Nurse Practitioner vs Attorney

[Kalinka]

I'd respect a nurse more than an attorney, I guess.

[azriverfan.]

Honestly, I think the only people who respect lawyers are other lawyers. I think society as a whole thinks very ill of lawyers. And lawyers earn that reputation. Look at all the television commercials with obnoxious accident attorneys or the predatory trial attorneys who ask if you have taken certain medication so that they can make money off you and add you to a class action suit. But nurses are respected by everyone and considered heroes.

[kk1981]

Originally Posted by mm_mary73

You have a lot to learn my dear. As an APRN (and >30 years nursing experience), I am not "a professional medical resident", nor do I "run it by the attending". "....not much different than what most physicians do anyway..." is certainly not the attitude to exhibit if you want to develop working relationships with physicians and other practitioners. My nurse anesthetist colleagues would disagree with your plan of going from one version of advanced practice to another. Most CRNAs I know love their jobs and wouldn't trade it for another. Good luck in your current program

You're right, NP's are not professional medical residents. Residents are doctors, nurse practitioners are advance practicing NURSES! I don't understand why there are nurses out there who thinks NP's are same as doctors. I have many of my classmates in medical school who were nurses before they started medical school. Which proves that if these RN's think NP training is good enough, they wouldn't have went on to medical school to become real doctors!

[flyers29]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Honestly, I think the only people who respect lawyers are other lawyers. I think society as a whole thinks very ill of lawyers. And lawyers earn that reputation. Look at all the television commercials with obnoxious accident attorneys or the predatory trial attorneys who ask if you have taken certain medication so that they can make money off you and add you to a class action suit. But nurses are respected by everyone and considered heroes.

Yes and no, IMHO. As a whole lawyers get a bad rap, but on the individual level if someone says they're a lawyer it doesn't register negatively, at least for me.

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by kk1981

......... Which proves that if these RN's think NP training is good enough, they wouldn't have went on to medical school to become real doctors!

Excuse me? It definitely does not prove anything of the sort. What an arrogant thing to say!

[Leavethetable]

One thing to keep in mind is the requirements for each when you are all done with school. I am a lawyer. One of the limitations I think is the ability to pick up and move if need be. Sure, I can practice in the same stte where I passed the bar, but if I went to another state, I may have to take the bar exam all over again. I am a member of the California bar (3 day bar exam - 18 hours total) and a member of the District of Columbia Bar. I am not sure where you are at, but check into reciprocity with the state you may want to practice in. Some states allow you to become a member of their bar (without examination) if you are a member of another bar that allows such reciprocity. For example, if you are a member of the bar in Oregon, that state allows you to enter if you are also a member of Washington or Utah. And vice versa with those states.

I joined the DC bar to have some ability to move to another state if need be. Just somthing to think about. I know one thing for sure...although I passed the CA bar on the first try, the bar exam can be brutal and I do not want to take it again!!

I am sure a PA requires boards and other exams, I am just not aware of what requirements would be required if you left to practice in another state. I would check that as well.

By the way, I know quite a few lawyers who also went to med school. So if you desire, why not do both. The lawyers I know do medical malpractice work, where they can utilize their medical backgrounds and education while practicing law. May be the best of both worlds for you...