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Is medical school worth being a doctor over a nurse?

I don't know if the money, time, and effort is worth going to medical school instead of just being a nurse. What do you think? #Fall25

fall25 doctor medical-school registerednurse
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Keith’s Answer

The time spent completing college, medical school and training usually involves 11 to 16 years after high school.
A B.S.N. in nursing generally takes four years; a nurse practitioner spends a total of about 6-7 years getting a DNP.
Eight of the M.D. years involve tuition payments, but 6-7 of nurse practitioner training involves tuition payments, so not a vast difference when anticipating a 30-40 year productivity afterwards.
Fifteen years after high school you will probably make a higher income with an M.D., but the hours involved in training and actual practice will probably be considerably greater, so that income comes with a price.
If you are academically competitive for medical school and willing to defer gratification for a decade or more from a career standpoint, I would recommend medical school. But the price is paid in much more than tuition; medicine, like law, is a jealous mistress.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Danielle
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Judith’s Answer

I agree with Keith’s comprehensive answer and so will only add the following: becoming a physician requires a certain degree of academic ability, sacrifice (time, money and delayed gratification), passion and dedication. Would you always wonder what it would have been like to be a physician if you became a nurse or PA? Their contributions to the care of patients are highly valued and rewarding but, at least for now, they lack the independent authority physicians have in making decisions, so you would need to be comfortable “taking orders” or clearing your recommendations with a supervising physician. Think honestly and carefully about your personality, goals, and what you find most meaningful in a career in medicine.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the help. Danielle
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Paul’s Answer

This is an interesting question! I think the answer depends on how you feel about the work you commit yourself to doing. As a doctor you would essentially be in charge of decision making for the patients you are responsible for. As a nurse, you will follow the instructions of the doctors to do what is needed for your patients. As a doctor you will work long hours and have more responsibility, but you will be well paid for what you have do and have the satisfaction of knowing that you can do what is necessary for the people you care for. You will also earn more money, but that should not be a major factor in your decision making. At the end, you will do the best if you follow the path your heart leads you to. As a surgeon, I found immense satisfaction in knowing that I could make the proper judgements for those I cared for. I felt it was worth while to spend the extra time, effort, and money it takes to become a doctor. You will have to think your way through these issues in order to make the right decision.
Paul S. Treuhaft, MD, MA
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice. Danielle
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James’s Answer

As a physician, I think medical school offers more opportunities and greater rewards to counterbalance the longer and more challenging path to get there. One good thing to note is that if you choose nursing at first, you may still consider going for a medical degree later if you want to. There are many fabulous careers in healthcare, so no wrong answers. Money alone should not be the reason to choose one over the other. Do you enjoy being the leader or the follower (note that many nurses become fantastic leaders, such as chief nursing officers and the like)? Do you get a charge out of learning fascinating things about the human body and its ailments? Do you imagine yourself teaching medical students, nurses, respiratory therapists, PAs, and nurse practitioners? Might you want to consider being an academic who does clinical work and research (you can now do one or both and still be "academic)?
I am personally glad I chose the harder, longer road of medical school.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is really helpful. Danielle
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