ADN program starting now vs my aspirations towards and MD or DO: What do you think I should do?

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Specializes in Nursing.

Just got ito ADN program...takes 5 semesters. Have 80 some credits, 3.9 GPA in science and math, and a CNA cert. I am about to start it in a mont but I am thinking....I am probably going to look back and say damn I wish I just committed and went all in on medicine and became an MD. What do I do? I also was offered an EMT program which they would cover everything for at zero no cost to me for duration of program, if maybe that provides any benefit to that end?

I am 32 yr old male, recently my gf and I broke up after both moving to RTP area NC from MD together, not knowing anyone here. I feel I am in a position best suited to make such a split second determination to scrap the RN aspect and just go everything in on an MD... What do ya'll think. My main motives for it are I am really excited to learn about the deeper aspects of the science of our anatomies and why the body processes and everything works. I am fascinated by it and want to do labs with cadavers and other cool things. I just don't know it would be nice to be in a program right now and be out there in clinicals and feeling like I was done with this onlines course self study stuff...... 

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Specializes in Nursing.

BTW I would need to do the 2 semesters of Phys and Ochem as well as stat and biochem for admissions reqments. Could complete soon and work mcat prep during that time. Also what is the time frame of med school for me if I can go ahead anj just get a bachelors of science in like a year ( I already have 85 aprx credits total)and have my med reqs done like around that time too as well as MCAT. Cuz the ADN would take 2 years and by that time I would have likely been able to gain entry into med school and would have started I would think.Also if I were to stick with RN then just decide I wanna go MD soon after, it would be like alot of wasted energy and time spent really on an arbitrary thing that doesnt help you much towards being an MD vs if you just commit to med school ya know.

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I think it would be helpful for you to reflect on what exactly it is that made you consider nursing in the first place. As you know, RN and MD are two separate disciplines - one is not a stepping stone to the other. So if you think your heart is in medicine as a doctor, what is it that made nursing more appealing to you? If your heart isn't in nursing (and I don't mean this from a "calling" standpoint but simply as personal preference), it won't work out long term and it would have been, as you said, a waste of time and energy (and money).

Granted, that doesn't mean that a nurse can't change careers down the road. But, again, if you don't truly want to do nursing to begin with, I don't see the value in going down that path just to go back to school for a separate discipline later.

This is just my two cents, not advice one way or the other.

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Specializes in Nursing.

Well, its a quicker route to a working career but at the expense of the inherent limitations on the nurse not borne by primarily MD/DO but also Pa's and NPs as well.I had originally thought that I would likelytry to go for NP or Pa but when I think about it, maybe going straight to the deepest skillset and breadth of knowledge career track is the right move for me as I am qute decided that I will very become hampered by my inability to learn certain things and techs that will no doubt interest me. Also there's the really cool medical school expperiences that are totally unique to that program like a cadaver lab etc... I just like the idea of being exposed to the most possibilities because I think we are only limited by the limitations we place on ourselves and I happen to know that if I'd gone back in time with y current thinking woould have started out with it in mind to be a doctor. Purely because of my intellectual curiousity to know the off bounds stuffm that is wheat I am going to be interestted in likely. To know the juicy off limitss areas that I will no doubt resent myself for cordoning myself away from in soome attempt at safety and practicality because I am a late deciding adult student from the wrong side of the tracks. All my family who knows me thinks I am being impulsive because I literally d not even know the details and ins and outs of the MD applications besides the broad strokes. However my feeling is thats a good sign because it means if I am getting so much opposition it. must be because I am doing something inherently with great riask but what is the greater risk> taking the path that has unfolded at great pains oor doubling down and going all in on just a Plan B of a MD career off the get while I can still somethat not start the nursing program and spend time and money that might be better spent elsewhere? I a m very torn...I do not know at this point..

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Specializes in Nursing.

In a nutshell...feel imposed limitations I placed upon myself for a lack of certainty in my commitment or abilities (read: self).... At this point I've come to know myself and my power is awell from which I am quite astonished at times...) I want to give the tree that will be my future life least amount of confinement in its root system possible. If I were to use an analogy I would say why not put it directly in to the earth instead of doing transfer from a small pot of soil to another and then another before doing the transplant direct to ground. Biggest pot possible with the most amount of room for me to grow or not grow which will be up to me. But I hate the idea of limits being placed on my medical inquisitiveness in any artifical way just because I didn'yth this it was prudent in my 30s to do more years of school or something.vWhich is a set of feelings I feel comlpetely divorced from and opposite to now. And the people giving me advice are family...They care about me but their opinion of me isn't me currently its the entirety of the person they knew from before I made a conscous decision to not ever give up on this single dream I had that I wanted a place in this workforce to learn my craft and attempt to gain mastery. I feel like if I start now I can get closer than maybe if I tool around with other thinga and then go into it, although I can see an argument of the other side saying I'd get more varied experience...In a nutshell I feel that having come organically to the conclusion recently that I and I alone have taken the ships weel that is my life and decided to steer it I have found a renewed sense of the magnifince of all the possibilities I had once thought were not possible bout now realize they are not only ppossible but really just eventuallities if I am commited and remain true to tht end totally.decided to be the captain of my ship and steer my own ships wheel into where I want to go. totally. I feel like I know myself better and why should they be so opposed to the concept?

