The nursing route of medicine....

girlfromtx · Nov 2, 2005

I pondered the same thing. However, try studentdoctor.net ( try to ignore their negativity towards nurses though) and you will see that nurses who went to med school interviews were thoroughly grilled on why they would switch from being a nurse to a doctor, and have it a lot rougher than the average joe candidate. I used to feel the same way as you, but in a way, I would feel like I wasted my spot for someone who wanted to do nursing for the long term. We have a shortage you know :lol2: . Anyways, now I couldn't be happier with being "just" a nurse.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Nov 2, 2005

the deeper I get into nursing, the less desirable MD is looking. I would miss too many aspects of nursing that just aren't there for doctors...especially all the direct patient contact. I am definitely shooting for my PhD longterm in nursing. But I am no longer attracted to the thought of Medical school, residency, long hours, boring conventions, expensive malpractice, getting sued every time I turn around, etc., etc.

I used to look at doctors like they were Albert Einstein's in the feild of medicine, but now I am a little smarter:D I have such pride and enthusiasm for nursing that I can't imagine any better profession! Me and nursing are a perfect match:blushkiss

oh yeah....and i hate golf! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :smokin:

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2005

I've got 2 doctors and a handful of pharmacists in my family. So, I speak with some knowledge on this. Pre-meds generally have to do a lot of math and science, especially chemisty, but also physics. Their math has to be up to a year of Calculus. After all that math and science a lot of them just finish off a bachelor's degree in chemistry, usually, or some other science so they can use all those credits toward a degree. If they don't get into a med school, uh-oh. A BS in chemisty will get you a job as a washer of chemisty glassware in a chemical company; an MS a job as a stocker in the chemical room. To get to the level of a working Chemist you need to be thinking about a PhD. Pharmacists need math and science also. Mostly chemisty. Most of the pre-pharmacy students who work at my in-laws pharmacies are Chemistry or Biochemistry majors.

charlies · Nov 2, 2005

Back when I looked into both options, I found that most medical schools I looked into on the east coast prefer if you did not take A&P I and II. I believe they want to teach these crucial courses their way. Also they wanted the following courses that most nursing schools around here do not require: Inorganic Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, Biochemistry, Calculus I and II, a couple of others.

There is a doctor in my family too. He was sued once in 30 years. He won. He did recommend that I not pursue an MD. There are several nurses in my family as well, they all say nursing is a great profession.

Josh L.Ac. · Nov 2, 2005

I've got 2 doctors and a handful of pharmacists in my family. So, I speak with some knowledge on this. Pre-meds generally have to do a lot of math and science, especially chemisty, but also physics. Their math has to be up to a year of Calculus. After all that math and science a lot of them just finish off a bachelor's degree in chemistry, usually, or some other science so they can use all those credits toward a degree. If they don't get into a med school, uh-oh. A BS in chemisty will get you a job as a washer of chemisty glassware in a chemical company; an MS a job as a stocker in the chemical room. To get to the level of a working Chemist you need to be thinking about a PhD. Pharmacists need math and science also. Mostly chemisty. Most of the pre-pharmacy students who work at my in-laws pharmacies are Chemistry or Biochemistry majors.

Agreed. I was pre-med in my undergrad and I planned on going to DO school after acupuncture school....wow things change.

After my BS, I tried to get a job for four months before acupuncture school started. With a BS in biology and a minor in chemistry, I got a job at a gas station. But hey, I got all the free coffee I wanted. A BS in biology is a stepping-stone degree. By itself, it is fairly worthless.

There were a few classes in my undergrad that had pre-med and pre-nursing students together. Overall, the pre-med students did much better...and had the attitude to show for it. We were arrogant SOBs and needed to be taken down a notch. Hopefully life taught us all that lesson sooner rather than later.

Columnist · Nov 2, 2005

What I noticed about the pre-requisites for nursing was that they very closely matched those required for the Physician Assistant program at my university. In fact, except for one sociology class, I would qualify to apply to either program. And that is my "Plan B" if I don't get accepted to nursing school.

betsyMT2003 · Nov 3, 2005

A BS in chemisty will get you a job as a washer of chemisty glassware in a chemical company; an MS a job as a stocker in the chemical room. To get to the level of a working Chemist you need to be thinking about a PhD.

This is absolutely incorrect, and I had to jump in to clear it up. I have a BS in chemistry (minor in biology) and I was very happily employed as a "working chemist" for 13 years for a very large and reputable pharmaceutical company. I began my career as a bench chemist in the QC lab, and I worked my way up to the level of lab supervisor. The work was challenging and interesting, and the pay was very good, I might add. (To answer the question that I'm sure is running through your mind -- I left the job when I moved to another state, and at that time I decided to follow my heart and go into nursing. :) ) Several chemists that I worked with (who also had BS degrees) went on to work in research and development. There are many opportunities for people that have a degree in chemistry, so please don't imply that that is not the case. I also want to add that the employees that we had that washed the glassware (who were wonderful people, btw) did not have a chemistry degree.

Just my 2 cents, for whatever it's worth.

karmyk · Nov 6, 2005

I mean if you ask me there is no other field you can major in while in college that is more closely related to medicine. And if you don't get accepted (gasp!) you'll have a solid degree you can fall back on. I'm sure clinicals will help in the admissions process. Whatever you think about it, share your thoughts!

My aunt actually is dean of a medical school in the Philippines. She's making her oldest son get his B.S. in nursing first, before he actually starts the medical program at her school. IMO, it's a wonderful idea... I think that it will not only give him a good foundation to build his future medical studies upon, but it will also enable him to understand the nursing staff he'll have to work with much better.

student4ever · Nov 6, 2005

My aunt actually is dean of a medical school in the Philippines. She's making her oldest son get his B.S. in nursing first, before he actually starts the medical program at her school. IMO, it's a wonderful idea... I think that it will not only give him a good foundation to build his future medical studies upon, but it will also enable him to understand the nursing staff he'll have to work with much better.

I think that is wonderful. The more doctors we have who understand and respect the nursing profession and the nursing method, the better care our patients will receive. I'm currently working towards a nursing degree, and I know I want to go on in the future - either as an NP or an MD. I believe from the bottom of my heart that if I chose the MD route, I will be a better MD from my experience as a nurse. Yes, I probably would miss the direct patient care - but I know I could be one of the best doctors around, because I DO care about patient care - more than just look for whatever illness and give a pill. Just because a lot of doctors are that way doesn't mean that if I were an MD that I would have to be that way. JMO