A career as a RN....later as a MD? (need advice)

indie · Sep 11, 2003

David:

As you already have your first degree (which is the major prerequisite for med school in the USA) perhaps you should just take the fastest RN course you can find, get registered and save enough to support yourself during med school.

An option you might want to consider - it is possible to go to a med school out of the USA e.g. Granada, UK at considerably reduced cost (although UK school is longer) and become MD here in the USA. Obviously jumping a few hoops is involved on return here but it can be done.

If you feel you'd like to nurse, just get that RN and see where it leads; I got into a UK med school many years ago, after RN, when I was 28 years old, but eventually decided against it and I've never regretted it. Nursing is a much more 'portable' job with opportunity to change location and specialty much more easily than MDs. Without the loans to repay and the license and malpractice to keep up, I don't expect I've earned much less than some MDs over 30+ years either!

Good Luck to you

lapalma · Sep 11, 2003

thanks indie, thats exactly the kind of advice im looking for. i think it'd be a smart path to do the RN with a possibility of MD later on....im also glad to hear that having a bachelors will help me move along in my RN schooling (i was honestly preparing for the worst (ie none of my units mattered for anything). anymore advice from anyone would also be great!

-david

chestahcheetah · Sep 11, 2003

I was in the same situation. I have a Bachelors of Science degree and decided to pusue nursing afterwards, I elected to do the LVN/LPN 1 yr program so that I could start earning money. Now that I'm an LVN,I can support myself while going to school for my RN. I definately agree with Indie, get your RN & see where it leads. There is so many aspects of nursing, you'll never know where it will lead. I hope to work in the E.R., so hopefully I will oneday.

beepers40 · Sep 11, 2003

David,

Look into Masters' Entry programs for people with bachelors' degrees but no nursing experience. You earn an Masters' degree while you're going to nursing school. UCSF has a great one, and if you're down in SoCal several of the universities there have similar programs. These programs are typically about three years in length; the first year to year and a half is spent on the clinical nursing courses that qualify you to sit for the NCLEX and get your RN. Once you have your RN you can work part-time if you need to. The second two years are ususally a masters' speciality course to prepare you for advanced practice nursing, either as a Clinical Nurse Specialist or as a Nurse Practitioner. Working as an NP can give you greater insight into whether the whole MD route is one you want to continue on or whether the NP role is the right one for you. Check UCLA, USC, Long Beach State, and some of the San Diego schools for this option. Most of these programs have some basic science requirements that are the same as for entry into any nursing program in the state (because they are required for licensure): Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, etc. You can usually take these inexpensively at a local community college if you need them. Good luck to you. N.B. these programs are generally academically rigorous and fast-paced, with very competitive admissions.

pugluvnrn · Nov 10, 2003

David, have you thought about going to Physicians Assistants school since you already have a degree?

I know riverside community college has a program, and there is one at Western College I think, I live in O.C. and I believe it is nearby. If you already have your degree, you would just need to do the prerequisites which are similar to nursing school, then apply to P.A. school. Going from a PA. to MD might be an easier route for you. I went to Santa Ana college and they have a pretty good program, so does Golden West and Cypress and Saddleback college. I go to CSULB now. I'm in the NP/MSN program and I love it. They also have a RN program that is for the BSN, and since you already have GE that might also be an easy route. Good luck!

sjoe · Nov 11, 2003

"David, have you thought about going to Physicians Assistants school since you already have a degree?"

I certainly agree--particularly since you are interested in the medical side of things. For MDs, nursing school would be strictly a side-track.

MICU RN · Nov 12, 2003

The PA route and then possible med school sounds like a much more logical route. Trust me, I had similar thoughts either crna or possible med school route. The problem is that undregrad nursing prepares as a nurse, no medical model at all. So you wind up getting side tracked with the nursing model and don't get that much exposure to the medical model. A PA program on the hand will prepare you in a medical model so that you will probably enjoy it much more. Put it this way, would rather write papers on nursing theory as an undergrad BSN or learn medicine? NOt to mention as a PA you will never have to do the dirty work that is expected of RNs i.e., cleaning crap, piss, and waiting on the patients and family members every whim. TO me there is no comparsion, which job would better prepare for career in medicine or would be more fun, PA hands down. I am not knocking bedside nursing, I did it in all types of critical areas for five years, but I am being honest based on my experience of what I think would be more logical for a career in medicine.

indie · Nov 13, 2003

Let's not overlook, in our efforts to provide information, just how very difficult it is to get into any nursing school at present, let alone a PA school.

There were, I believe, over 5,000 qualified applicants turned away last year, in the USA, because the problem is not enough schools and faculty.

San Diego has a consortium of hospitals who have put up $$ to fund a couple of extra professor positions at, I believe, USD, but this is not going to help all those who have been on community college waiting lists etc for many years.

I stick with my first advice. Get that RN by the quickest route; start earning money, getting experience, understanding the system and then figure out where you want to go.

If you plan RN right you CAN earn a great deal (think independent contractor), have the flexibility of being able to work almost anywhere in the world with minimum licensure and legal issues. RN is a fabulous career (I'm not ONLY a nurse!) with so much diversity there is room for everyone to find a niche.

Dwell in possibility.