Why do you want to be a doctor? Why not nursing, N.P., or P.A.?

[Steeeeeve]

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Hello fellow SDN'ers,

I have been wondering how to articulate an answer to this question for quite a while now. I want to go into primary care (this is reflected in my personal statement), so what are some good ways to answer this question if it comes up in interviews??

 

[gettheleadout]

So tell us your answer in an inarticulate way and maybe we can help you phrase it.

 

[99445]

i want to help people

 

[ciestar]

The lack of autonomy in nursing bothered me. I tried the nursing route, didn't work out for me. I also wanted to learn things at a depth nursing would never give me.

Why not NP? Because I would have to get my RN/BSN then get into school for it and it would take an equivalent amount of time to complete. If I would have completed my nursing degree I would have a different story to tell, though. (If my alma mater would let me just finish my degree, it would take less than a year probably since I've already taken most of the courses for their post bacc nursing program.)

 

[2Pints]

For me it boils down to caliber of education and training. I personally know NPs and PAs that are fabulous. They are truly great practitioners and their role can help offset certain patient loads. I also know crappy doctors. There's one on my unit we affectionately call Dr. Do-Little. So I get that the level of care will vary person to person and will change with experience at the bedside.

I took my education in my first degree and for my nursing degree seriously. But the depth and breadth of my pre-med classes were really different from nursing school. I took a semester for genetics, neurobiology, endocrinology etc. in my pre-med degree and then we only took two weeks for those topics in one pathophysio class. I can't speak for PA school but what you learn in a NP program just doesn't equate to what you learn in an MD program. Serving at the bedside as a nurse taught me that I just won't be satisfied as a mid-level practitioner. I want more for my patients and for myself.

 

[ciestar]

For me it boils down to caliber of education and training. I personally know NPs and PAs that are fabulous. They are truly great practitioners and their role can help offset certain patient loads. I also know crappy doctors. There's one on my unit we affectionately call Dr. Do-Little. So I get that the level of care will vary person to person and will change with experience at the bedside.

I took my education in my first degree and for my nursing degree seriously. But the depth and breadth of my pre-med classes were really different from nursing school. I took a semester for genetics, neurobiology, endocrinology etc. in my pre-med degree and then we only took two weeks for those topics in one pathophysio class. I can't speak for PA school but what you learn in a NP program just doesn't equate to what you learn in an MD program. Serving at the bedside as a nurse taught me that I just won't be satisfied as a mid-level practitioner. I want more for my patients and for myself.

You explain how I feel about this better I can! Pathophys and pharm were the two most "rigorous" courses I had to take, and they didn't really equate to some of the bio courses I had to take once I switched majors (upper level genetics, ahh )

 

[goft20]

I want more moneys


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[popopopop]

chicks, money, power, chicks

 

[2Pints]

You explain how I feel about this better I can! Pathophys and pharm were the two most "rigorous" courses I had to take, and they didn't really equate to some of the bio courses I had to take once I switched majors (upper level genetics, ahh )

I've spent a lot of time trying to verbalize "Why not nursing?" in a way that didn't put down a profession I owe so much of my clinical knowledge and perspective to. There's a lot of push back in my personal life from some of my friends.

I thrive off that stuff because I'm a nerd. I was really grateful for that part of nursing school since I had taken the more "rigorous" classes first. Now if you had asked if if the angle the head of bed mattered or prioritize which nursing intervention you did first, I'd stare at you blankly and reply, "Why the heck does this matter? Wouldn't you just do all important things at the same time!"

Hopefully you can settle into the more difficult classes and enjoy learning things at a higher level. Best of luck 🙂

 

[kyamh]

Research, I like it and I want to have the freedom (and compensation) to explore questions that interest me.

 

[ciestar]

I've spent a lot of time trying to verbalize "Why not nursing?" in a way that didn't put down a profession I owe so much of my clinical knowledge and perspective to. There's a lot of push back in my personal life from some of my friends.

I thrive off that stuff because I'm a nerd. I was really grateful for that part of nursing school since I had taken the more "rigorous" classes first. Now if you had asked if if the angle the head of bed mattered or prioritize which nursing intervention you did first, I'd stare at you blankly and reply, "Why the heck does this matter? Wouldn't you just do all important things at the same time!"

