MSK9's Medical School Thread & Guide

[indigoshuffle]

You’ve given exactly the impression I got when I spent about half a year in the hospital with my critically ill child. It’s definitely not an easy job. I do seem to get the impression that a nurse practitioners role proves to be significantly different, and definitively appealing.

Yes, it's a completely different role. On my unit, I've watched the Nurse Practitioner catch the MDs mistakes many times (and many of the nurses' mistakes too). It's the role of a provider, very much like the scope of an MD but for relatively stable patients. The doctor will manage the sickest (unstable) patients.

Still, the reason the NPs in my hospital "catch" the mistakes of the MDs and residents is that they work as a team and THEY HAVE  FLOOR EXPERIENCE. This is what sets them apart. 

Experience as a nurse is something I would be excited about, not shy away from. It really gives you "superpowers" when it comes to assessing a situation quickly and knowing how to proceed.
NPs are excellent providers because they know what a heart attack looks like before the patient is symptomatic, they know the difference between a syncopal episode and a seizure because they have that floor experience under their belt. Again, I personally would not recommend zooming through nursing school in order to attend NP school. The best NPs have been on the floor for a few years. In fact, my primary provider is an NP, and to be honest with you, when I first met him he was so squared away and sharp, I thought he was a doctor (he has an independent practice).

I also want you to realize something about nursing. Nursing in the western world used to be a step towards becoming a doctor.... so what does that tell you?

In many states, NPs practice independently. I expect all 50 states will expand provider scope in our lifetime.
I'm making my prediction about the expansion of practice in all 50 states for two simple reasons;(1) NPs cannot bill insurance at the same price an MD can (for now), this lowers healthcare cost, (2) drug companies are more powerful than the Medical Boards and will find a way to allow more providers to dispense their drugs. I also predict NPs will be perceived in the public eye much like a DO in the next 40-50 years.

10 years ago, the research by the medical board and the nursing board showed no difference in outcomes when NPs or MDs managed the care of patients, but now the research is showing BETTER outcomes for a lower price, and that, of course, is making MDs cry out about how incompetent NPs are because they didn't spend as much time in school.

You might surprise yourself and find that you are happy and satisfied as an NP. But still, get at least 2 years on the floor under your belt... 5 is better. 5 years adds up to about 10429 - 15000 clinical hours. You will develop the experience that will help you give better service to your patients and it will set you apart from the MDs and PAs. Trust me. Even though you're not a provider, patient contact, and clinical exposure count for a lot. If you want to go to medical school, then just do that. You can do it for sure, with hard work and determination. NP is an excellent path and has better financial ROI. However, as we get older ROI is not just about money, but personal satisfaction. If you want to be called MD, then, by all means, you should go for it.