Using an MSN to obtain a PHD in Chemistry

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi there,

I'm only a pre-nursing student currently but I'm pondering about something long term that someone told me would be a possibility. My long term plans is to obtain my BSN and ultimately become a CRNA. I'm on my last semester of pre-reqs and will be applying to accelerated nursing programs this fall.

Anyway, I befriended a professor and he told me that if I wanted to and if I became a CRNA I would pretty much be at a Masters level in nursing and I could use that masters degree to go to graduate school and obtain a PHD in something else. Well, I've always loved chemistry which is one reason I have a desire for anesthesia to begin with. I would love to be able to obtain a PHD in chemistry because not only would I be able to practice as an RN or a CRNA, but I could also do chemical research in a lab, become a professor, or work for a corporation in their chemistry department.

I just wanted to know if using my Masters that I hope to get to obtain a PHD is possible and what others' opinions of it are. I honestly would use my CRNA degree and maybe become a professor. I'm the first person in my family to go to a university and I would feel very dedicated and proud if I were able to obtain a PHD. Plus I love chemistry and want to learn as much as I can about it. Thoughts on MSN to PHD in something non-nursing related?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

It's true that you could always get a PhD in something else other than nursing (in fact, you can even do that by bypassing a master's degree in some cases). However, a doctorate in Chemistry as a STEM field of study requires a higher level of undergraduate science courses which the BSN (or the CRNA program) may not fulfill. Check with schools (think MIT, UC Berkley, Harvard) and see what their requirements are. In most cases a PhD in Chemistry allows you to have self-directed study based on the field of Chemistry you are interested in but you would need a higher level of basic Chemistry knowledge (I know an oxymoron right?) before you could handle the rigor of doctoral study which I'm afraid nursing doesn't offer.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

You would have A LOT of deficiencies to overcome. Most master's programs require 18-30 semester hours of prerequisite coursework depending on the field of study and the school. For example, to get a M.S. in chemistry you might need 24 semester hours in general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry as well as a signficant math base. Chem. majors are math heavy. You'd likely need that M.S. to get into a chem. Ph.D. program as well. I'm not trying to sound negative. It's all doable with time and money.

Pharmacology seems like a closer field to what you're doing, yet you'd still have a significant deficiency base to overcome.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

I would suggest PhD in pharmacology, toxicology or maybe medicinal chemistry. (My background is chemistry, toxicology and public health - now going into nursing) it really depends on the type of research you want to do. Synthesis, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, etc

You would likely still have some pre requisite courses that you would have to take prior to doctoral classes. Most programs I've seen will allow u to finished then in the first year as a provisional phd student.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Also getting a PhD is a full time job in and of itself so you would likely have to put your career on hiatus.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Also, by the time you reach the point in your career to become a CRNA, you might have trouble finding a good MSN program for that speciality. There is a strong movement to making that specialty a doctoral-level one (DNP degree).

I recommend you figure out what type of career you really want before investing a lot of time and money into education that you might "leave behind" as you pursue a 2nd career. If you want to be a chemist for a living, that's fine ... but don't waste a lot of time and money on nursing then -- especially if you are having to rack up a lot of student loan debt to get those nursing degrees. A lot of young people dig themselves into a big financial hole that cripples them financially for decades because they bounce from major to major in school, adding to their expenses without fully developing a career and paying off the bills before borrowing more for additional degrees.

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