Post-Master's FNP versus Med School - Page 2

It can be done, yes, but for the vast majority of people, it's going to be extremely difficult, if not downright impossible. Med school and residency aren't things you can do part-time or as a "hobby." I was in my 20s when I went through med school and, even as a youngster, it takes an incredible toll on your body. My sleep schedule is completely screwed up, I feel like I've aged far more than the 4 years it took to get through med school, etc.

At the age of 50, are you willing to put in the 7+ hours of studying every day, including weekends? Are you willing to miss holidays, weddings, birthdays, funerals, etc, because you either have to study or you can't take even an afternoon off during a rotation? Are you willing to come in to the clinic even when you're sick and just want to get some rest? Taking sick days is very frowned up, at least during the training stages of med school and residency; I remember, during one of my 3rd year rotations, one of the residents was walking around in the inpatient service with an IV attached and still rounding on his patients. Are you willing to struggle through a minimum of 7 years of this? Are you willing to work 80+ hrs/week again when you're 50 years old? Are you financially set to be able to pay off 100k+ in loans (and that's a conservative estimate, without taking interest into account)? Are you willing to wake up at 3:30 am everyday during your surgery rotation (typically 2-3 months long during 3rd year) to get to the hospital by 4:30 am so you can pre-round on your patients before the intern comes in? Are you willing to put in 16 hours/day (as an intern...longer, once you're PGY-2) and then go home and study afterward?

None of those things are exaggerated btw. Yes, you can do it when you're 50; we had someone who was 48 yrs old in my med school class. It's going to be a whole lot more difficult when you're older and have more wear-and-tear on your body, when you already have a family to take care of, etc. I'm not saying this to dissuade you from medicine; I'm just trying to give you a realistic idea of what it'll be like. Medicine can be incredibly rewarding, but it also take a lot from you. The highs are high and the lows are very, very low. Keep these in mind as you make your decision. If you're still relatively young (ex. less than 30 yrs of age) and have a strong interest in medicine, look into it now rather than telling yourself you'll do it when you're older. It'll be much harder to get into med school at 50, let alone get through it. Best of luck.

Why not?!?

studentdrtobe, I am a mother of two young children, one who has ataxia telangiectasia. I imagine when I am 50, if I decide I want to go back to school, that it will be darn easier than it is now. Obviously med school is not a "hobby" but many of us had kids when we were young, and our lives have followed a much more circuitous path than college-career-kids.

I am fairly certain that I will change careers in 20 years or so, and based upon my career and academic paths so far, medical school would be the obvious next step. There is no way I would put my young family through the hell of residency right now (not judging those who do), but when my kids are grown I will get the opportunity to be selfish again!

I hope to high heaven that I won't be too old and tired at FIFTY to change career paths.

OP, I say follow your heart. No matter what the time is gonna pass you by (9-10 years). Do not settle. If going to Med school is what you really want to do, don't cheat yourself. You will regret it later on in life. It wont be an easy task, but if you are up for the challenge I say go for it. As one writer said, don't waste any more time. You are young enough to do it. You don't have kids yet so now is a good time.

That spells: M e d S c h o o l

I was forced to do FNP due to career, age, obligations, finances, etc. I regret it every time I see my paycheck. I pull the same hours, same pateints, same workload and kill the RVUs, but make ALOT less than my MD co-workers.

just to clarify; i wasn't suggesting that it is impossible to go to medschool at 50 and i certainly don't want to discourage anyone from following their dreams. i think studentdrtobe has succinctly highlighted the difficulties of it.

I don't know why I am only NOW seeing this. Oh, I do...school!!

I am an NP in the ER. Neither FNP nor ACNP (or ANP) train you for the ER. The best route, IMO, is FNP+ACNP outside of the new (but not yet established) ER NP certification coming soon. They do normally want RN ER experience but most will rarely hire new NPs irregardless of RN experience because being an NP in the ER is truly a very different beast than RN practice. ER RN practice clearly gives you some good background but not enough to be up and running in the fast-paced ever-changing environment of the ER. Make sure you get as many clinical hours as possible in the ER (if your program allows it).

So the best options of becoming an ER NP IMHO and in order of best to worst:

#1. ER NP tract (best option, currently at the University of South Alabama, for example, you end up with ACNP and FNP; soon there will be an actual ER NP board certification)

#2. FNP (get as many ER clinical hours--and urgent care--as allowed/possible)

#3. ANP (get as many ER clinical hours--and urgent care--as allowed/possible)--pediatrics not part of training so you'll be limited to adults-only positions

#4. ACNP (get as many ER clinical hours--and urgent care--as allowed/possible)--pediatrics not part of training so you'll be limited to adults-only positions

I think studentdrtobe has a distorted view of what life is like for health 50somethings, lol. I could easily hack the hours, except I completely agree with his/her other comment about what it takes from you regarding quality of life. It just isn't worth it from my POV.

That said, individuals have to make that decision for themselves.

I don't think the OP needs to make a decision for MD because they are young and uncommitted. Age and family status are factors but not the only ones.