Do you ever get that feeling that you really should blog, but you have nothing to blog about... then when you finally sit down to blog, you have, like, a MILLION things to blog about? Well I sure do.
Anyway, for those of you who knew me, growing up I was a picky eater. When I say picky, i mean PIIIIICCCCCKKKKY. Basically, before my mission I would not eat ANY fruits or veggies. I survived on meat and pasta. Ok, exceptions were made. Whenever a girl tried to get me to eat a fruit, I would... but before my mission, I had only eaten 1/4 a strawberry, 3 and 1/2 grapes, (lots of apples), 1 sliver of a canned mandarin orange, one bite of a watermelon before I dry heaved and spit it out like it were arsenic, and thats about it. But to illustrate how far I've come, I love soybeans! Yup, now I thoroughly enjoy fruits of many varieties, and can often eat a wide assortment of veggies. I can eat almost all veggies as long as they are cooked. Raw ones are still a bit hard for me, but I can choke them down when needed (like a bowl of salad while eating over at someone's house.)
Additionally, Lianna and I are preparing for real live (We are currently living with my parents while we save up enough for our own place and Lianna finishes massage therapy school and gets a job. But we've started buying the essentials. Therefore we bought a TV. Not just any TV, but a great one for us. We bought a Toshiba 37 inch LCD HDTV. She's a beauty.
We also bought a bed and a bed frame, which we love. Took me quite a while to set up, but now that its done, it looks great.
I love the fact that it has drawers! Sweet. Anyway, we are enjoying buying stuff for us and can't wait to be able to afford our own space to put it all in.
Here is a short snippet of conversation that I had with my friend:
Joe: GOODWILL, where have you been all my life?
Jen: Right down the street, where it has always been.
Joe: Crap, you're right. Why have I not used you before!
End conversation.
I have recently discovered Goodwill. For those who may not know, its like a non-mormon D.I. Its great! I bought there an entertainment center for our new TV, a great DVD player, and 2 sweet DVDs (Stargate and X-Men 2), all for about $23. Not only that, but as Im looking through there, I'm seeing REALLY NICE CLOTHES! about 80% of them are a better quality then my current clothes, and they cost about 1/8th of what I paid for mine! Well shoot. I certainly know where I'm going to do my shopping now.
Ok, heres the important part. Im considering a career change. (Can I call it a change if I don't actually have a career right now?) Anyway, I am. For those who don't know, I didn't get into Med school this year. That is not a surprise, since many, many 1st year applicants are rejected. Such is life. But it may have been the hand of the Lord. I am seriously considering NURSING. Yup, nursing. Not TOO much of a change, (not like changing from wanting to be a doctor to being a Shakespeare professor,) but its still a change. So I NEED YOUR HELP and OPINIONS. If you read this, you must comment on it. Below I will put some of the pro's and con's of each choice. This is just a preliminary list, and I am wide open for suggestions.
NURSING:
Pro's
-Because I already have a degree, particularly a science degree, I can do an accelerated BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) in one year, which means I could be a full -fledged nurse in one year.
-There are a MILLION different aspects of nursing, and if I ever got tired of a specific nursing field, I could take some night classes, past a test, and I'd be an expert in the other nursing field (over-simplified, but thats the gist.)
-HUGE demand for nurses
-I'd be a male nurse (Obviously), something thats more or less different from the norm, but useful.
-I wouldn't have to run my own business, unlike many private practice doctors.
-No mal-practise insurance payments.
-I wouldn't have to hire someone specifically to hound, badger, pester, and pursue insurance companies to pay me for the work I've completed.
-Better (?) working hours. Im told that my nursing friend only workes 3, 12 hour shifts a week. Working 3 days a week and still being considered full time sounds good to me.
-I wouldn't have to be in school for the next 7 years of my life.
-Said 7 years of my life would be all-encompassing. I don't want to miss out of that... I mean im sure that within 7 years I will have at least one kid... I kinda wanna be there for that. =)
-Sweet job security... Theres never enough nurses.
-Shorter schooling.
Cons.
-I'd be a male nurse (kinda wimpy sounding)
-I'd have to take a few other classes in order to fulfill all the pre-req classes for the accelerated BSN programs. ( A little more than a semester's worth of classes, one of which is stats... i hate math.)
-I won't make oodles of money.
-A lot of what I would do would be the same or very similar to what doctors do, but get paid a LOT less that what doctors do.
-I may not be able to work for Doctors Without Borders. ( I'd think they'd need other people other than doctors right? Who knows.) ((doing something like that is my life-long dream.))
-Nurses are often over-worked because of the short supply of them.
DOCTOR
Pro's
-I could say, "My name is Dr, Quillen."
-I would make more money.
-I would be able to go on many humanitarian mission types of programs.
-I would have a more lasting relationship with my patients (the doctor I had growing up still knows my entire family by name and is up to date on many of the major events in our lives.)
-I would probably have a more "comfortable" lifestyle.
-I don't have to take more classes to get into med school.
-That's all I can really think of, but those are some seriously weighty pros...
Con's
-I'd have to get into medical school, something that is very hard to do.
-Med school costs a TON of money... I mean we're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars.
-The schooling takes a LONG time, and pretty much dominates your entire life.
-The bane of all doctors existence... MAL PRACTISE INSURANCE.
-I would have to work longer hours (probably).
-Unless I worked in a hospital, I'd have to run my own business if I did private practice.
