Foreign medical graduate wanting advanced nursing

superking · Nov 6, 2015

Please help me out there.I am a physician in my home country just moved into states on the green card.In addition to prepare for Usmle,i also want to get involve into nursing.My aim is to do Nurse practitioner or CRNA.Plz tell me whether Exclesior college is right for me and what about bachelors in nursing?i have already read medical subjects in my medical school.Will i get advantage of that or will i have to do bachelors again to enter into NP or CRNA master level program?

Dranger · Nov 6, 2015

Just pass your USMLE and match into a residency. NP or CRNA isn't a fly by night thing, it's going to take you at least 3-4 years. CRNA also requires a year of ICU RN experience.

elkpark · Nov 6, 2015

Medical education is not a substitute for nursing education. You would have to complete a basic nursing education program plus an advanced practice nursing program. It would take you at least a few years, and is not something you could just step into while waiting to take the USMLE. I agree with Dranger, just focus on doing what you need to do to get into a residency program.

superking · Nov 6, 2015

thanks for input dranger and elkpart.PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE LOW SCORE ON STEP1 AND TO BE HONEST I DONT WANT TO PURSUE PHYSICIAN.please tell me will i have to do bachelor again or my medical school courses will be suffice for masters degree?

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 6, 2015

Many Masters programs specifically require a BSN. However, there are some direct-entry MSN programs that will take a non-nursing bachelors degree.

Dranger · Nov 6, 2015

You could do a direct entry NP program which would take around 3 years for a masters (you get the RN along the way). Medical school class may count for pre-reqs but not for the actual nursing core classes.

Did you pass Step 1? If not you can retake. If you passed you are kind of SOL with the score.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 6, 2015

You can go:

- BSN, then graduate program for NP or CRNA. 3 +2-3 years, with work a couple of years in between for CRNA/better grad schools.

- accelerated BSN, direct bridge to NP. About 3,5 years total.

- direct entry MSN to NP. 3,5 to 5 years and expensive.

- anesthesia assistant (same as CRNA, no RN/experience needed, need to pass MSAT, but only can work in some 20 states)

- physician assistant (most schools are not friendly to IMGs)

- at least one state (Missouri???) let's IMGs who passed all steps to work as assistants in practices. Check it out!

Your pre-recs will be welcomed in any place and you won'the have problem to get into nursing school. Please be aware, though, that nurses in the USA are generally not welcome people like you and myself. I know four more people who went from IMG to nursing, all in different parts of the country, different systems and different level of care and all plus me had experience of being grievously bullied. If you can allow options limiting bedside care like direct entry MSN, go there.

ixchel · Nov 7, 2015

Please help me out there.I am a physician in my home country just moved into states on the green card.In addition to prepare for Usmle,i also want to get involve into nursing.My aim is to do Nurse practitioner or CRNA.Plz tell me whether Exclesior college is right for me and what about bachelors in nursing?i have already read medical subjects in my medical schools.Will i get advantage of that or will i have to do bachelors again?

May I ask what your reason for going into nursing instead is? As a physician, you have complete autonomy. If you are a Hospitalist, the nurses you are sharing patients with will absolutely adore you for enjoying the nursing side of patient care and going elbow to elbow with them.

superking · Nov 7, 2015

Guys my plan is to do associate degree from exclesior college and then work for an year before enrolling into NP or CRNA school.Most CRNA programs say that they can accept persons with associate degree with bachelor in any OTHER field.My point is that will my medical degree not equivalent to that OTHER bachelor even?

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Nov 7, 2015

Guys my plan is to do associate degree from exclesior college and then work for an year before enrolling into NP or CRNA school.Most CRNA programs say that they can accept persons with associate degree with bachelor in any OTHER field.My point is that will my medical degree not equivalent to that OTHER bachelor even?

You will have to check with each individual program. Most will probably eval on a case by case basis. Good luck.

notnursezelda · Nov 7, 2015

Guys my plan is to do associate degree from exclesior college and then work for an year before enrolling into NP or CRNA school.Most CRNA programs say that they can accept persons with associate degree with bachelor in any OTHER field.My point is that will my medical degree not equivalent to that OTHER bachelor even?

i would also be VERY careful of "profit" schools while you are looking at different nursing programs. they tend to be more expensive and you want to really look at the reputation of the program in the area and at local hospitals. do your research if you really want to pursue this course.

there are other options, other than nursing, even if you are struggling with your USLME scores. have you considered other degrees that would compliment your medical background, like pharmaceuticals research positions, clinical trials, health management, etc

even a PA (physician assistant) degree would be a shorter path for you, 2 years, and you will most likely have similar courses as opposed to nursing which can take longer if you are going CRNA or NP.

but both tracks, PA or NP have their pros and cons

it will/can be difficult to transfer credits, especially to nursing, because the model of care is different. the knowledge will help you but it is a different skill set you will learn.

just do your research, and see what options are open to you. it can be difficult, but don't rush and try to make the best decision for yourself