I feel like I'm "cheating" on nursing for asking this...

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So, while I do love nursing and have no intention on changing my major, I've always known bedside nursing isn't enough for me. I've always planned on going on to get my NP or CRNA (after more research/job shadows are conducted) Lately, for whatever reason, I've been thinking about the PA or maybe med. school route after college and trying out working as a nurse.

I know, nursing students don't get into med school, but hey they take art majors sometimes too? After all, it's only a thought, an idea if you will. Nothing is set in stone.

Okay, let me get to the point... so would taking a biology minor aid in getting into a graduate program, be it NP, CRNA, PA, or med school? I really love biology, but I have the feeling doing a nursing/biology double major would be just a little bit overwhelming.

I've heard in some cases minors are just a joke, and I find that justifed if I were to stop after my BSN, but considering I'm fairly sure I'll be furthering my education in a health related field would a minor be worth it or just be a waste?

I feel like I'm cheating on nursing for thinking of even taking a possibly medical path instead of a nursing path!

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Where did you hear that nursing students don't get into med school? My mother's graduating RN class back in 85 had a single guy in it and he is now a doctor.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

6 out of my graduating class (of about 85) went to med school -- at least 6 that I know of. A couple went from nursing to law school.

Talk to the pre-med advisor at your college to be sure you are taking the classes that will make you attractive to med schools if that is what you want. You don't need to double-major, just take the right classes -- which might mean an extra semester or a couple of summer classes, but maybe not.

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Where did you hear that nursing students don't get into med school? My mother's graduating RN class back in 85 had a single guy in it and he is now a doctor.

I think they were referring to the fact that medical schools require biochemistry, calculus, and other classes that often (though might be) are not part of a nursing school curriculum. A nurse who wants to attend medical school must then take these additional classes in order to apply.

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Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Vascular Access.

The biology would be useful if it helps fulfill prereqs for whatever med school you'll be applying at. Usually Biology I & II and sometimes genetics is required. Micro and Immunology are good for med school too. And A&P I/II, but I guess you'll be taking those and micro for nursing anyway.

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So then you can take those classes at a community college after you graduate NS.

Besides, I woudl discourage you from going to med school. There are just simply too many doctors and you cannot survive making $7 per patient from Medicare/ Medicaid.

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Specializes in Infusion.

Nursing is medicine. Yes, do check pre-reqs at the institution(s) you would like to attend. Yes, focus on classes and not minoring in a subject.

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Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Vascular Access.
So then you can take those classes at a community college after you graduate NS.

Besides, I woudl discourage you from going to med school. There are just simply too many doctors and you cannot survive making $7 per patient from Medicare/ Medicaid.

Actually, at this point, it seems that we need more doctors and less nurses, based on job availability. Hopefully these trends will not remain for nursing, but they certainly will for physicians, esp. in primary care.

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I have a relative who owns a medical practice in NYC. He said going to med school was a horrible decision. With overtime, the police officer next door to him makes more money than he does.

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Not to mention the loans, ack! Go NP/CRNP. By the time you get there, the terminal degree will be the DnP anyways, which should satisfy the level of practice you are looking for. I think what you mean is that bedside nursing might be "too much" for you? :redlight: For god's sake, please don't tell any floor nurse to their face that bedside nursing isn't enough (read: good enough)! I know you mean well, but people take comments like that as an affront when you are describing their profession.

I have a BS in Bio and still didn't have all of the credits needed to get into nursing or med school, so I had to take a few classes at a CC to plan to get accepted to either. I ended up accepting admission into an ADN program even though I have a BS, and will go from there to DnP after several years on the job experience as an RN(that is, if I can get a job- have you heard the new grad horror stories?!). I'm attending the "Suck it Up" school of Nursing. Yeah, I could be an MD by now (the ripe age of 31), but would I be happy? Would I ever see my son/boyfriend/family?

There seems to be preconceptions and judgement implied in your language- nurses not getting into med school, minors being "a joke", bedside nursing not being "enough". As time ages you and whittles away at the thousands of possibilities that are open to us when we are young, we see that there are no "better thans" or "worse thans", just "good enoughs". Ex: I used to look down on single mothers until I chose to leave my son's abusive father. So what is good enough for you, but more importantly, what is best for your family/future family?

Best,

Rae:redbeathe

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I don't think having a biology minor will help much beyond aiding you in getting your prerequisites done. Med school doesn't look down on other majors. Some of my former classmates who were applying to med school were actually told that their other majors (journalism, anthropology, etc.) made them look more well-rounded. So, as long as you take the courses required for admission, I think it's up to you.

Plus, having the minor doesn't mean much more than having the specific courses. So, maybe it would be less overwhelming for you if you just took a couple of extra bio courses (depending on your interests and future plans) instead of committing to the actual minor.

As for choosing a career, some more research might be useful. Though some of the jobs (NP, PA, MD) seem similar, there are specific differences. Think about what you want out of a job and weigh your priorities (hours, patient contact, education, etc.).

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OP follow your dream, if you want to become a doctor I say go for it. I have 2 MD's in my family and they love what they do and do not regret it one bit.

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