[Slayer]

Hello everyone,

I am a 19 year old male RN student who is currently enrolled in an Associates degree program with intentions of pursuing a BSN and possible even an MSN at a future time. I really need some advice however on my future plans as there is some uncertainty.

Okay, first off. I planned after I was done the required degree level, that I was going to go become a CRNA after the ICU experience, etc. etc. Then I realized, with the number of years that it would take for me to become a CRNA with all of the ICU experience and etc. that it would just pay for me to go back to med school once I have completed a BSN or MSN program.

But, here's the problem, I don't roughly know how many years it would take post-BSN to finish the required pre-reqs and whatnot to be accepted into Medical school. A few people that I have talked to said roughly 1-2 years of pre-reqs before you can get into medical school post-BSN. I know that some of you know tons more about this than me, and if you could possible answer this, I would be very appreciative.

Some of you may ask why I didn't just go straight into Pre-med and whatnot. I figure that Nursing is a great way to learn your patient communication, and understanding of the profession before you actually get into Med school seeing as how many doctors are very dry, and inconsiderate to the nursing staff. Plus, if something ever happens while I am in med school, I could always rely on my Nursing degrees to support me until I pick up again.

I appreciate all of your time and effort, and I plan on being a frequent poster here!

Thanks again,
Chuck.

[daisey_may]

Yeah, I looked into this, too, for a short time (though I decided not to do it!)

It's not so much about the pre-reqs you have to take--it's about passing the MCAT. So, it would probably benefit you to take those classes that you are going to be tested over, but you don't HAVE to take them. The only requirement is that you have a Bachelor's degree and for most places, it can be a Bachelor's degree in anything. So, you should look into the subjects that the MCATs cover and start looking at which classes you'll need to take because some BSN programs are different and require different pre-reqs. If you've glanced through an MCAT study guide, you'll need physics, calculus, inorganic chemistry, Nutrition, etc, (there are a lot of topics covered!) But just remember, it's not just about passing the classes...it's about KNOWING the material and passing the MCATS...same as nursing and the NCLEX...

On a side note, my sociology professor talked to me about what my future plans were and he told me that if you going into medical school to not necessarily be a pre-med student first but get a bachelor's degree in something like Sociology or Music or something, so that there is something to fall back on. Then, take other classes or study the subjects HARD that the MCATs are over.

So, stick with it and good luck to you!

[Gods child]

There are also several med schools that do not require a Bachelors degree. For instance, the one I am thinking about applying to only requires 3 years of college and the completion of the pre-requisites (which could take less than a year to complete). Of course you would probably be more competitive with a Bachelors degree.

[angel337]

its hard to give you a cut and dry answer. it all boils down to where your desire is and what your ultimate goal is. i know this may sound crazy....but don't worry about how many years it will take to complete this or that. because the reality of med school and crna school is that you have to go through the acceptance process and that alone may take many attempts. if being a nurse is really what you want, i say concentrate on that and do the best you can so that if you do decide to be a M.D. or a CRNA, you will have the gpa that's needed to move forward. being a doctor and being a crna are 2 different professions so if you really want one or the other it is best to talk with the advisors in your college and see what prereqs that will help you the most. for both professions you will need additional math, physics, chemistry and A&P classes that the regular RN degree don't require. most RN,BSN programs have pathophysiology, statistics, finite math and biochem, but you may need more additional upper level science classes to qualify for med or crna school. so it may be in your best interest to take those classes while you can.good luck with everything!

[group_theory]

What to do in order to get into medical school

1. You definately have to take the pre-reqs. Some schools have additional requirements (classes) but the general ones are

1 year of Biology with lab
1 year of Chemistry with lab
1 year of Organic Chemistry with lab
1 year of Physics with lab
1 year of English

Some places require math/calculus/statistics. Other places require Biochemistry. Some require Genetics. Some schools won't accept biology/chemistry/orgo/physics course geared towards allied health/nursing. Others will. Call the school you are interested in to find out.

2. MCAT
MCAT is divided into 4 parts, 3 of which are scored numerically (and 1 which is scored alphabetically but no one really looks at the score). The 3 parts are: Verbal, Physical Sciences, and Biological Sciences. The Verbal is similar to the reading comprehension portion of the SAT but with longer passages, more passages, and a shorter time constraint. The Physical Science will test your knowledge of Physics and Chemistry. Calculators not permitted and a formula sheet is not provided so you will have to memorize those physics formula for this section. The Biological Science will test your knowledge of Biology, Organic Chemistry, Genetics, and occasional Biochemistry. Score ranges from 1-15 per section. A combine score of 30 or above is considered a good score. The last section (scored alphabetically) is a 1-hr, 2 essay portion which is given very little weight in med school admission process.

3. Bachelor degree not required. However, admission is competitive, with some schools receiving over 10,000 applicants for 250 seats. Most applicants will have a bachelor, and some will have masters and others doctorates. Although most schools don't require a bachelor, those who do get admitted without a bachelor usually have other outstanding qualities (ie., ADN with 20 years of ICU experience at a tertiary care hospital). Some schools do require a bachelor degree upon matriculation, so check with the schools you are interested to find out their requirements

4. The application process - long and expensive. You will need to apply via a central processing service - AMCAS (for MD schools in the US) and AACOMAS (DO schools in the US). A lot of applicants apply a year before their anticipated start (if you want to start August 2007, you apply starting June 2006). The primary application organizes your personal statement, grades, mcat, extracurricular activities, etc. Then schools will mail you a secondary application upon receiving the primary application. Some secondary application will ask more questions, others will just ask to confirm your information. Each step of the process requires cash. The vast majority of schools require onsite inverviews (Mayo does it by phone). From their interview pools, the admission commitee then decides who to give offers of admission.

5. Foreign med schools - always a viable option but please do your research before deciding which one to go. Some states will not grant permenant licensure to alumni from certain schools (California and Texas comes to mind). Other states don't care. Also, if you want to do certain specialty (that is very competitive), you may be facing an uphill battle as a foreign med school graduate. The one true advice is this: be wary of any foreign medical school that will offer to give you credit or advance standing because you are a nurse/PA/NP/DC etc. Remember, your goal is to become a praciticing doctor. As of today, none of the state board of medicines have yet to grant permenant licensure to anyone who received advance standing from foreign medical schools.

Hope this is helpful.

A few good links to get investigate med schools in the US
www.aamc.org
www.aacom.org

As to whether to go for medical school or stay as an RN or become a CRNA or CRNP, etc - that's up to you.

[Slayer]

Thanks for your help guys/girls. I feel like I still have some time before I make up my mind. I guess the best thing to do is to shadow a CRNA/Nurse Practicioner and even a few MDs that I know in my neighborhood to get a feel for the life and the dedication to the practice.


As far as the pre-reqs, I was going to start taking them around my last year of my BSN program so that way they are done and over with. And like you said group_therapy, there is Physics, Inorganic science, etc. etc. that the schools that I have looked at really require.


Thanks for your help!