Which one is harder, engineering or medical?
I'm an engineer. My wife is an RN, and through her, we have several friends who are MDs. I've even gone along on a few medical missions and witnessed surgeries first hand. And I would say that you can't make a blanket statement that one is harder than the other. They're both diverse fields, with more and less challenging paths in each.For example, as an engineer, you could earn your bachelors degree, then go off to a manufacturing company in a well established industry, and do nothing but look up values in tables and plug in numbers in already developed formulas. That's not very challenging at all. Or, you could earn a PhD, go off to a research institution, and try to solve new and fundamental problems in your field (e.g. https://www.flightlab.com/resear... ). Medicine ranges from family practice to epidemiology to pathology to surgery to countless other fields.I do think it's more stressful / difficult to actually become a medical doctor than an engineer. MDs have to go to graduate school, pass their licensing test, and complete their residency (almost like an apprenticeship). Engineers simply need a bachelor's degree. Granted, engineers can earn PhDs, and can do a lot of on the job training and continuing education throughout their careers, and can do the EIT to PE path (our own version of an apprenticeship, which is more important in some fields than others), but all that's not required to simply become an engineer.So, it depends an awful lot on the specific field of engineering and medicine. There's probably a higher minimum level of competency among MDs than engineers because of the more difficult path to become an MD, but at the more challenging levels, I think they're comparable. After all, the two go-to phrases to emphasize intelligence are 'rocket science' and 'brain surgery'.
How hard is med school in comparison to nursing school or undergrad classes?
Depends entirely on you, and what you're willing to go through.It requires more memorization, pattern recognition, sleep deprivation, adapability to unpredictability, toleration of stress, emotional stability, time management, etc than anything I ever did as an undergrad.Some of the more difficult experiences I've had in med school:dissecting a cadaver (What is it like for a medical student to dissect a body for the first time? Are some students grossed out, or do they faint?)flip-flopping between day and night shifts on short noticegetting kicked in the face by a psychotic patient while I helped put restraints on themhaving vomit pour over my hands while I held an unconscious seizing patient's head still so that they could be intubated (What are Kevin Moore's friends up to right now?)watching someone die slowly over a period of weekswatching someone die quickly as they bled out in a manner of minutesperforming CPR on a patient who was coding and thinking "holy mother of god please please please let this work their spouse is just outside the door crying god if you exist please just once show yourself in this life and do something for me"...and then witnessing a non-ideal outcome occur despite best efforts by everyone on the teamwitnessing a physician calling time of death and knowing that one day that will be part of my joblearning how to deliver bad news to loved onesdealing with people asking me for medical advice and wanting to help but not being able to, and then dealing with their outrage at meAll this said...there are quite a few high points as well, which is why I still absolutely love what I do and couldn't see myself doing anything else. Every day when I walk into the hospital I experience an awesome surge of pure joy/adrenaline. The struggles have been worth it.If all this sounds good, join me, friend. It'd be fun to have another future colleague. If it doesn't sound like your cup of tea, no worries, do what makes you happy and rock at it.Cheers,~J
Respiratory therapist and becoming a physician assistant?
I'm 17(almost 18) and a senior in high school. I want my career to be something in the medical field, but I don't want to go to school for 10+ years. So when I heard about being a physician assistant I was ecstatic that there was a very well paying medical job that didn't require me to go to school for a huge part of my life. Then I realized you need previous medical experience to be excepted in the PA schools. So my idea and question is this. Could I obtain my associates/bachelors degree in respiratory therapy, acquire a job in it for 6 months to a year, then enroll in a PA program and work as a RT while training to be a PA? Any answers would be really helpful, especially if you are a PA or know someone who is. Thank you.
Physical therapy assistant vs a nurse.?
First, I would say if you plan on getting a BS in something, i would say don't bother becoming a PTA first...the coursework is so specific as a PTA that you will not complete your general education at the CC level. Therefore, rather than it taking you an additional two years to complete your BS (if you start with a general AS or AA), it will probably still take you close to an additional 4 years to complete your BS if you do the PTA program first. Next, if you plan on becoming a PT (an MS or doctorate level degree) I would definetely not waste any time doing the PTA because the classes are non-transferrable. I would simply go right for the PT degree. However, if you would like to make a career out of being a PTA, average salaries are typically $34-50,000 a year. In comparision, an RN can still practice with an associates degree and their salary does not top out as quickly as a PTA. Furthermore, it's easier for an RN with an associates to transition to a BSN than it is for a PTA to transition to the PT degree. However, if you aren't fond of blood and needles, it doesn't sound like this is for you anyway. Good luck in your decision making process.
Nursing school vs. medical school?
this might be a very stupid question :) I always hear nurses complaining about how hard is nursing school, and always heard docs comlaining about how difficult med school is, so besides the fact that nursing school lasts for 4 year (sorry if I'm wrong, but what I'm trying to say is that it takes shorter to become a nurse than to become a doctor) and becoming a doc takes up to 11 year, how much harder is med school than nursing school? I know they're totally different, but I just mean the level of difficulty. Thanks in advance!!!!!
Are jobs available in the US for international students who have received a Masters in Public Health from the US?
It is far more difficult to stay in the US following completion of graduate studies now than it was even 5 years ago. I anticipate the US will implement a points type immigration system, similar to that used in the UK and Australia.So, if you have a clinical skill that is in demand — MD, BSN, Resp Therapy, Phys Assistant, or very high tech/analysis skills, it may be possible, but you should start your research as you enter graduate school in the US and openly ask the graduate program about this option. Also, check with your advisor in grad school if you are already in school.It may be possible to stay on as a fellow through Fulbright or another program. But our current US administration is looking closely at those options as well in an effort to ensure more positions go to US nationals or passport holders.
Between pharmacy and nursing, which is better and has great opportunities?
There are pluses and minuses to both professions. If your goal is to help people, there is a far greater need for nurses. This nursing shortage not only helps people in need, it also helps drive up their salaries. If I had to choose, I would be a nurse. Although pharmacists can make more money, with the state of healthcare and the big chain pharmacies, the market simply doesn't support sustained high salaries for pharmacists in most markets. In the end, a nurse has got to enjoy being with and helping people directly. Pharmacists interact as needed but frontline staff handle most face-to-face interactions. Your personality should be seriously taken into account as yet another factor. Best of luck in making this decision.
Which is harder nursing school or medical school?
I am a nurse and am half way through medical school.Let’s separately discuss classes and clinicals.The main difference between a class in nursing school and one in medical school is the time input. Honestly, I studied a lot of the same content in the two degrees. Medical school just went into a bit more detail on things. Furthermore, there are just a LOT more class hours (think “ credit hours “) to finish the basic science portion of medical school. If somebody is smart enough to do well in nursing school and are willing to put in some effort/time they could also do well in medical school. The actual learning isn’t harder, there is just more of it (a lot more).Clinicals/Clerkships are more distinct. My nursing clinicals weren’t to bad, give some meds, update care plans, help with daily care. Medical school clerkships are INSANE challenging. Every day you’re pushed to the very edge of your comfort zone. You need to learn fast, organize well, manage time, have good professional skills. You’ll be putting in many 60–90 hour weeks (especially on surgical specialties). So the clinical aspect of medical school is a lot harder than nursing school.To summarize: medical school classes are about the same difficulty as nursing classes. But there are a lot more of them and you’re taking many at once, so the time input is MUCH higher (20–30 hours of class per week + studying vs 5-10 hrs class per week + studying). Medical school clerkships are MUCH harder than nursing clinicals and require a very dedicated and driven person to excel.