Change of mind?

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Hi All,

I'm currently working towards a nursing degree, I'm only getting my associates degree first which hopefully I should start next Fall, and then I plan to transfer for my BSN...I'm 25 years old and now I'm kind of thinking what if I could become a medical doctor? I don't know but I think that I may feel regret if I don't try but I don't know if I'd be making the right choice. My main educational goal is Nurse Practitioner though, by the way is it true that they will be upping the education level for a NP to a Doctorates degree in 2015??Any advise would be much appreciated.

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Physicians and nurses play different roles in health care. Neither is better or worse. One does require significantly more education as a minimum to practice in the field. I know a couple of great doctors who began their college education after they were already paramedics and older than yourself. You should understand, however, that by starting on a career path to become a physician at the age of 25, without any prior college education, that you are going to lose a significant amount of earning potential by going the MD route. Not that that should be your only concern, but with the cost of education it should play a factor.

I am not well versed in AD RN programs, however, I would imagine that it will cover a lot of the general education requirements that would be needed to transfer to a 4-year college. You could always get your AD in nursing and if you still feel like you want to become an MD, continue taking the upper level science courses necessary to get your BS and apply to medical school.

The flip side could be you decide to go straight for a BS in a science field and then to med. school. This route will be slightly faster. Then again, if you decide MD isn't right for you, it is going to take longer to get your RN.

It is a personal decision that no one should make for you or that you should make without weighing all your options. Think about what your ultimate career goals are. That should get you started.

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Not that I am advocating for the PA --I am a nurse so will always be pro NP--but that is an option. Depending on where you live it can be a 5 year bachelors degree--which is what it is here in NY. However I have heard of states where a PA is a masters......

I would think about the population you think you would like to work with and in what setting. Then do some research to find out what path based on what the needs are to practice with those people in that setting--if that makes any sense. lol

Mid level providers are becoming a big thing (NP or PA) with insurance being able to pay less for patients to receive their care.

Good luck to you. And don't let your age stop you. Follow your dream. You want to love what you do every day and have a career that works with your life.

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Well. I've done a lot of science courses already for the RN program such as A&P, Microbiology, chem, and such and I was planning on applying for the program this coming spring...right now my GPA is 3.5. How much more school would a NP need to do to transfer over to a M.D?

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There is not really any way to "transfer over" to MD. Often (not always!) the chemistry, microbio, and math required by nursing programs isn't the same level of coursework as required by med school. So many NPs would have to go back and take courses like calculus and pre-med organic chem before applying to med school.

Also, while there most certainly is overlap in content between MD and NP programs, there are enough differences in curriculum that there are not any significant "shortcuts" for NPs who want to become MDs. So NPs go through the same med school curriculum, internship and residency as all other aspiring physicians.

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with the way our health care system is going, I'd be afraid to be a physican...JMO

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