If you could go to medical school, would you?
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No, I wouldn't.
I loved learning, health, science, etc. I had always planned to go to med school, but changed my mind and went off to college and became a nurse. To fulfill my love of knowledge I continued on in school and became a NP and then got the terminal degree in my field-a PhD.
I have never once regretted my choices. I know and work with some amazing docs, but I absolutely love being a nurse. I still maintain my women's health practice but I also teach at the university level, do research, publish, etc. Nursing has been wonderful and given me so many opportunities I'm not sure I would have been exposed to as a physician.
I loved learning, health, science, etc. I had always planned to go to med school, but changed my mind and went off to college and became a nurse. To fulfill my love of knowledge I continued on in school and became a NP and then got the terminal degree in my field-a PhD.
I have never once regretted my choices. I know and work with some amazing docs, but I absolutely love being a nurse. I still maintain my women's health practice but I also teach at the university level, do research, publish, etc. Nursing has been wonderful and given me so many opportunities I'm not sure I would have been exposed to as a physician.
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I thought for sure that I was going to medical school. I also completed three years of college with a nursing major (MUSC CON) in preparation. During that time, I dated two medical students, was on my university's student gov w/ a melting pot of health care professioanals in training, and spent a huge portion of my life working in the system.
This experience helped me understand in a very personal what a poor use of my energy and skills medical school would be.
This experience helped me understand in a very personal what a poor use of my energy and skills medical school would be.
If I could go and finish with no debt, allowing me to practice wherever/however I wanted, yes, in a heartbeat. It would be so fabulous to be a small town family practice doc that was able to make exceptions for people that didn't have the money to be seen or to accept barter for payment.
If I had debt and felt beholden to practice in a way to make a certain amount of money (in order to pay off the loans), then no.
If I had debt and felt beholden to practice in a way to make a certain amount of money (in order to pay off the loans), then no.
I would love to go, I think it would be great to be a doctor, but I want to have the autonomy, and I don't think that's possible anymore! I don't want to squeeze in 120 patients like docs have to, deal with the politics, insurance, etc.
But if I could practice as a small town doc and play by my own rules, then yes, I would!
But if I could practice as a small town doc and play by my own rules, then yes, I would!
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I was an accelerated student, and I think most expected me to go to medical school. I actually would have had at least partial scholarship if I had. I was young when I graduated from my University (20) and unsure of that path.
However, my scientific training helped me immensely in choosing to birth my children the way that I did. I used objective means in my research, and found that evidence based medicine was the gold standard. I would up birthing my children at home with licensed midwives.
I have had a few friends who have told me along the years (who risked out of homebirth) that they wish they had a doctor who would be like me in the hospital. The irony of course is that in this day and age I don't know if it is possible to be a doctor the way that I would want to be. Perhaps as a family practice physician it would be possible with a lot of work and fight, but definitely not as an OB. I would definitely have a preference at this point for DO rather than an MD degree as well.
However, my scientific training helped me immensely in choosing to birth my children the way that I did. I used objective means in my research, and found that evidence based medicine was the gold standard. I would up birthing my children at home with licensed midwives.
I have had a few friends who have told me along the years (who risked out of homebirth) that they wish they had a doctor who would be like me in the hospital. The irony of course is that in this day and age I don't know if it is possible to be a doctor the way that I would want to be. Perhaps as a family practice physician it would be possible with a lot of work and fight, but definitely not as an OB. I would definitely have a preference at this point for DO rather than an MD degree as well.
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No, but only because I don't want to be a doctor. I might consider it if it were naturpothaic school, but I would remain a DEM midwife, I wouldn't practice or study naturopathic midwifery. I would specialize in general family care, just because it would be interesting.
I guess if I had the brains- study ability and money to do it sure-even though I really like researching- I really couldn't keep up with medical school it would make me crazy(er)
I think that there are places where advanced practice nurses including CNMs can have independent practices and can write Rxs -
what do you want to do? have you talked or know anyone who has been in medical school- that may be where to start-
I think that there are places where advanced practice nurses including CNMs can have independent practices and can write Rxs -
what do you want to do? have you talked or know anyone who has been in medical school- that may be where to start-
Beyond all reason and sanity I feel led in this direction. I already have the science under my belt from a degree from long ago. To be a MW I would need to be a full time, on call slave for 3 years.