 

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Specializes in Nursing.

They say its impulsive, I say its brilliant and a sign of a personal transformation from a scared boy to a confident maand one whoo could and should try to beome as great a medical professional as he cann...

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If you think you can hack the medical school requirements, and are willing to  suck it up for the length of time it takes to complete medical training, I say go for it. However, If it is a huge struggle for you to get through general Chemistry, and O-chem is a nightmare experience for you, advanced practice nursing might be a better goal for you (FYI I have completed these requirements myself!) Also, medical school is a huge financial commitment, and even many very smart students only get into one school. Definitely something to consider. I'd check out Student Doctor Network for the realities of applying to med school if I were you. They even have have a forum for non-traditional applicants. 

The fact that you are really exited to learn the deeper aspects of medicine tells me that nursing school might be disappointing for you. It does not go very deep, and a lot of times I wish I had a deeper understanding about why things work the way they do (I am in an ADN program). Nursing school is a lot of work, don't get me wrong, but there is nothing that we have learned that is conceptually difficult. 

Good luck!

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It sounds like you need to pause on either option and reflect rather than make a split second decision. If you have the opportunity, shadow! Shadowing is a great way to get an idea for which you would prefer and better understand the day to day tasks of an RN, NP, and MD. Reading about it online is one thing, but seeing in it real life is completely different. 

In terms of your path to becoming an MD, you would first need to obtain a bachelor's degree and complete pre-reqs. That's at least another 40 credit hours to complete your bachelors and then the additional credit hours for the pre-reqs. To be competitive for medical school, you should definitely have shadowing experience to show your commitment, volunteer/service experience, potentially research experience, great letters of recommendation, challenging coursework, a competitive MCAT score, and an essay that shows you're pursuing medicine for the right reasons. This isn't to discourage you, but give you a clearer idea of what will be required. 

In the end, you should pursue what will make you happy. If your heart isn't in nursing, then I don't recommend following through with it. The burnout will creep in, and nursing school is no easy feat. 

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On 11/13/2020 at 10:48 AM, MDBoy said:

Just got ito ADN program...takes 5 semesters. Have 80 some credits, 3.9 GPA in science and math, and a CNA cert. I am about to start it in a mont but I am thinking....I am probably going to look back and say damn I wish I just committed and went all in on medicine and became an MD. What do I do? I also was offered an EMT program which they would cover everything for at zero no cost to me for duration of program, if maybe that provides any benefit to that end?

I am 32 yr old male, recently my gf and I broke up after both moving to RTP area NC from MD together, not knowing anyone here. I feel I am in a position best suited to make such a split second determination to scrap the RN aspect and just go everything in on an MD... What do ya'll think. My main motives for it are I am really excited to learn about the deeper aspects of the science of our anatomies and why the body processes and everything works. I am fascinated by it and want to do labs with cadavers and other cool things. I just don't know it would be nice to be in a program right now and be out there in clinicals and feeling like I was done with this onlines course self study stuff...... 

I think you should learn to write coherently and concisely first. Thereafter, whatever you decide to be, prepare adequately and put in 100% effort. Best of luck. 

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Specializes in Nursing.
On 11/14/2020 at 6:53 PM, cynical-RN said:

I think you should learn to write coherently and concisely first. Thereafter, whatever you decide to be, prepare adequately and put in 100% effort. Best of luck. 

Ouch. I will agree that my informal writing can be the adhd-variant. My academic writing is always 95-100% grade though and all the time teachers used my essays as the examples.

That comes from trying to type at the pace my brain is thinking.

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Specializes in Nursing.

I will say your comment is one of the reasons I am scared to get into nursing, I don't like being made fun of by people and would be unhappy if coworkers did that to me too often and it wasn't in good spirits. That's partly why I wanted to be a lone wolf...No offense, but its because of people like, well, you....

Best of luck. OK. Yea I can tell that's a heartfelt thing you mean too. Boy you are a class act. The passive aggressive hostility is just thick enough to cut in your post. Can I ask, what is it about me you find so reproachable? Do you think I am stupid and would not be able to do well?

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1 hour ago, MDBoy said:

I will say your comment is one of the reasons I am scared to get into nursing, I don't like being made fun of by people and would be unhappy if coworkers did that to me too often and it wasn't in good spirits. That's partly why I wanted to be a lone wolf...No offense, but its because of people like, well, you....

Best of luck. OK. Yea I can tell that's a heartfelt thing you mean too. Boy you are a class act. The passive aggressive hostility is just thick enough to cut in your post. Can I ask, what is it about me you find so reproachable? Do you think I am stupid and would not be able to do well?

Bro, I meant what I said. I wished you luck in kindness and good faith, but I understand your misunderstanding. If you cannot take positive criticism in reference to the mediocrity of your writing from a stranger, then I’m gonna wish you more luck in med school. You will be questioned. You will be given constructive criticism. Hopefully, you’ll develop better coping mechanisms. 

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