3 answers
3
Asked 505 views

If you had the chance to choose your career path all over again, would you choose to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP), a CRNA, or an MD What influenced your choice?

Hello! As an uprising undergraduate interested in health care, I'm seeking professionals' perspectives on which career is more worth pursuing and what the benefits are from each one. Thank you so much for your time!

nursing college-advice doctor nurse-practitioner medschool nursingschool crna md
Answer This
3

3 answers

0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Alissa’s Answer

I think the answer to this question will depend on what you personally yearn to gain from your field. If success and finances are your main goal and priority, ARNP and PA-C are fantastic options with minimal student loan debt and a high annual rate of pay while maintaining patient care and prescriptive authority. If you desire to meet a goal within yourself to learn medicine, the human body and help patients on a deeper level and with a deeper level of understanding, MD & DO pathways would be ideal. MD/DO will come with intense rigor and high amounts of student debt/student cost, but it opens the door for a higher level of practice and patient care, including research applications and even owning your own practice. I think there is no cut and dry answer to this, but rather what the goal is for yourself. Me personally, I attended medical school (DO) and I ended up leaving due to the extremely high cost; it was not a good fit for my family. If you are driven by fire and knowledge and are in a position that you are able to dedicate yourself fully, both mentally/physically and financially, don't settle...shoot for the moon and go for MD/DO. If your main goal is to live a financially comfortable life and maintain a hand a healthcare and prescribing, a mid-level practitioner is a great choice!
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Lianys
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Karin’s Answer

Hi Lianys,

What I like about nursing is that you can start with as little as an associates degree and you can start working and step by step build on it. You should get at least a bachelors, but if you decide you don't want to go any further, for whatever reason (because life happens), you have a solid job to fall back on. And you have options to get further qualifications in the form of certificates or to go for an advanced degree.

What would bug me as a nurse practitioner or a certified registered nurse anesthetist practicing independently would be the thought that I am not a doctor, that I don't have enough education to be doing this. But that's just me and some imposter syndrome. Add in to that some regret that I did not go all the way to med school. On the plus side, I wouldn't have the massive debt most physicians have right out of school.

If I wanted to be a doctor and to be "in charge", and that would have to be a very strong desire, I would want to go to med school and not "settle" for nursing school or other medical professions. The debt I would inevitably incur would be daunting, but I would hope to be well compensated as a doctor.

I hope this helps! All the best to you!

KP
Thank you comment icon Thank you! I appreciate your advice. Lianys
Thank you comment icon You are very welcome! Karin P.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Martin’s Answer

Would definitely do again. Just wish I started career as one vs hospital admin.
0