and execution.

 

[Blanky]

Tons of OBs have families and are happy. Don't use OB or Family in your pros and cons.

 

[Queen_Nefertiri]

I would recommend the MD route to pretty much anyone who is passionate about it, but in your position, it's important to stay open-minded wrt specialty. Your only stated concern is that you will hit 3rd year and realize it is not what you wanted -- if this happens, there are other specialties you can pursue. Aside from the cases, OB/GYN was still my least favorite clerkship just because of the personalities and more specifically, the attitudes of the residents and attendings. They all seemed on edge and have some serious attitude... thought it was just at my school, but then I did some away rotations and even now during my intern year, about 90% of them have horrible attitudes for some reason

If you want to have a family and have good work life balance, look into specialties like rad onc, optho, radiology, etc... going the MD route is a huge commitment and it is important to stay open minded and realize there are many other options

Thank you for your post. I agree, the MD route takes a lot of commitment. I will definitely keep an open mind. That's too bad that the ob/gyn's you've been around have had a terrible attitudes! I wonder why this is?? I will look into the specialties you've listed. Thanks!

 

[workaholic181]

Thank you for your post. I agree, the MD route takes a lot of commitment. I will definitely keep an open mind. That's too bad that the ob/gyn's you've been around have had a terrible attitudes! I wonder why this is?? I will look into the specialties you've listed. Thanks!

Don’t base this decision on anecdotal stories about ob/gyn docs or things you’ve heard about physician lifestyles. If you want the most comprehensive training and aren’t bothered by the extra years and debt then you should go MD/DO. (Ironically anecdotal, but I know several mid levels who told themselves they were fine with PA/NP based primarily on lifestyle and now regret that choice). Fact is docs in all specialties of medicine figure out how to prioritize and balance family. If you want to be a physician you should go for it. Nurses are great, it’s just a totally different aspect of healthcare.

 

[Melchizedek]

Delivery and execution.

Delivery and execution = RN/CNM
Planning and development = MD/DO

CNM's can't do surgeries (C-sections/hysterectomies etc.), but still do pre-natal, primary GYN, deliveries, etc. You've recognized that you don't have much exposure to the field beyond theory. Shadow some OB/GYN physicians and CNM's, maybe find a way to get into an OR if you have some connections. If after all that you realize that you absolutely can't live without the surgical aspect of healthcare then go for the physician route. If you find that you are happy working with that patient population and having a more personal relationship with them then the CNM route would probably fit your goals better.

 

[candbgirl]

Nobody can make this decision except you. And what we do or don’t like about OBGYN may not be applicable to you. Further, most students that enter med school with a predetermined speciality in mind change their minds many times during school as they experience clinical rotations. You are a long way from applying. You have course work
and ECs to work on to say nothing of preparing for the MCAT. You have time to think this through and get experience before you have to decide if med school is the right choice for YOU! You are young so slow down and figure it out. As to starting nursing school I’m not sure what I would do. If you are accepted maybe see if you can defer for a year while you figure out your next steps. Good luck.

 

[raiderette]

Nobody can make this decision except you. And what we do or don’t like about OBGYN may not be applicable to you. Further, most students that enter med school with a predetermined speciality in mind change their minds many times during school as they experience clinical rotations. You are a long way from applying. You have course work
and ECs to work on to say nothing of preparing for the MCAT. You have time to think this through and get experience before you have to decide if med school is the right choice for YOU! You are young so slow down and figure it out. As to starting nursing school I’m not sure what I would do. If you are accepted maybe see if you can defer for a year while you figure out your next steps. Good luck.

I second the idea of delaying a year to get the remaining prerequisites for medical school, while shadowing both CNM and Ob/gyn. Also, shadow other doctors because you really don't know whether you might fall in love with another specialty.