Future RN wanting to be an Anesthesiologist

Nurses Career Support

Published

Okay so I'm a future RN (currently waiting on my nursing school interview) and I wanted to pursue a career as a CRNA. But lately I've been asking myself why stop there? I've been doing a lot of research and currently establishing a position to shadow an anesthesiologist. However, I haven't found any good information regarding a new nurse trying to get into med school. I mean is it unheard of? Would it be a waste of time getting this BSN degree? Will the med school interview committee see the BSN as more of a disadvantage?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Boy oh boy. This is gonna be good. Can't wait to see the raging comments in this one. Cooking popcorn right now as we speak.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Go to medical school if you want to be a doctor. Your nursing school pre-reqs will not be the same as your med school pre-reqs and by the time you start clinicals, you won't have time to finish everything you need for the MCAT. Doctors and nurses have entirely different scopes of practice and thought processes - while having experience in a hospital setting may be beneficial to your medical school application, it doesn't sound like you really intend to get that experience - best advice - pick one of the equally rewarding careers you are debating between and go for it...don't do both.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just spoke with my counselor. And I'm changing my major. Thanks for the input!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are a lot of premed students who are majoring in nursing and eventually became MDs. I personally know a number of Engineers who eventually became doctors also. People major in specific fields to hedge against not getting into Med schools and have a backup profession just in case. My sister is a CRNA and she has stated numerous times about Anesthesiologist saying if they had to do it over they would have become CRNAs. I don't know how far along you are, but why not continue on your path to pursue your BSN, while taking premed prerequisites? Medical schools are very competitive and I would say that most premed students do not get into medical school and end up having to go back to school to do their prerequisites for Nursing and eventually apply to Nursing school. Read this forum and you will see literally hundreds of former premed students (Biology, Microbiology majors) who are now pursuing their second degree (BSN). IMHO, you should always have a Plan B.

CRNA is the highest paying Nursing profession and most CRNAs find this profession very fulfilling. Something to think about.........

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes CRNA is definitely going to be my back up profession. Once I get my BSN I will only need an extra semester to get all my pre-reqs for med school. If I don't get in (which I'm praying that I do) then I will just use that year to gain icu experience. Either way I've made up my mind that I will be happy with either decision =)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but if you're going for your MD, why not do pre-med in bio or something similar instead of nursing? You lose the extra semester of pre-reqs as well as the cost of nursing school and the issue of getting accepted.

Nursing and medicine are two extremely different professions. One is not a "back up" for the other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Because If I were to take the bio route then that would be an extra year of schooling for me to get my bachelors degree vs. finishing the nursing program in two years and taking an extra semester of classes afterwards. So not only is Bio 3 extra semesters but I can't use my nursing scholarship for another major. I agree, Nursing and medicine are two totally different professions but what if I don't get accepted into med school? At least with the BSN degree I will be able to work as a RN and become a CRNA. IDK it seemed like a good idea... Maybe I'm missing something? =(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you don't get accepted into med school, then you figure out a different path. But using nursing as a backup plan to med school is like a an aspiring plumber deciding that he'll be an electrician just in case it doesn't work out. Medicine and nursing are vastly different. You'll be learning the nursing model first and then expected to totally switch gears and go into medicine. It's not impossible, but it's not terribly practical, either.

Surely there's a major that will allow you to do your pre-reqs in 4 years and won't put you on the path to a different career only to have you change course before you've really even begun. That's my only point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I told you to prepare yourself for the rage. You done messed up, Jaquada.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I told you to prepare yourself for the rage. You done messed up, Jaquada.

I fail to see the rage you're referencing...

It's an unfortunate misconception that nursing and medicine are essentially the same job, just with different responsibilities and varying levels of pay. However, the fact of the matter is that most people aren't aware that nursing and medicine have entirely different theoretical bases altogether, and as such, are two very distinctly different professions.

I think the mix of nurses and students on this thread are simply trying to offer the OP a faster, minimally messy, cost-effective route to whichever profession she desires--whether that be nursing or medicine--without having to cross over into one profession to get to the other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing can be a back plan depending on an individual. It can be a job to one and a career to another, just like we've seen lots of time. Two different careers are doable, ask the nurses that are engineers or vice versa.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment