Aspiring Nurses: Why not Med School??

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Many of the courses required for Nursing Schools and Medical Schools are the same, as many of you are aware. What made you choose the Nursing route over the MD? They are both challenging and require lots of commitment, but MD gets more prestige. So why Nursing? Enlighten me! :idea:

Out of curiosity, I looked up the requirements for admission to the med school at my university. You need a 3.0 and a 24 on your MCAT, although students usually average a 3.7 and a 30. As far as prereqs:

2 Semesters 3 Quarters

in each subject

English

Biological Science including laboratory

General Chemistry including laboratory

Organic Chemistry including laboratory

Mathematics

Physics including laboratory

Then they have "recommended" classes, which include physical chemistry or biological chemistry, biochemistry, embryology, cell biology, comparative anatomy, genetics, and statistics. They also suggest that you take math up to at least calculus, which physics probably requires anyways.

I had a previous degree in which I double majored in psych and history with a business minor. For the NS I currently attend, I had to take 1 chem, micro, 2 A&Ps, English 2, Lifespan, Sociology, and nutrition on top of my previous degree. I could have done it in one year, although it took me two. For med school, I would have needed all the required sciences except Bio 101, and all the recommended classes except statistics - 13 classes, some of which I'm sure have a progression in which they need to be taken. I doubt you can take 3 chemistry classes in the same semester. Also, very few of these courses are also nursing prereqs. I just thought I'd actually list the requirements for one school. Here's the link: http://www.hsc.usf.edu/medicine/mdadmissions/academic_requirements.htm

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Two words: Organic Chemistry! (Just kidding! But I have heard horror stories...)

Seriously though, I had ALWAYS thought I would be great at being a doctor but knew that I would never have the patience to endure college, med school, residency AND internships! Sure, doctors make more money, but they are almost 30 before they are actually practicing doctors making the big bucks.

So, why nursing? Four years of college= endless well-paying job opportunities. Plus I can always go back to get a Master's (two more years of school won't kill me) if I really want to make more money.

Also, I absolutely love helping people. It's so satisfying to me! I thought that I wanted to be a teacher for the same reason (it's a really fulfilling profession to me) but one look at the starting teacher's salary in my area changed my mind.

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I think the question, "Why not med school?" reveals the common belief that nursing is a lower extension of medicine. They are quite separate and distinct disciplines.

I like nursing philosophy and focus. I'm not too fond of the disease model of medicine.

Speaking of nursing philosophy--Virginia Henderson asked the question: (she is a nurse theorist): "What is the unique function of the nurse?" EXACTLY! Nursing is a unique and separate profession, part of a health care team. I am a nurse because of this unique relationship with my patients. :redbeathe

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Specializes in Critical care/ER, SRNA.

I actually graduated nursing school with the intent of continuing on to medical school. While working at a University Hospital, I would ask all the med students and residents, if they had to do it all over again, would they? One person in 2 years told me yes. So, I stopped going to school and took off traveling. That was 8 years ago and I have no regrets! I work to live, not live to work. Ask most dr's, they will tell you their life is work!!

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umm, i dont know where u live but I use to be pre-med and I took MANY more science courses and HARDER than what nursing majors have to do. Your probably thinking of pharmacy because their similar not nursing.

I cannot believe how many people reasonably believe that nurse course and physician courses are somewhat the same.

The bottom line is that courses that are required to REALISTICALLY (read that last word again, several times) get INTO most nursing schools are a far cry from the courses that one needs to REALISTICALLY be competitive to get into medical (or a good Veterinary) school. There is no comparison. Period.

Calculus, Physics and Organic Chemistry are not GENERALLY (read that last word again) courses that are needed to be competitive for nursing school(s).

A student looking to get into nursing school with only General Chemistry, College Algebra, and one semester of Stats under his/her belt has pretty much finished the required "tough" courses for entry into nursing school.

I'm leaving A&P out because I think the * AVERAGE PERSON * realistically has a much better chance of getting a decent grade in A&P before they could

do the same with University Level Physics or Organic Chemistry.

I'm not saying that either career field is better, nursing or medicine (please, please.. no one here go on about how nurses "practice medicine"), but unless you're absolutely clueless, its common knowledge that it takes much tougher courses to be competitive for med school than nursing school.

A 24 year old, finishing graduate school in Chemical Engineering or physics, would likely pummel a nurse of 25 years, on the MCAT.

I think comparing nursing to med school is like comparing an Attorney to a Paralegal. One not "better" than the other, however the * RIGOR * of training is VERY different.

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

well i used to want to be a doctor when i was in junior h.s. i had even applied to a h.s with a pre-med program but didn't get in, and instead was shuffled into their nrsg program. i like being on the unit, with my patients, instead of just in for rounds, etc.. and then only on call when needed. i feel i have more of a nurse to pt connection. and besides med school- what?, 8 yrs+ yikes!!!!, i do wan't to start a family.

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Cost, time in school, and lawsuits.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

ugh no thanks... my brotherinlaw is a DR and it's just to much work... yuck.. dosen't pay well ( as good as it use to) .. and the hours are long... i do my 3- 12's a week and never think about the place again.. dr's are called night and day... what a pain in the butt

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Specializes in ICU, informatics.

I started out in pre-med as soon as I graduated from high school. I had wanted to be a doctor since I was in kindergarten. I had this grand delusion of curing the sick and having a nice private practice and so on and so forth. However, the reality of it was:

1) NO TIME for patient relationships

2) that eats up most of your income

3) Years in a hospital setting before being able to afford a private practice - that is, unless you know someone

4) Schooling/internship/residency until early 30's

5) Reliance on a nurse's assessment instead of the ability to truly do your own on every patient

I quit pre-med with 3 semesters till graduation and decided to be that middle man: the nurse that spent all her time with patients. I now have a career in an ICU, caring for the sickest patients, all before I would have even completed medical school. I get to have those relationships with my patients and their families. My malpractice insurance is less than $100/year. And the best part? If I decide I still want to go the above route, I can do so as a nurse practitioner and still avoid the intense responsibility and liability of a physician. Therefore, I put this question to you: who WOULDN'T choose nursing?

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If I decide I still want to go the above route, I can do so as a nurse practitioner and still avoid the intense responsibility and liability of a physician.

The liability for a NP is not much different than a MD/DO. NPs are responsible for the orders they write and the decisions they make as they are licensed independent practitioners and do not practice under the license of the physician.

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Many of the courses required for Nursing Schools and Medical Schools are the same, as many of you are aware.

This response is correct, but also nonsense in terms of reality. I've been teaching medical students since the late 1980s, and have been director of the nursing pharmacology course here at U Mich for about 25 years. The content is similar, but what is expected of med students is a lot more than what I expect and test on in my rather rigorous nursing course.I don't at all think it boils down to a simple choice between nursing school and med school. In the last 20 years I've had at most 5 students who have gotten accepted to med school.

mshlafer

[email protected]

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There is no comparison...doctors are not like BIGGER nurses, it is a completely different job.

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