-There is now that ever present, looming possibility of having socialized medicine, or some form thereof. If you think thats a good idea, I shake my fist at you and kick you in the shins. I'll probably post a rant about that some other time. Basically, if we move to socialized medicine, say goodbye to any type of competent medical care and say hello to going to the doctor to get advised to take Ibuprofen for EVERYTHING!
Anyway, thats a large and weighty decision that I have to make, and I'd LOVE all your opinions, suggestions, and anything else you have to offer. Please be blunt and truthful. You most likely won't offend me. =P
Hope that wasn't too long for you all.
11 comments:
Jimmy: Keep trying for doctor.
Mikensi: I think being a nurse is fine and you could just do that for experience before trying for med school again, yeah? Who knows, maybe you will enjoy being a nurse. I wouldn't like to be a nurse b/c they do all the "dirty" work. I agree w/ Jimmy, though- try for doctor still. And, I'm sure you're praying about this and stuff, so I'm sure you will be guided into what you need to do to move out.. I mean.. support your future family. ;) FOR THE HORDE!
P.S. Eat more fruits and veggies. They are SO good for you! Mmmmm!!!
hahahahahahaha so many insults, so little space...hahaha
Um i dont know if you should settle, esp considering you were told most ppl dont get in the first time. being a nurse.....at least be a PA or something, that's what Adam cottle's going to be doing, starts in may. its a little more masculine... but i wouldn't give up on med school just yet
ps. looooooooooooooooove the bed. very very cool
Ok you said honest right...
James: If you decide to pursue Med school you will most likely not get to go on all the humanitarian trips for quite a few years as you will be paying back student loans and raising small children. Plus Obama thinks you should work for nothing.
If you decide to go the nursing route a nurse anesthetist is the way to go. Because, you are basically an anesthesiologist without the liability and you get the 6 figure income. Only a 2 year program once nursing school is completed. (The title of Dr. isn't all it's cracked up to be)
Aimee: One issue you haven't listed in the pro column for nursing is if you decide to go the route Beck and my mom have, you can make more than a GP...again without the liability and massive student loan debt. Not to mention you have an immediate "in" with them!
Tough decision, there are so many aspects to consider. If you have your heart set on Med School do it. James says that the average Med school applicant will get turned down 3 times before they are accepted. So I'm sure you'll get in. But I would strongly consider all the goings on in government with regards to the socialization of medicine. It may make re-payment of such student loans near impossible. Not to mention all the other negative effects it will surely have.
Good Luck with your decision. I know you will pray for guidance and the Lord will bless you. We too will keep you in our prayers as you make this very important decision. Love you!
Ok JD being a nurse, I have to weigh in on this one! I have more pros for you:
1. First of all you forgot to mention is that you are multi-lingual. In the nursing profession this generally will get your extra bucks.
2. 3 shifts/week is AWESOME - even though I never really went the whole hospital route, I have friends that did and it left the majority of the week for other things, particularly family. If you're in med school and then an internship and then working - you won't see your family for another 7 years (or so I've been told). It's EXTREMELY stressful and can take a huge toll.
3. I'm in a profession of nursing that actually allows you to make pretty good $$. Ask Suzie. ;) You can easily make 6 figures and maintain a very "comfortable" lifestyle. Oh and I can be very instrumental in getting you a job!! ;)
4. If you decide, after getting your RN, that you still want to be a doc, you will be SO FAR ahead of the game. I can say this without hesitation - nurses know just about as much as doctors, they just don't get paid the big bucks. In most cases you will know more because you see the patients more frequently than the docs and often times have to make split decisions much like an MD.
5. Now nurses don't really have to do all the "dirty work". We have CNA's that do it all!!!
Ok, that's my 2 cents worth. It won't cost you nearly as much and if you decide to go into med school you can still work odd shifts as an RN and make good money to help support the family.
P.S...the above post was me, Beck, sorry I'm Mike's computer right now!
You have the drive and potential to be a great doctor. The world needs more people like you as doctors. Don't settle for anything less because you might feel a little unbalanced right now.....that's all.
I would probably try the nurse route with the intention of becoming a nurse practitioner. Then you can make money but not spend the eight years.
I saw a lot of doctors when I was a teenager and the one thing I learned was that it was usually really the nurse, not the doctor, who "took care" of the patient. The doctors are so busy they jump in and out of the room, while it is the nurse who is there to hold your hand, explain things, and who I got to know. I think you would have better work/life balance as a nurse, especailly in the schooling years, but even after.
However, I do know you would make a great doctor, and the world really does have a great need for good doctors.
I like the advice Aunt Beck gave you, and I think it would be a good idea to talk to more doctors and nurses we know and get their imput-I'm sure that good doc we all went to growing up would sit down with you if you called him and set up a time.
The one thing I know is that you'll do great whichever route you take and the profession will be lucky to have you! Good luck!
You've already gotten some good advice here. I think that becoming a nurse could be a stepping stone for going on to be a doctor. Take some classes for it and reapply to medical school. If that doesn't work out again, then you've made some progress on the nurse route. But don't get too impatient and give up on your dream of being a doctor is what you really want. If you did end up working 3 shifts per week, that could leave time to continue your education, albeit more slowly, and be a doctor. Those are my thoughts. Although I'm not really one to be giving advice since I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!
Options options options! I say go be a nurse and keep trying for medical school. At least you'll be making progress in your field. Even Eric thought about nursing just so he could have a 4th career option if he got sick of the other 3 he has. But then again, we like to change our mind and you might do better with commitment. And I also think you need to each more fruits and vegetable!
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