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
