Why are doctors more respected and appreciated than nurses?

It is clear and well-known (even just on TSR) how well respected doctors are. They have very high social status.

Doctors deserve recognition; they work very hard, train rigorously to qualify and save lives on a daily basis. But so do nurses. Personally I don't care if I am 'lower' in the food chain, although it is frustrating. I do what I do because I love it. I work as a care assistant in mental health...which is probably one of the hardest and worst paid jobs available.

Recently I told someone I was training to become a nurse and he asked why a nurse and not a doctor? I tried to explain that it's because nursing and medicine are two different career paths which require different skill sets. But he wasn't convinced. I see a lot of this on TSR too. Many people seem to be under the impression that being a doctor is a superior version of a nurse...when they are actually two very differing STEM careers that are both extremely valuable in their own rights.

Modern nurses are highly educated, intelligent, hard-working, autonomous and brilliant communicators.

Why is it that nurses are so under-appreciated in comparison to doctors?
Is it purely to with supply and demand?
Is it an archaic attitude linked to traditional roles of doctors and nurses?

What do you think?

I agree nurses should be better respected. However as another poster pointed with Medicine courses wanting AAA+ and most medical schools being at Russell groups some nursing courses requiring very low grades including Ds and Cs the reputation of Nursing is not quite that of Medicine. I'm a medical school drop out and years later I'm doing a Chemistry degree not as respected but I couldn't be happier

I agree nurses should be better respected. However as another poster pointed with Medicine courses wanting AAA+ and most medical schools being at Russell groups some nursing courses requiring very low grades including Ds and Cs the reputation of Nursing is not quite that of Medicine. I'm a medical school drop out and years later I'm doing a Chemistry degree not as respected but I couldn't be happier

theres nowhere in the country for nursing that takes less than CCC, most want more than that really. Nursing is pretty big on the extra circular stuff when you apply rather than the grades, if you dont have some decent experience with people then you ve got no chance really ( just shadowing a nurse for a week wouldnt ever be enough)

Ah that's good. Back when I was a medical student (5 years ago) you could get into nursing with CDD with one science which is a far cry from AAA with chem and bio the medics had to get plus the BMAT/GAMSAT. Whilst I do think a minimum standard should apply the ability to be a good doctor or nurse doesn't lye in academics alone. Both are hard working professions which better people's health and the community and that should be all that matters really.

I agree with ClaireEstelle, I have come accross nowhere that allow grades less than C. Most of them require at least Bs, PLUS sufficient experience. When applying, I found it to be extremely competitive and saw many very clever people get rejected. I am going to a Russel Group uni for nursing and on my course there are only 40 places. I know the reputation of medicine is better, but I just wonder why? It can't purely be based on entry requirements surely. Grades on paper don't make people better at caring.

Being a doctor is pretty much the STEM side of Medicine. Nursing is more of a social science. And as we know, STEM>everything else, obviously.

Ah that's good. Back when I was a medical student (5 years ago) you could get into nursing with CDD with one science which is a far cry from AAA with chem and bio the medics had to get plus the BMAT/GAMSAT. Whilst I do think a minimum standard should apply the ability to be a good doctor or nurse doesn't lye in academics alone. Both are hard working professions which better people's health and the community and that should be all that matters really.

Nursing is STEM

It is clear and well-known (even just on TSR) how well respected doctors are. They have very high social status.

Doctors deserve recognition; they work very hard, train rigorously to qualify and save lives on a daily basis. But so do nurses. Personally I don't care if I am 'lower' in the food chain, although it is frustrating. I do what I do because I love it. I work as a care assistant in mental health...which is probably one of the hardest and worst paid jobs available.

Recently I told someone I was training to become a nurse and he asked why a nurse and not a doctor? I tried to explain that it's because nursing and medicine are two different career paths which require different skill sets. But he wasn't convinced. I see a lot of this on TSR too. Many people seem to be under the impression that being a doctor is a superior version of a nurse...when they are actually two very differing STEM careers that are both extremely valuable in their own rights.

Modern nurses are highly educated, intelligent, hard-working, autonomous and brilliant communicators.

Why is it that nurses are so under-appreciated in comparison to doctors?
Is it purely to with supply and demand?
Is it an archaic attitude linked to traditional roles of doctors and nurses?

What do you think?

Being a doctor is pretty much the STEM side of Medicine. Nursing is more of a social science. And as we know, STEM>everything else, obviously.

because the journey to becoming a doctor is much more bumpy than becoming a nurse....