So as of lately I have had some miraculous free time and have been enjoying catching up with friends over drinks and the occasional live sports game. Vino, friends, and sports? Who could ask for anything more? The only difficulty I have run into as of late is the “So are you going to become a doctor?” question.
The scene has been almost the same all four times. Guy comes up to engage himself with my friends and I by asking what we do, etc. Always give the same reply, I work part-time in the Emergency Department and I am a full time student in the Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Inevitably I have to explain what a masters prepared nurse in the Family Nurse Practitioner program does, what we are allowed to do within our scope of practice and my goals. Honestly, I feel sometimes like it is a mini interview, only I am not for hire, and not giving out my number.
So, why do I feel like I have to educate the world on what a Family Nurse Practitioner does and why do men find the need to ask me about becoming a physician? I have no idea, but we should get this straight.
I work with amazing physicians; in fact two have inspired me to want to further my career. That being said, I appreciate the lengths of which they went to school and learned their practice. In my personal education I also have a deeper understanding of the nursing philosophy and want to continue on in the profession I have spent 12 years working in. I will never forget where I came from and yet hope to work hard and achieve more. To this day I stand-up and lobby for registered nurses and I have strong opinions about Nursing Policy and Politics. But I don’t feel like getting beat up for four years then again during an internship to do what I want to do which is own my own practice that works with patients in a holistic manor.
So why does anyone think that I would dedicate two more years of my life, time energy and focus only to turn around and gain 8 more years of let’s face it debt and career change?
When all is said and done, I usually reply “because I love nursing and I want to stay in this field”, it has been met with a nod, um-hm, “really?” and “cool”. And really it all boils down to this .People should do what makes them happy; become engaged in whatever they were called to do. I am not in a competition with any profession or even human being (other than myself, what can I say I like to push myself). Everyone has a place and job in life. The idea is to do it well, and if you don’t like it, move on. There is plenty of inspiration around the world to motivate anyone to change their lot in life.
As for me, I will stick to the mentors of my life: past, present, and future. I will continue to be more than just a nurse, and hopefully open the clinic and still take time each year to pack a backpack and travel to other countries to do what the British call “Pro bono public” and make others smile. And every once in a while drink vino with my friends and laugh at strangers ;)
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