Med what?

So, i'm reconsidering the whole Med school thing.

I'm freaking out! I am just realizing how stressed out I am now and I'm not even in any classes yet. I'm spread too thin. I also realized that Kung Fu is not just "important to me", but it's part of who I am. I've been doing it for nearly 8 years and if I go to medical school, something will have to give and it will be kung fu. I can't be a balanced person without it! No, that's not it, I am not a HAPPY person without it. I go nuts when I don't get to class for a week, i can't imagine missing out on it for 7 years.

So, I'm revisiting the Nurse Practitioner idea. I still get direct patient care. I still get to be a primary provider and depending on the program (i really like UW's program here) I can even be a specialist (they call it a focal area). There is a focal area in Cardiology, which i can do with a Medical Genetics minor - it seems like a really great option. It combines my need for the academic-research side of me with my real desire to help people in their lifestyle. Plus, the more I do it, the more i realize I will probably want to work in a hospital/clinic environment. I can also pursue and include my interests in nutrition and exercise...

The first 5 quarters are intensely full-time, but after that, I can complete the masters portion of the program part-time. It's much more flexible than going to med school.

I still have some prerequisites, but they are different, so I have to decide soon so that I can figure out which class to take.

All I do know is that I want to do something, I want to work in health care, and I don't want to have to work for a doctor - NP's can practice autonomously, PA's cannot.

I'm going crazy trying to figure it all out, but for now, the NP idea, while a compromise from being a DOCTOR, will allow me to have more balance in my life ultimately and during the training (apart from the first 5 quarters).