From the day I was admitted into nursing school, I was always asked the question "Why do you want to go to nursing school when you can go to med school?" I'm here to answer that question for all of those who are confused about it.
1. Nursing school isn't as long or as expensive as medical school.
Just because nursing school isn't as long as medical school doesn't mean it is any less difficult. We take classes that show us how to work hands on with our patients right from the start. Studying pre-med doesn't give you the same type of hands on experience unless you are involved in an outside job or volunteer work. This gives nurses the upper-hand in their undergraduate years.
2. Once you graduate nursing school, you can start working right away.
After graduation, nursing majors have the opportunity to start working right away while students in pre-med have to go to medical school and then residency. By the time they are done with their schooling, its about 12 years from their high school graduation.
3. Nurses have a personal connection with their patients.
Nurses are always there for their patients which gives them a personal connection and make the patient feel comfortable. They answer all sorts of questions about procedures and medications just as a doctor would, but they are more available.
4. Nurses have just as much knowledge as doctors do, but we use it in different ways.
Sure, nurses can't diagnose a patient without the confirmation from a doctor, but working on the floor gives a nurse great experience which allows them to recognize signs and symptoms of a certain illness or side effect. This allows nurses to give their own nursing diagnoses and inform the doctor of their conditions.
5. Nurses are with the patient more often than a doctor is.
Doctors are busy and often don't check on the patient nearly as much as nurses do. It's a nurse's job to take vitals every four hours and make sure that medications are given at the proper time. The doctor follows the report of the nurse, therefore making the nurse the main source for information about the patient.
6. Nurses are always working hands on.
Nurses are always moving patients, giving medications, taking vital signs, changing beds and much more. Doctors are informed about everything that is happening, but I've never heard of a doctor who changes the sheets or bathes their patient. Doctors are still hands on, but to a lesser extent on a daily basis.
7. Nurses care for their patients with love and empathy.
As nurses, we all come with an emotional side where we support the family and the patient. They work with both ends of the treatment: physically and emotionally. They are there to answer questions and make you feel comforted. Nurses have so much love to give and they want to share it with their patients.
