BSN to D.O. or M.D.

tiedied · May 6, 2008

I believe that being a doctor and being a nurse are two completely separate career paths. Maybe being a nurse would be helpful, but only in terms of being comfortable in a hospital setting. I feel that people choose to be a nurse and choose to be a doctor for very different reasons. :nurse:

Dixielee, BSN, RN · May 6, 2008

I have known several RN's who have gone to med school, but the BSN is only a very small part of it. You still have to take lots of biology/chemistry classes, then the MCAT. If you want to go to med school, it is probably best to major in biology or chemistry in college, then on to med school. BSN is not really a "stepping stone" to med school.

buffscotty · May 6, 2008

I understand. I actually have my BSN. I got into nursing because I was wanting to be a CRNA since about Freshman year. In the past year decided it wasn't for me. I am not looking into M.D. and DNP, I haven't decided either way, just considering all the options.

dfk, RN, CRNA · May 6, 2008

I understand. I actually have my BSN. I got into nursing because I was wanting to be a CRNA since about Freshman year. In the past year decided it wasn't for me. I am not looking into M.D. and DNP, I haven't decided either way, just considering all the options.

i guess i'm a little confused with this statement. in any event, these two that you mentioned are two completely different paths and job roles...

if your beginning thread (title) says BSN to DO or MD, why introduce DNP?

buffscotty · May 6, 2008

Sorry, I just started as an RN (haven't even taken boards yet) and was concidering both those paths. But I guess this thread was specifically for MD/DO, I am sorry for bringing the DNP into the equation. Those are the 2 paths I am concidering for my post bachelors path. This of course following a few years as an R.N. and a break from school.

dfk, RN, CRNA · May 6, 2008

Sorry, I just started as an RN (haven't even taken boards yet) and was concidering both those paths. But I guess this thread was specifically for MD/DO, I am sorry for bringing the DNP into the equation. Those are the 2 paths I am concidering for my post bachelors path. This of course following a few years as an R.N. and a break from school.

well, i guess in response to your OP, yea, it can and has been done..

will the BSN help you? no, not really.. more of a diversion..

if you have nursing career behind you, then you will have

patient care/in-hospital experience over those that aren't

versed in such..

other than that, you will be starting from scratch...

if you wanted to do medicine, why you chose BSN, i'm not sure...

buffscotty · May 6, 2008

I didn't get into nursing wanting to do medicine. I wanted to be a CRNA until about 2 months ago. I realized it wasn't what I wished to do, so I started seeing what other options were avaliable.

Mollypita · May 6, 2008

I think hospitals would be much better places if there were more physicians with nursing backgrounds... JMO. If I weren't 35 years old I might consider it myself! It is a long road, though, and consumes much of your life. But we as nurses know that better than many 22-year-olds right out of college, so hopefully we'd be a little better prepared for the "shock" of med school and residency. Heck, what's a surgery rotation to us when we're used to working 12.5 hr shifts that can easily turn into 13 or even 14 hours... What is your GPA, by the way? Good luck!!

bluefabian · May 6, 2008

Are you sure you are not having that 'male complex' with you? You are 23, out of college I pressume, and male - in a female majority profession. And you want to be a CRNA - one field of which there are a lot of nurses who are male are in, and one of the most difficult yet look after specialty, and thus prestigous. And you are wondering to be a MD now?

I somehow sense that 'status and prestige' thing going on.

To answer your question: nursing and medicine are worlds apart. To those who have worked hard and long in this field knows the difficulties and the change that we can bring to a patient. It is not about autonomy at all, because I can tell you - I have had so much autonomy that comes with responsibility even when I don't want it. Nurses work as a team and most of the time have to think independently on next course of action - thus, you have to be on your toes when life is in your hand. Once you branch into a specialty, you'll discover that you will need to learn much more and not knowing enough to do your work.

I suggest you have at least a year worth of nursing experience to rethink and reevaluate your next career move.

best of luck.

redranger · May 6, 2008

I am also considering sending my Fiance to Law School.

Right now I am weighin the pros and cons.

I find this an interesting subject.

buffscotty · May 6, 2008

Haha no, it has nothing to do with a "male complex" (I just had flashes of "Meet the Parent's" pop up in my head). It simply has to do with me wishing to go into a career where I will have a high degree of autonomy and wish to help people. I don't think of pursuing high education as a desperation or a need for something more. I have always known that I had a desire to go on farther than traditional nursing (and that is no offense to those who are traditional nurses). Being 23 and fresh out of school is about the only reason I would consider going back to school for such a demanding career. I am single with no children, why not further my education now, rather than wait 10 years to become more involved. This is just a field I have always wanted to achieve. I wish others could see people who want to become MD's as more than just money hungry and out to prove they are better than everyone else, because this is simply not the case. It has nothing to do with a "male complex" or becoming "rich" or any of those aspects (If you wish to do DNP or MD for those reasons, than you will are going into them for the wrong reasons). It has to do with achieving a goal that I wish to have.