Modern medicine is very beneficial and necessary. If you were to get viciously hit by a car would you prefer to be treated with some turmeric to reduce inflammation or would you prefer to get some morphine? Nurses provide care and comfort for the sick, injured, and dying. Doctors effectively provide medications to get you through varying degrees of illness and surgery to fix what ails you. You recover from illness and move on with your life.

Modern medicine is a money hungry canceresque corporate suppressant of the masses. It’s all about their bottom line. One of my biology teachers is an ophthalmologist and used to hold a job at Wal-Mart. He was told by his supervisor that the goal is to get as many people as possible in and out. He was told to do what it takes to sell each patient something from inside the sub-store. Insurance companies dictate which medications you take based on what they pay for (ever heard of a prior authorization?) in attempts to save money. Pain and ADHD medications suppress your everyday Joe to become a zombie like the rest of the world.

I got into a program to earn a bachelors of science in nursing that starts this next fall. These are questions that have been rumbling around in my mind.

I’d love to get some options

Is pursuing a modern medical career and rightful and just decision?

I believe it can can be, completely.

But that's on you, to provide the care you would expect.
I've seen numerous doctors, pain management mostly do to a car accident injury and I can say without a doubt it is big business these days.
I've seen crooks and I've seen heartfelt docs that truely care, as far as insurance and prescriptions I have no say. I can say that opiates have potential to increase the quality of one's life, but at a high cost.

Addiction is no joke, and that's experience talking.

I hope to join in the medical field because being on the other side I believe I can provide the care I would want.

I wish you the best though, keep your morals.

get your bachelors degree in cactus, spit rainbows

Do you know how many hippies protest the "system" and work at the mall or at Safeway? Not everyone can get position at some 'green' corporation dream job.

You gotta work... and it is only being fair to YOURSELF to do something which is intellectually challenging and more meaningful then retail.

Choosing to help people is much more respectable then being a drop-out stoner who tries to chant down Babylon from behind a cash register.

What is important is what you sacrifice yourself... you may not agree with how the medical system is run but anyone who spends time at a hospital knows it is far from downright devious. At the higher political levels, most definitely, but the industry is FILLED with WONDERFUL people who just want to help those sick and in need.

Connecting with patients, giving them tips on wellness & healthy lifestyles, informing them about different herbs and studies done on them... all of this can be done from within the system.

Most importantly, follow what you KNOW you want... do you want to start a green business? Do you want to be an organic farmer? Do you want to do herbal medicine research? Do you want to be an alternative health care practitioner (in which case having an MD is the only way to be truly legitimate) ???

If you, in your own mind, KNOW that these jobs sounds inferior or in some way undesirable compared to being a nurse or doctor, then GO FOR IT!

It's not about what the establishment is, it is about how you can change it and how you can become a REPRESENTATIVE of that industry giving you the POWER to change this perceived negative image you think others might have of this field...

This is something you have to answer yourself, and if you're asking us then is your heart really in it??

Are you prepared to make the sacrifices necessary for such a career? Are you REALLY interested in helping ALL KINDS of people from all walks of life??

I guess you realise the SERIOUSNESS of such a commitment. Is this a cop out? Don't you think the challenge of putting your spiritual side to the test by becoming some kind of Healer would perhaps be better, or are you scared of the challenge, and would rather do a job considered by some to be RESPECTABLE.

>HEY, fuck respectability, just do what your heart sings to, if that's opening up your own Medical Marijuana shop, so be it. Chase your dreaMS, it's your life, your choice.

There's that common saying "Be the change that you want to see in the world." or something like that. In any case, I think it applies here pretty well. Make sure to be what you believe is the ideal medical practitioner.

In answer to the first question I would choose diacetylmorphine hydrochloride, at a dose of 10mg IV.

The second question is a little trickier to answer because it really depends on the system in which you would practise ie totally private vs state-subsidised, or even a mix of the two.The 'bottom line' does vary between these modes of practise.

Getting a medical degree is no mean feat and demands dedication and alot of cash/rich parents/willingness to take onboard alot of debt.Its very competitive to get in to and the career itself has its ups and downs.Plus many 'eminent' practitioners are arrogant individuals and not the kind of folk one would like to be around.And as a group, they have a low opinion of mavericks and those who are vociferous in challenging the status quo.

The upsides include the challenging cases which are not the everyday fayre, the job security, the appreciation of the patients youve aided, the obscure diagnoses made, the authority the title 'Dr' gives (eg the ability to write a letter to help out someone with work-related stresses, the ability to declare someone dead without being challenged, the capacity to tell LEO patient X is not up to being interviewed,"so I would be grateful if you would come back when I tell you they are fit!" etc, etc), the salary, practical knowledge of all things pharmaceutical ...

Downsides include the long hours early in the career, the callousness which inevitably comes from being confronted with numerous very ill acute patients for whom you are totally responsible-so much so that if one dies before being attended to its not unheard of to simply strike the name off the list whilst thinking 'Right, one less to see'; the mental effects of being confronted with an array of modes of dying daily whilst fully aware of ones own mortality, being enslaved to a pager which cannot be ignored, a vast amount of paperwork....... the list goes on.

On a more cheery note, medicine is a large field and there are some disciplines which have their own ups and downs eg radiology, anesthetics, pathology etc.The breadth of the discipline usually means one can find something to their taste once they have the degree, and the hurdle of post-graduate qualifications has been crossed.These exams are bloody hard, very expensive and need to be studied for whilst working long long hours.

As a career, its a fine choice but it gives alot whilst also taking its due.Its no surprise that so many doctors love a drink, and many end up topping themselves.

Thought provoking response as a whole, but this is what stood out to me the most. There are many contraindications of beliefs regarding job vs. morals for many people. Certainly there are loads of occupy movement type folks working retail (big corporation), pharmacy, and even government jobs.

Yes, work is essential. I've provided myself a good opportunity to get though school debt free from money I've accumulated playing poker online years ago. I consider myself an intellectual and would consider it psychological suicide not to get some sort of higher learning degree.

Thanks for this post Lion

Very helpful

It's nice to get some feedback from an actual doctor.

You mention "the system in which you would practice". Are there private practice options available for a RN similar to that of a doctor? Home health of some sort perhaps?

Debt isn't an issue for me as mentioned above in my response to Lion but I can see how this would be the main concern for another in my situation.

Most of the ups and downs you mention are more akin to one who is becoming a doctor rather than a nurse, albeit very thought provoking and vicariously applicable.

You mention callousness. I've experienced this first hand working at a pharmacy. Its easy to forget that your in this to help people when those same people treat you like shit, complain about prices (set by insurance), then you realize its YOUR tax dollars are paying for them and their 7 kids from 3 dads. There is a point of balance that is necessitated with regards to growing cold and being compassionate in the medical field. With out this balance you will get run over, chewed up, and spit out.

Overall I think that nursing will be a moral job which is dictated solely from my mindset. If I go in it strictly for the money, then perhaps it is an unjust career.

...That being said the money and job security are a big plus, especially when I start a family.