Then as a MW I would have to struggle to get paid, get hazed on transfers, unable to provide continuity of care and always be in fear of having my practice extinguished for a bad outcoume that was unavoidable. (And that would have happened in the hospital anyway.) I would be extremely limited in scope of practice.
As an MD or DO I could be one of the "good guys" and back up the midwives, start up or work at an out of hospital birthing center/pediatric/women's health center. Debt is not an issue as I live in an underserved area that repays debt with a 4year committment.
I have looked into the NP route but it would take LONGER to get through since I have no nursing classes or background (4 years BSN, 2 years working, 3 years NP) and there is an 18 month waiting list at our local nursing school to even get a seat in the classes after the year it takes to apply. Looks like 11 years to me. I could be a doc in half the time.
Then as a MW I would have to struggle to get paid, get hazed on transfers, unable to provide continuity of care and always be in fear of having my practice extinguished for a bad outcoume that was unavoidable. (And that would have happened in the hospital anyway.) I would be extremely limited in scope of practice.
As an MD or DO I could be one of the "good guys" and back up the midwives, start up or work at an out of hospital birthing center/pediatric/women's health center. Debt is not an issue as I live in an underserved area that repays debt with a 4year committment.
I have looked into the NP route but it would take LONGER to get through since I have no nursing classes or background (4 years BSN, 2 years working, 3 years NP) and there is an 18 month waiting list at our local nursing school to even get a seat in the classes after the year it takes to apply. Looks like 11 years to me. I could be a doc in half the time.
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in your position it makes more sense to become a doc... and in an underserved area you probably won't have all the same practice pressures but from what the docs I know say for them the self-led independent practice is a thing of the past- once you get into that essential partnership or group practice and your finances are dictated by the insurance companies- on the other hand they seem to have taken better vacations than I have in the past several years ; )
Originally Posted by HBACtivist  Beyond all reason and sanity I feel led in this direction. I already have the science under my belt from a degree from long ago. To be a MW I would need to be a full time, on call slave for 3 years. Then as a MW I would have to struggle to get paid, get hazed on transfers, unable to provide continuity of care and always be in fear of having my practice extinguished for a bad outcoume that was unavoidable. (And that would have happened in the hospital anyway.) I would be extremely limited in scope of practice. As an MD or DO I could be one of the "good guys" and back up the midwives, start up or work at an out of hospital birthing center/pediatric/women's health center. Debt is not an issue as I live in an underserved area that repays debt with a 4year committment. I have looked into the NP route but it would take LONGER to get through since I have no nursing classes or background (4 years BSN, 2 years working, 3 years NP) and there is an 18 month waiting list at our local nursing school to even get a seat in the classes after the year it takes to apply. Looks like 11 years to me. I could be a doc in half the time. |
We need more good OB's.
Why not go to medical school if you can get in and afford it. It's an honorable profession and there are great OB's that make a big difference in the lives of women, and work hard to create change.
As a doctor you have access to power to change things from within, in our society that is unavailable to midwives. The difficulty will be finding a residency program that is philosophically aligned with your view of birth, and finding the right hospital to practice could be challenging.
Why not go to medical school if you can get in and afford it. It's an honorable profession and there are great OB's that make a big difference in the lives of women, and work hard to create change.
As a doctor you have access to power to change things from within, in our society that is unavailable to midwives. The difficulty will be finding a residency program that is philosophically aligned with your view of birth, and finding the right hospital to practice could be challenging.
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Nope, I am too much a rebel.
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I might try...but then I'd probably get kicked out for refusing to do unneccesary vaginal exams, refusing to break water when it's not indicated, etc, etc.
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I don't take unsubstatiated orders well. *sigh*
Good points about residencies, hospital politics, insurance and malpractice limitations. Everyone has limitations. I want to do rural primary care and that way you avoid a lot of cr*p. In our regional med school they are heavy on evidence based medicine.
I just feel so bad for the women who transfer (and their midwives) who get thrown to the wolves.
I just feel so bad for the women who transfer (and their midwives) who get thrown to the wolves.
I'm not a midwife. So i seem to think it's a good idea.
However the midwifes who answered you said "no" naturally they would say NO they would not become a doctor. They already have a chosen profession they feel passionate about, and completed a path of training, why would they want go to medical school they are already doing what they want.
You're at a crossroads and have choices, not everyone feels the pull towards medical school or mentally capable of the education and training requirements. It's a special calling.
