How is working life different for doctors and nurses?

How is working life different for doctors and nurses?

Both doctors and nurses deliver expert care to patients in need. They save lives and ensure that people enjoy the best possible levels of wellness and health. To get to this point, doctors have completed a lengthy period of education, and this enables them to perform tasks that most nurses cannot. Primarily, their qualification allows them to diagnose a patient’s condition and then decide upon a course of treatment independently. The majority of nurses cannot make a diagnosis and will provide treatment in line with what a doctor suggests. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two professions.

Nurses qualify faster

Nurses in the first stage of training will complete their associate degree and become a registered nurse (RN) in less than two years if they put in the hours. Next, they can move on to a bachelor’s degree that lasts between two and four years. Although there are other routes, these are the two most popular pathways into general nursing. However, there are many more options when it comes to upskilling and diversifying. A career in nursing could lead to roles as a nurse manager, a consultant or an educator. Baylor University offers online programs in several areas of nursing, so students can complete a qualification at their own pace without compromising their current position.

Doctors have over a decade of training to complete

Unlike nurses, doctors must spend at least four years completing their undergraduate degree and another four years in medical school. After this, they will move on to a residency in the area of medicine that interests them. Here, they will work hands-on with other medical professionals to hone their skills. This part of their training can last anywhere from two to seven years. Most doctors will train for at least 11 years in total, but this could reach 15 years for some specialists.

Are doctor and nurse licenses similar?

Licensing is different for doctors and nurses. Nurses qualify with a broad license that entitles them to practice in almost any medical field. Doctors have a very narrow specialization and their license only allows them to practice in that field, be it pediatrics, cardiology or oncology. In order to switch career paths, doctors have to return to medical school and gain a different license.

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A doctor’s license is more limiting because they are trained to be experts in a specific discipline. They have followed a single path towards a specialization of their choice and have only a generalized knowledge of other specialties. This highly specific knowledge base means that they have more responsibility than the nurses they work alongside.

Although nurses gain a more general license, through additional courses and training, they can take on a greater degree of responsibility. Nurse practitioners now perform procedures, diagnose conditions and give prescriptions to patients. Thanks to a high demand for all healthcare workers in the US, their numbers have been steadily increasing for years.

How do their roles differ?

There are many similarities between these two roles – most significantly, both are patient-facing and take place in a medical setting. Once again, it is their level of responsibility that divides them.

The daily work of a nurse

Nurses work as part of a team in various healthcare settings. These include care homes, hospices and hospitals. They aid injured, sick and disabled people by carrying out a range of duties. These include updating records, monitoring vital signs and administering medicines. Nurses are also the first point of contact in some areas of pediatric care, midwifery and mental health recovery.

The daily work of a doctor

Physicians or doctors work within a particular medical field such as radiology, gynecology or psychiatry. They diagnose, treat and prevent injuries, illnesses and conditions. They will also perform surgeries, create treatment plans and supervise trainee doctors. The overall responsibility for patient care in a hospital resides with the doctor. However, they confidently rely on nurses for assistance with many aspects of their work.

Reaching a diagnosis

When they meet a patient, a doctor will start to observe the symptoms they display and use their training to form a diagnosis. Nurses gather any information they deem vital when meeting patients, and they then report this to the doctor on their ward to keep them informed.

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Planning a course of action

Once a patient has been diagnosed, the doctor will develop a plan to treat them and give orders to other staff as part of this process. A nurse will work alongside a team of other healthcare staff to set these plans in motion.

Advocating for patients

Doctors interpret results and perform procedures, while nurses often act as patient advocates. This means that they can act as the voice of a patient, educate a patient, and nurture a better relationship between the patient and their doctor.

Differences in patient care

Nurses deliver hands-on care to patients. As well as helping them to feel safe, they are around more and have more time to chat. Doctors tend to flit between wards as part of their daily rounds. They review each patient and quickly move on to the next. Nurses are present for longer periods. They can ask how a patient is feeling, plump up a pillow and provide a listening ear.

Nurses are crucial, but doctors have the final say

In modern hospitals, nurses play a larger role in the day-to-day care of patients than in previous years. In part, this is because studies have shown that good nursing care can significantly improve the outcomes for patients. However, the care that they provide will always be carried out under the supervision of a ward doctor, whether this is through direct or indirect monitoring.

Both are equally vital when it comes to patient care

The jobs, responsibilities and training periods may differ, but when it comes to looking after those in their care, nurses and doctors are equally valued. Each professional has their own role to play, but together they form part of a dynamic team, and either one would struggle to succeed without the other.

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