has anyone ever made the switch to MD?

Nurses General Nursing

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im not sure if this has been posted many time before, but i was curious how many people made the switch to MD instead?

my neigbor's best friend got accepted to MD program and she used to be an BSN RN

i was wondering what were the things you had to do to get there? and how the did admission team felt about you making the switch?

all stories and experience are welcome :)

I was told ( and I have no evidence to back this up, it was just something that I heard) that for a nurse to turn into an MD they had to start all over again with school no matter how much schooling they have. Again I have not verified my sources because I do not now nor do I ever plan to be an MD anyway, but if the OP is interested in looking into it, it might be nice to know what to ask. It could very well be that you have to start all over again.

It isn't really a matter of "starting all over again", as much as it is doing the required coursework for entry into medical school, which is different than going to nurisng school. Many of the sciences are the same, but there are additional science requirements that nursing programs don't usually require, depending on the medical school, such as physics, inorganic and organic chemistry, as well as some advance level math courses. Most nurses that I know who went on to medical school had anywhere from a year or two of extra prereq courses to take before they could apply to medical school.

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thanks for all the advice everyone :) you see im gonna be starting BSN program soon and my mind is just wondering around thinking about, since like i said my neighbors best friend went that root so i was just interested.

back in the days when i was in high school i did lots of research about MD program and how to get in etc.

and like the previous poster said i thought you need bachelor's degree, MCAT, pre reqs, and amazing GPA and other things like volunterring and research etc and much more

and also i believe that nurses had to do the same thing as other med student do anyways in med school.

but ive never heard of nurses going into MD, had to have a Master in science?? before applying to MD program?

i would think that that being a nurse then going for a doctor would be a great transition, but like i said im just curious because ive never heard of anyone doing that before. i understand the whole process of getting into med school from undergrad because at 1 time i did considered MD, but now im in nursing :)

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I recently have been also been looking to the MD. I am currently a nursing supervisor and feel that I am burned out from nursing and I'm not even 30!!. I like the science part of nursing and figuring out how things work, so if thought I would look into what it would take to get my MD. You need a masters degrees in a scientific field plus on top of that you will take 4 years of med school.

I am quite curious to know what medical school requires a masters degree in a scientific field in order to be eligible to apply. I have spent much time immersed (student and faculty) in nurisig programs that are housed within top medical centers in the United States in the past 20 years and have never heard of that requirement.

Most medical schools require a science based bachelors degree (chem, physics) and some programs will accept bachelors degrees from other fields, esp if the MCAT scores are high. All medical school applicants that I have known have had to have the years of organic chem, some extra inorganic chem, some physics and calculus. But I have never heard of anyone needing a masters in a scientific field to apply to medical school. Not saying it couldn't happen, just saying I've been around the block a few times, and haven't heard of or seen that requirement.

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One more little thing to discuss on this thread that I think is quite important...

There is a difference in the terms "doctor" and "physician".

Anyone who holds a doctorate degree is referred to as a "doctor". (EX: Your nursing professors who completed their doctoral degree are called Dr. So and so. They achieved the terminal training in their field and as academia has done for hundreds of years, a doctoral degree is awarded.)

However, not all doctors are physicians. (I like to share this because it was on my MAT test as a practice problem. I thought I got it right, but found out I was wrong when I checked my answers. Ouch.)

A "physician" is one who has specialized in the study of medicine and has graduated from medical school.

Some of the posts in this thread speak about "becoming a doctor" and probably should specify "want to become a physician or medical doctor". Many professions have doctorate degrees, including nursing, and can use the title "doctor" that they earned. However, "physician" and "medical doctor" are protected titles and refer to graduates of medical school.

Yes, I did earn a doctorate in nursing and am proud of it. I often have to explain that I am a nurse who has earned a doctorate in nursing, and I am not a physician. (Even my grandmother thought I was going to medical school when I was in the doctoral program for nursing. Tried explaining that to her a few times, and didn't have much success.) :)

So, I'm off my soapbox here. Sorry for the diatribe, but this thread was a spring board opportunity for me. Thanks for listening if you did read this far!:twocents:

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Specializes in acute care then Home health.
As I researched on this allnurses.com earlier in the year and found a link to blog posting that some med school students were posting about nurse's and it wasn't flattering at all. :madface: It was down right nasty.

So if you are preparing to go this path just be prepared for what your in for.

That's because they probably don't know what they are doing and feel insecure around the nurses. They wont be talkin trash when one of us saves their butts. With regards to making the switch... Most of them seem pretty miserable. I dont think physicians get paid like they used to, and with the threat of future healthcare reforms and the new socialist ideals out there, I wouldn't go into it. Besides you have to look at the outrageous student loan aspect, the added ($$$) and having virtually no life.