I know because my daughters boyfriend is feeling that pull he is pre-med in college. If you feel passionate and the calling to be a doctor that is a good thing and you should go for it, you will find your place. I know a few amazing OB's that practice differently. They struggled but found their place in the alternative birthing community.
Best to you!
However the midwifes who answered you said "no" naturally they would say NO they would not become a doctor. They already have a chosen profession they feel passionate about, and completed a path of training, why would they want go to medical school they are already doing what they want.
You're at a crossroads and have choices, not everyone feels the pull towards medical school or mentally capable of the education and training requirements. It's a special calling.
I know because my daughters boyfriend is feeling that pull he is pre-med in college. If you feel passionate and the calling to be a doctor that is a good thing and you should go for it, you will find your place. I know a few amazing OB's that practice differently. They struggled but found their place in the alternative birthing community.
Best to you!
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I think either way it is a fight honestly. The mws around here have not had it easy, and have instilled with me that even as a mw it is an upright battle.
So, I can see it both ways. Married to an attorney (not a malpractice one, but we know several) we know what the legal community is like out there. So much of obstetric liability goes by what other people in the community are doing...not whether or not it is 'right' or 'evidence based'...the irony huh? And those who are seen as less agressive--low cesarean rates, intervention rates, etc. are already at a disadvantage litigiously regardless of whether what they are doing is reasonable--community 'standards' YUCK. In our community obstetrics are in a rather bad state. Typically 45-50% cesarean rates. And, sadly there have been cases where physicians have lost their privelages at hospitals based on their low cesarean rates and history of 'a typical' care in the community.
So, I think if you're in an area of the country which would embrace your philosophy it wouldn't be as much of an issue. There is that part of me that hopes as we eventually aim towards universal healthcare in this country our system will be transformed...you will find 85% of women being attended by midwives, and the remaining 15% elevated risk patients being seen by OBs.
I am in a similar situation as you are in that I have everything in my undergrad degree as pre-requisites. I would simply have to study up, take the mcat, etc. Academically I'd be at the top. Realistically I would likely have to find, engage in other experiences to make me a more 'rounded candidate' as well.
The issue I have now is that I need to determine when this part of my life is over. AKA, I need to stop having kids.
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My life right now does not have the support network for going to medical school full time. And, as someone who has many doctors in the family I know what a rough road that is. How time and labor intensive it is.
We do have a family friend who went to DO school after raising a family, being a SAHM for many years. She was over 40 when she started. It wound up being very difficult on her marriage (which was over 20 years or so at that point) and I found out actually that she had moved accross the country and had gotten divorced.
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Not that obviously that happens to most people, but it is very hard on a family.
Originally Posted by HBACtivist And this is definitely the sticking point. Could I get through with my soul intact? I should let it be known that I have a warrior spirit and I'm always up for a good fight. |
So, I can see it both ways. Married to an attorney (not a malpractice one, but we know several) we know what the legal community is like out there. So much of obstetric liability goes by what other people in the community are doing...not whether or not it is 'right' or 'evidence based'...the irony huh? And those who are seen as less agressive--low cesarean rates, intervention rates, etc. are already at a disadvantage litigiously regardless of whether what they are doing is reasonable--community 'standards' YUCK. In our community obstetrics are in a rather bad state. Typically 45-50% cesarean rates. And, sadly there have been cases where physicians have lost their privelages at hospitals based on their low cesarean rates and history of 'a typical' care in the community.
So, I think if you're in an area of the country which would embrace your philosophy it wouldn't be as much of an issue. There is that part of me that hopes as we eventually aim towards universal healthcare in this country our system will be transformed...you will find 85% of women being attended by midwives, and the remaining 15% elevated risk patients being seen by OBs.
I am in a similar situation as you are in that I have everything in my undergrad degree as pre-requisites. I would simply have to study up, take the mcat, etc. Academically I'd be at the top. Realistically I would likely have to find, engage in other experiences to make me a more 'rounded candidate' as well.
The issue I have now is that I need to determine when this part of my life is over. AKA, I need to stop having kids.
We do have a family friend who went to DO school after raising a family, being a SAHM for many years. She was over 40 when she started. It wound up being very difficult on her marriage (which was over 20 years or so at that point) and I found out actually that she had moved accross the country and had gotten divorced.
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