To think that I'm not 'too clever to be a nurse'?

[namechangee55]

After wanting to work in healthcare since I was a teenager I decided to finally take the plunge and apply to study paediatric nursing. I've told a few friends and family and whilst some have been supportive, a few have said that I'm 'too clever' to be a nurse and I should pursue medicine instead. It's kind of tarnished the excitement I feel about starting my course... I strongly disagree with them, and think nursing is a better option for me. I don't want to spend years studying medicine, and think nursing will provide a better work-life balance.

I do already have a degree Biomedical Sciences which I got a first in, and I have science a-levels (A*AB). But graduate-entry medicine is so highly competitive I don't think I'd stand a chance anyway.

I think I can still make a difference to patients' lives as a paediatric nurse and can still work my way up and have a fulfilling career.

AIBU to hate the idea that nursing is not as good an option as medicine?

Better than a*

I get your point, but it's a tiny percentage of nurses who make it to Band 8. There just aren't that many opportunities and the majority never get past band 5.

That's the beauty of it though, most PAs aren't being treated as grunts and you know, assisting doctors, they're getting opportunities to do interesting and varied training that many doctors aren't entitled to (even though a part of a PAs role is listed as allowing JDs to attend their training). Ludicrous and unfair to doctors, dangerous to the public but good if you want to enter the profession for more than a doctor gets for less responsibility.

That’s good then. It was probably a decade ago I was offered a place, back when you used to get paid to do the course and no course fees! Good to hear it sounds like it’s evolved since then. I did think it probably would but didn’t dare take the gamble.

It's not good for patients or other HCPs, but good for PAs.

I was considering PA but there's no financial support available apart from £5k so I'd have to pay £22,000ish of student loans and 2 years of living costs out of pocket which I can't afford. I've already had a master's loan so I'm not eligible for another.

I think this thread has convinced me to register to sit the UCAT this summer and see how I do and use that to gauge whether to apply for Medicine this autumn. Being completely honest, I don't think I stand a chance but I think I'll always have that 'what if' at the back of my mind if I don't at least try.

PAs find their role frustrating. Not being able to prescribe means being unable to complete an episode of care independently. Anyone not at consultant level has grunt work to do - acp, pa, junior drs.

Then they should have gone to medical school if they wanted to be able to prescribe etc (although depressingly I suspect its on the horizon). The role was never supposed to be akin to a doctor and with the same opportunities of progression, if people assumed it was a shortcut or a shoe in despite having nowhere near the same breadth of training etc then that's their fault really. Lots are utilised beyond their scope (which isn't clearly defined anyway).

Yes it will happen eventually but will no doubt take years. America is way ahead of the UK in that respect.

That's not a good thing, there are a lot of issues in the US with PAs.

I’d certainly find it frustrating having to defer to someone else. I like being an autonomous practitioner and not sure as a PA you get that.

My experience is that PA s don’t have the autonomy. That’s not to say they aren’t valuable members of the team, but they are limited by their scope of practice.

I have an interesting and rewarding career as a "clever" nurse (grammar school, science a'levels, 1st class hons degree, top marks in post grad nursing courses). Patients deserve to have care planned and delivered by able people.

I am a senior nurse who has a primarily clinical role but also gets to work on quality improvement, teach and review pt data trends to inform QI. My job remains interesting and challenging 21yrs after initial registration. I am certainly nowhere near too clever for my role 😂

Nurses who look down on HCAs are ignorant fools. HCAs are integral to safe patient care and should be supported and educated to deliver this. I've met loads of smart HCAs in my years.

Nursing and medicine are very different, I think it would be great for you to try to shadow some drs and nurses to inform your decision. If you fancy medicine you shouldn't be afraid of failure, but should look into it seriously.

I would be very reluctant to train as a PA at the moment. There is a very significant backlash from junior drs about the role. PA's have no ability to prescribe or order ionising radiation, whilst being on a higher initial payscale after less training. It's a toxic situation and once todays junior drs are consultants, that backlash may impact on the PA role, who knows.

I'm a MH nurse with two 1st class degrees. I nearly nearly did medicine but I realised that a) I only ever wanted to do psychiatry anyway and b) psychiatrists don't get the patient contact that I love. I've never regretted not doing medicine. Nursing has given me the opportunities to pursue the areas of MH care I love (therapy, mostly) without being worried about employment, like a counsellor would be, for example. If you have the ability, nursing can be truly fantastic to progress in.

You sound very passionate about nursing OP so it sounds like you're already perfect for the job. I'd say go for it!

Each to their own. Nursery have a tough deal unless you work your way ip and specialise. With your degree I'd consider clinical scientist training or into a biomedical role.

Or with nursing you could specialise as genetic counsellor

DH goes to a specialist department for an illness he has. 2 of the nurses there have PhDs to do with the illness. I imagine they are smart, he says they are incredibly knowledgeable.

The CEO of our hospital is a Nurse! Along with almost the entire executive team. So no, not too smart to be a nurse. Nurses are incredibly smart!!