[churro]

Hello~
Im thinking if I finish my BSN degree and wanted to go for doctor field, how long its gonna take? would it be much less time than normal people who graduate from the bachelor degree? Do I still need to take a MCAT exam? any suggestion?

thank you!!

[donster]

Are you speaking about a Medical Doctor (MD)? Becoming a BSN prepared nurse is not a shortcut to becoming a doctor; they are two separate and distinct disciplines. Medical school requires 4 years of premed, 4 years of medical school, and, depending upon your specialty, several years of internships and residencies. Becoming a nurse is not part of that equation, despite the portrayal of such on TV dramas.

Nursing is nursing; medicine is medicine. They are not the same thing.

Good luck in whatever you decide you're going to do.

[TheCommuter]

If you want to become a doctor (physician), it would actually be beneficial to NOT become a nurse. As Don mentioned, there's the medical model, and there's the nursing model. The medical model is totally different from the nursing model, and becoming a nurse will not shorten your schooling for the MD.

If becoming a doctor is your goal, it would actually be better if you earned an undergrad degree in biology, attended 4 years of medical school, and underwent 3 to 7 years of internship. I have never heard of any waiting lists or prerequisites involved with earning an undergrad degree in biology with a premed emphasis. I have, however, heard of horrendous waiting lists and specific prerequisite classes that are needed for the BSN (bachelor of science in nursing degree). Good luck!

[goldenscroll]

If you are already working towards your bsn, have you considered getting a masters and becoming a NP? Not a dr, but it puts you in more of a doctorly role. My experiences with drs and nurse practitioners in drs offices were pretty similar. The drs really didnt do anything extra. Just a thought. I think its the way I will end up going.

[HealingHands327]

Why not become an anesthetist? the path is a little shorter than becoming a doc, but you make almost if not just as much as a doc does. A family practice doc anyway....hehe

[casi]

Chances are it will take you much longer than the traditional medical student. The prerequisite may overlap by one or two classes, but that's about it. Core medical school requirements are normally 1 year of Biology (with Lab), 1 year of Inorganic Chemistry (with Lab), 1 year of Organic Chemistry (with Lab), 1 year of English, 1 year of Calculus or College Level Math. You'll also have to most definately take the MCATs.

[Tweety]

It takes a 4-year degree to become a doctor, and becoming a BSN is a 4-year degree, just make sure you have all the pre-med classes the med school requires because some of these might not be required to beocme a BSN RN. However, nursing is so hard and stressful, if you goal is to become an MD and you're going straight through, it would make more sense and be easier to take a pre-med route rather than a BSN route if you don't want to be a nurse.