Doctors Vs. Nurses

While the medical field offers literally dozens of occupations, doctors and nurses are the ones who tend to get the most attention. Let's take a look at why not all doctor or nurse jobs are created equal.

Show Me the Money

Median salaries (1, 2)

Nurses; Doctors

Licensed practical nurse (LPN): $42,490; General practice: $130,465

Registered nurse (RN): $67,490; Family medicine: $169,327

Certified midwife: $92,510; Internal medicine: $182,888

Nurse practitioner (NP): $98,190; Neurologist: $203,438

Clinical nurse specialist (CNS): $102,670; OB/GYN: $204,716

Certified nurse anesthetist (CNA): $157,140; Radiologist: $291,823

Education Opens Doors

Nurses

Each nursing degree has its own level of required education. (1)

Degrees

LPN: Program at community college or vocational school

LPN to Associate Degree (ADN): Two-year bridge program leading to clinical practice

Associate in Nursing (ASN): Two years, stepping stone to BSN program

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): Four-year college program, including practical learning on-site

Second-Degree BSN: Two-year program for those who already possess a BS degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): 18-24 month program, including Nurse Practitioner and midwifery programs

Doctorate in Nursing (PhD): Three-year program, including specialized Nurse Practitioners and nursing educators

There are 104 nursing specialties. (3)

Popular specialty options

Cardiology
Correctional facility
Critical care
Emergency
Geriatric
Labor and delivery
Anesthetics
Gynecology
Oncology
Pediatric
Psychiatric
Radiology
Toxicology
Trauma

Doctors

Prospective physicians generally spend four years in an undergraduate degree in biology or chemistry (B.S.). After that, they attend medical school. (4)

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.): Four-year program for general practice of medicine

D.O.: Doctor of osteopathic medicine, four-year program

Residency: Required work in desired field for 3-7 years

Specialization and licensing: Doctors who decide to specialize get advanced training

Master's degrees: Graduate degrees in medicine include public health, research and more

There are over 120 specialties for physicians.

Popular specialty options (5)

Allergy and immunology
Anesthetics
Cardiology
Colorectal
Dentistry
Dermatology
Family practice
Gastroenterology
Hematology
Internal medicine
Neonatal care
Neuropathology
Optometry
Pharmacy
Plastic surgery
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Sports medicine
Urology

Employment Outlook

Both jobs are expected to grow over the next half-decade.

Percentage growth 2014-2024 (6)

Registered nurses: 16%

Doctors: 14%

Projected percentage growth by state (2016-18) (7)

Alabama: 2.2

Alaska: 3.6

Arkansas: 3.5

California: 5.1

Colorado: 7.9

Connecticut: 1.8

Delaware: 2.5

District of Columbia: 2.5

Florida: 5.3

Georgia: 4.1

Hawaii: 2.1

Illinois: 1.6

Indiana: 2.3

Iowa: 1.8

Kansas: 0.9

Kentucky: 1.9

Louisiana: 1.6

Maine: 1.1

Maryland: -0.1

Massachusetts: 4.1

Michigan: 1.9

Mississippi: 0.6

Missouri: 2.2

Montana: 2.9

Nebraska: 2

Nevada: 7.1

New Hampshire: 2.2

New Mexico: 2.2

New York: 3.7

North Carolina: 3.5

North Dakota: 2.8

Ohio: 2.2

Oklahoma: 1.1

Oregon: 4.6

Pennsylvania: 2.2

Puerto Rico: 0.2

Rhode Island: 0.5

South Carolina: 3.2

South Dakota: 1.5

Tennessee: 1.9

Utah: 4.5

Vermont: 3.5

Virginia: 3.2

Washington: 3.8

Wyoming: 1.5

N/A: State's information not available

Sources:
1. http://www.allnursingschools.com
2. http://www.payscale.com
3. https://www.discovernursing.com
4. https://www.ama-assn.org
5. https://www.aamc.org
6. https://www.bls.gov
7. http://www.projectionscentral.com