RN to MD

Nurses General Nursing

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Do any of the readers or posters here actually know of anyone that went from RN to MD. I wanted to see how many people actually did this. Most people I know that went medical followed the PA route.

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Psych, Addictions..

The title of this thread is RN-MD.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Does anyone think there is a specific type of nurses that will assist the most as an MD, ICU?

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I know 7 or 8... 3 anesthesiologists, 2 surgeons and some other various specialties.

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Hi LucyWill..I was 29 when I started...Def wish I was younger also but you age regardless so do what fits YOU best. I chose the med school route simply because it's what I always wanted to be and I figured why not go for it. It is a very hard decision and I sit here and wonder why I am doing this to myself ..lol! But in the end 4 or 5 years will go by faster than you know it. Everyone has their own personal reason why they pursue NP school vs. PA school or MD vs CRNA school, etc.... so sit down and really think about your choices. I shadowed doctors and worked extensively with other nurses on the floors to help make my decision...because after all: this is a life changing career decision-one that isn't easy to change. As far as age..I met doctors who started at 40 and a med student who was ~55! Good luck in your decision... :-)

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May I ask how old you were when you started medical school? I'm considering medical school or PA school. I was considering NP but now that the programs are 4 years I'm thinking if I'm going to spend four more years in school I might as well bite the bullet and go to medical school (yes I understand that there is residency time to consider as well). It's a really hard decision, I'm not married and don't have kids but I just wish I was four or five years younger.

Hi I posted at the end of this forum but forgot to quote you also :-)

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

One of my patients had a cardiology consult once (I work in the MICU) and the cardiologist used to be a nurse. She was fantastic to work with, even just stopped by to check on the patient personally at midnight, I hadn't even called her! She's the best.

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I was 35 when I started med school. I practiced as an RN mainly Emerg for 9 years post diploma. I only thought about medical school when I went back to do my BSN I figured I would do the all the prerequisites and see what happened I also applied to grad school to do my MSN. When I got into med school my wife said we should go for it. We already had three children when I started. If you are willing to work together as a family it can be done. I am now a Pediatric Surgeon and my wife has a DNP.

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One question I am often asked is was it easier being a nurse first. In most cases it was. I did well in classroom and found my nursing knowledge very useful but it was in clinical that I found it put me ahead. You can not learn to interact with patients and deal with death suffering and illness from a book. I was already very comfortable and did not have to drive up that hill like most of my classmates. I also benefited from being able to interacted easily with the nursing staff who seemed to go the extra mile to help me. I was once accused by a classmate of having the nurses always on my side. My medical school was also quite liberal with a number of older students and a laid back faculty that helped.

When I started Med School I had not really thought a out where I would specialize but I ended up loving surgery. Everyone thought I was crazy and that I was too old and they would not what a former nurse. But I chose carefully and matched to a great program, and when I applied for fellowship my nursing background played a part in my acceptance.

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I am new to this site and am intrigued by what I am reading, I am also involved in an interdisaplenary working group and looking to get input on nurse physician relations.

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