Becoming an MD seems to be the crowning achievement in the healthcare field. Everyone seems to think that no matter where you start in the medical field, all roads lead to becoming an MD. When I was in college, I volunteered at a hospital. Not just any hospital. This hospital is the best in Nevada and it's so beautiful it looks like a hotel. I loved volunteering there so much I switched my major to Nursing. Right around this time, I was always asked "why don't you become a doctor?" Well you see this was the time I had to get a baby tooth that never came out removed. After it was removed, the tooth fairy never left me $250,000 under my pillow. Besides, nurses are the ones that actually do everything. For example, the doctor would say "Nurse, give the patient in room 63 _____ cc of ____ stat." The nurse administers it, the doctor makes the order.
Medical and Nursing are two different entities. Nurses have to have good bedside manner, know when to stand up for themselves, know when to keep silent, all while taking care of their patients. I know it sounds insensitive, but doctors don't spend much time with their patients. Doctors can't spend much time with patient. They are always busy. The nurse will admit the patient, ask how they're feeling, ask if they can get them anything or make them more comfortable, and talk to the family. The doctor comes in, asks how they're feeling, and what's their symptoms. The doctor thanks the patient, wishes them well, says that he/she is going to figure this out, tells the nurse what tests to run, the doctor makes a diagnosis, prescribes any medication, once everything is said and done, the nurse discharges the patient. Of course the nurse can't do everything, the CNAs help out. But still, the nurse and the CNA have the most contact with the patient.
In a battle, the nurses and the CNAs are on the front line. The doctors are like the generals. Nurses have personal connections with their patients. There's only so much you can learn from someone's chart. For example if nurses and doctors are trying to figure out what caused hemorrhaging in the patients brain, there's only so much to go off of a persons chart. The cause could be found by a nurse who says they heard the patients family talk about how she's a gymnast and that maybe she hit her head really hard.
Nurses are just as smart as doctors, we just use our knowledge in different ways. Like doctor makes order, nurse carries it out. I chose Nursing as my career choice because we have the most contact with the patient and it's very hands on. I can also start working right after graduation, you can't do that when you're trying to become a doctor. I don't want to be the best nurse I can be. I'm too ambitious for that. I want to be the best nurse. This week is Nurse Appreciation week. Make sure to thank a nurse. We are here to save your ass not kiss it.
Most Helpful Opinions