Hopefully you can settle into the more difficult classes and enjoy learning things at a higher level. Best of luck 🙂

Thanks! I ended up graduating with a 3.86 in my major, so I got it together! That was my issue too, trying to verbalize it without putting down the field. I have immense amount of respect for nurses and i owe a lot of my skills to what I learned clinically in nursing school.

 

[hippocampus503]

I would say that I chose medicine because docs receive more training and therefore have more clinical knowledge and can help patients to a larger extent and with a broader scope.

 

[Lawpy]

@DermViser posted an article in Allo addressing the opposite situation. Residents apparently think differently than premeds. Who knew?

 

[Steeeeeve]

Thank you for your great responses everybody! I guess I want to have an answer that highlights the ability of a physician to know more of the in-depth science behind each condition but also without demeaning any of these other professions. I also like having the ability to be creative with decisions rather than answering to a "higher" practitioner. It's a question that needs a delicate answer during an interview because I'm sure AdComs do not respond well to a condescending attitude towards other members of the healthcare team.

 

[masaraksh]

If you actually want to "learn the in depth science" behind things you should go to grad school.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

For me it boils down to caliber of education and training. I personally know NPs and PAs that are fabulous. They are truly great practitioners and their role can help offset certain patient loads. I also know crappy doctors. There's one on my unit we affectionately call Dr. Do-Little. So I get that the level of care will vary person to person and will change with experience at the bedside.

I took my education in my first degree and for my nursing degree seriously. But the depth and breadth of my pre-med classes were really different from nursing school. I took a semester for genetics, neurobiology, endocrinology etc. in my pre-med degree and then we only took two weeks for those topics in one pathophysio class. I can't speak for PA school but what you learn in a NP program just doesn't equate to what you learn in an MD program. Serving at the bedside as a nurse taught me that I just won't be satisfied as a mid-level practitioner. I want more for my patients and for myself.

I was going to answer as a former nurse, but you pretty much did it for me. How the heck they let NP practice independently is beyond me... My friend became a NP and never took chem (just high school chem), general bio etc... The watered down A/P we took in nursing school was enough...nor did she take grad level A/P in the NP program. Just Patho, Pharm, physical assessment, bunch of nursing theories with 600 hours clinical... and she has a license to practice medicine-like... Are these politicians who are expending the scope of practice of these people have their heads in their as$es?

 

[Steeeeeve]

If you actually want to "learn the in depth science" behind things you should go to grad school.

I guess I mean I want to use the greater level of knowledge as a tool to enhance my ability to effectively treat each patient. I like working with people too much to go to grad school.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

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Politicians--seriously!!!

 

[Uafl112]

Whenever I have been treated by NPs, they always seemed to have a gap in their knowledge and hesitated to answer my questions. The NP I saw for my shoulder had to call in an athletic trainer to diagnose me. After that, she had me get an xray and the radiologist properly diagnosed me. Following that, she did not give me any proper medical advice and I had to turn to a DO sports doc to actually get treatment.

So I guess my main problem with NPs is the lack of care I can receive and the possibility of error in their diagnosis. I would much rather be a physician who is confident and able to properly diagnose a patient with assurance. A doctor who can properly provide a plan of treatment and actually fix the problem to the best of their abilities.

 

[La Presse]

Regardless of how I articulate my answer, I have very similar reasons -- autonomy, comprehensive knowledge of healthcare delivery, ability to specialize, global health and research opportunities, learning how to treat and diagnose disease, etc.

If you wanna learn science, grad school is probably more suitable. I wouldn't be surprised if that was a followup question to "I sure love science."

 

[itsgonnabeok]

I feel like there are so many doors that nursing school can open for you including clinical research, which is why I think this question is so difficult. Is there really a difference between the care that a NP and a primary care doctor gives? I feel that saying that you can use your greater level of science knowledge to care for your patients is saying that an MD is more able to give primary care to their patients than an NP, which I don't think is true and puts the NP profession down.

 

[allantois]

Whenever I have been treated by NPs, they always seemed to have a gap in their knowledge and hesitated to answer my questions. The NP I saw for my shoulder had to call in an athletic trainer to diagnose me. After that, she had me get an xray and the radiologist properly diagnosed me. Following that, she did not give me any proper medical advice and I had to turn to a DO sports doc to actually get treatment.