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I am quite curious to know what medical school requires a masters degree in a scientific field in order to be eligible to apply. I have spent much time immersed (student and faculty) in nurisig programs that are housed within top medical centers in the United States in the past 20 years and have never heard of that requirement.

Most medical schools require a science based bachelors degree (chem, physics) and some programs will accept bachelors degrees from other fields, esp if the MCAT scores are high. All medical school applicants that I have known have had to have the years of organic chem, some extra inorganic chem, some physics and calculus. But I have never heard of anyone needing a masters in a scientific field to apply to medical school. Not saying it couldn't happen, just saying I've been around the block a few times, and haven't heard of or seen that requirement.

Nope, they don't even require a bachelors degree in a science. I was a history major and I got in with my BA in History. They definitely do not require a masters degree.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Honestly, why WOULD you want to make such a switch? In my opinion, MDs have it way worst than nurses in terms of lifestyle. Nurses don't have to worry about all that debt, nurses work far fewer hours than most MDs, and nurses, in general, have WAY more flexibility.

You could easily go to grad school for two years and come out as a Nurse Practitioner or a CRNA and make a lot of money, if that is what you are looking for.

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Honestly, why WOULD you want to make such a switch? In my opinion, MDs have it way worst than nurses in terms of lifestyle. Nurses don't have to worry about all that debt, nurses work far fewer hours than most MDs, and nurses, in general, have WAY more flexibility.

You could easily go to grad school for two years and come out as a Nurse Practitioner or a CRNA and make a lot of money, if that is what you are looking for.

i didnt say i wanted to make the switch or any of that, but i was just curious on how the past nurses made it to MD school.

i already have my mind set on becoming a trauma Nurse

i wanted to hear their experience and what they did to get there.

im curious to know all the options i can go about after finishing my BSN RN

which are med schoo, NP, PA RNFA and things like that etc

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A person becomes an MD to do the things that MDs do, not to do the things that nurses do "enhanced". This is why a person might want to change. It is a career change.:)

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
That's because they probably don't know what they are doing and feel insecure around the nurses. They wont be talkin trash when one of us saves their butts. With regards to making the switch... Most of them seem pretty miserable. I dont think physicians get paid like they used to, and with the threat of future healthcare reforms and the new socialist ideals out there, I wouldn't go into it. Besides you have to look at the outrageous student loan aspect, the added malpractice insurance ($$$) and having virtually no life.

That is another point that my dear surgeon brought to my attention-he had NO life. He worked in a private hospital, so he had no residents or PAs to help him in surgery or do rounds. These MDs had to take turns to do call, and they ended up working crazy hours. When I asked him what the difference between being a resident and being an attending at a private hospital was, he replied, "More stress, more paperwork, longer hours and EVERYTHING is on my shoulders." Hmm....doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

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Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
didnt say i wanted to make the switch or any of that, but i was just curious on how the past nurses made it to MD school.

I have worked with 2 physicians who started their careers as RN's. Both women and both are wonderful. They have a unique blend of an easy, wonderful bedside manner and great repore with the other nurses. My fave is a cardiologist who has partnered with 2 other wonderful docs, both of which were orderlies back in the day. Great group. Brilliant and respectful of all healthcare workers.

Frankly, I would love to see a few more nurses step into the MD role. It seems to help bridge the 2 disciplines.

aznbaby Finish your BSN first, and then you can decide. Would not hurt to do a pre-med focus at the same time if you can swing it. Use any elective courses to meet those requirements. Nursing and medicine are different so it doesn't hurt to shadow an MD for a day or 2 to get their perspective.

As far as some docs telling you not to do it, there is a lot of turmoil right now and many nurses are saying not to get in their field also. If it is really something you are interested in, go for it! :)

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Specializes in NICU, Vascular, Oncology, Telemetry.

My former Gynecologist was a RN, who then became a NP, and THEN went to medical school. After that, she did her residency and fellowship. She essentially spent her entire adult life in school (she had to be in her mid-to-late forties when I saw her). She was the BEST Gyn I've ever gone to. I asked her if it was a hard transition and she told me the two hardest things were that she didn't get to be with her family as often as she had in the past (she had one young child at home whom her husband stayed home with) and that she didn't get to spend as much time with her patients anymore like she did when on the nursing side of it. She also mentioned politics and red tape...but I think that is universal.

One other thing to consider -- and this may have been mentioned -- but physicians LIVE their job. As a nurse, I get to say "peace out" at the end of the day and not be bothered. I can sleep freely not worrying I might miss my pager going off. But depending on what type of physician you become, you may have a lot of on-call duty. And also dependent on the type of work you do, the "average" workweek can be heinous, 65-85 hours with no day off for 12 or 13 days. (And then you hope like heck you're married to someone with reeeeallly acute hearing, like me, who will wake you and force the phone in your hand because you're so tired). This is all AFTER residency and fellowship, mind you (yes, once you become the "top dog"). Just something to keep in mind when you consider how you want to shape your life.

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