So I guess my main problem with NPs is the lack of care I can receive and the possibility of error in their diagnosis. I would much rather be a physician who is confident and able to properly diagnose a patient with assurance. A doctor who can properly provide a plan of treatment and actually fix the problem to the best of their abilities.

I had such a terrible experience with a NP who absolutely failed to recognize my chronic hypertension (my optometrist failed at that as well even though they always take peoples' blood pressures in that office) and did not even tell me to point high BP reading out to my physician. I have also witnessed (I volunteer at my ugrad med school) a former NP who is now a medical student being questioned about some of the basic things that med students learn in their first year by a faculty physician and she could not provide correct answers to him despite her many years of working as an NP. I respect her very much for wanting to fill in her nursing gaps by going to a med school but it is obvious that NPs are not able to provide the same level of primary care as an MD, DO and even IMG can.

My experience with that NP now always makes me ask whatever medical practice I am calling whether they have NPs there and whether I am going to be seen by one ... and I stay away from those practices for the sake of my health.

 

[kthxbai]

Biggest return on life investment.

 

[Annabell Lee]

Because I'm curious. I want to know things. One of my instructor's was friends with a resident, and he came in to give us a lecture on addiction. He talked about all this stuff we hadn't even touched on, and it was fascinating. I want to learn more than the basic pathophysiology, I want a comprehensive understanding of the human body from a cellular level to a multisystem level.

I've been told multiple times "If you want to learn about/know XYZ, go to med school!" so I guess I'm just taking my instructor's advice.

Why not grad school? Because I love patient care. I loved being an aid, even when my feet were bleeding from working 16 hour shifts. I want the knowledge, and I would like to do some research, but I wouldn't want to give up direct patient care.

I love nursing and have respect for the profession, and for NP's. However, I would like to have the educational opportunities that are only available through med school.

 

[Steeeeeve]

Because I'm curious. I want to know things. One of my instructor's was friends with a resident, and he came in to give us a lecture on addiction. He talked about all this stuff we hadn't even touched on, and it was fascinating. I want to learn more than the basic pathophysiology, I want a comprehensive understanding of the human body from a cellular level to a multisystem level.

I've been told multiple times "If you want to learn about/know XYZ, go to med school!" so I guess I'm just taking my instructor's advice.

Why not grad school? Because I love patient care. I loved being an aid, even when my feet were bleeding from working 16 hour shifts. I want the knowledge, and I would like to do some research, but I wouldn't want to give up direct patient care.

I love nursing and have respect for the profession, and for NP's. However, I would like to have the educational opportunities that are only available through med school.

I also want to know things!! It's funny that here, on SDN, the second you mention wanting to know the in-depth understanding behind the human body (and the science ), many people say, "you should go to grad school." No!! I love caring for people and trying to make any difference that I can. Growing up, I was the primary caregiver for my father, so I have learned just how much I enjoy patient care and it is one of my primary motivations for going into medicine. I feel as though having the knowledge that comes with a medical education and training is unparalleled compared to any other healthcare occupation, so it can only make me a more effective practitioner. I guess my biggest worry is how to answer this type of question in an interview without sounding condescending towards nursing, N.P., and P.A., because they are clearly less educated and do not have to go through the same training regimen that a physician does. It's a delicate question that deserves a delicate answer, so it's a fine line to navigate. If you or anyone else has any insight on how to answer this question appropriately, I would really appreciate it!!

 

[Psai]

I feel like there are so many doors that nursing school can open for you including clinical research, which is why I think this question is so difficult. Is there really a difference between the care that a NP and a primary care doctor gives? I feel that saying that you can use your greater level of science knowledge to care for your patients is saying that an MD is more able to give primary care to their patients than an NP, which I don't think is true and puts the NP profession down.

Nursing research doesn't even come close to the research that doctors do. There is a huge difference in the knowledge base between NPs and physicians. It's not just greater science knowledge but knowledge of medicine in general, especially about diseases, how they work and how to treat them. When smarter people spend more time learning things in greater detail, they're going to know more and be better equipped to take care of their patients.