From BSN to MD?

SaraFL · Sep 12, 2009

I think that in general pre-med students take a lot more chemistry than nursing students.

dancer_meggs · Sep 12, 2009

I was looking on the USF medical school site and it looks like that only 1 gen chemistry and 1 organic chemistry is required...plus a physics and a biology(i know bio and chem are required for a BSN program) so that'd be only 2 extra classes? But even with that, are medical schools willing to take somebody who didn't major in one of the three major sciences?

rn2bnwi, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2009

Good Luck! I have zero desire to be and Md so i have never looked into it but if you have their pre-reqs i think that may be a good plan. I have a few friends that did the science majors and then didn't get into MD school and then they had degrees that didn't offer a lot .....this leaves you with some a nice career options if you change your mind.

DuluthMike · Sep 12, 2009

If your plan is to go into medicine I would strongly advise getting a Biology related or Chemistry related degree. These degrees encompass med school pre reqs while a BSN does not. This means in addition to your BSN you are looking at anywhere from 20 to 40 additional credits to meet medical school pre reqs. A BSN is also seen as a lesser, non science degree by many adcoms.

jules2980 · Sep 12, 2009

It seems from what I've seen that as long as you satisfy their requirements for admissions it shouldn't matter what your degree is in. If you can fit in all the extra science classes (and I mean a LOT of extra science classes) and it's something you think you might want to do down the road, then go for it.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2009

A BSN is smart because you can fall back on it and use it while waiting the year or two it takes to get in med school.

GPA >3.6, MCAT >29, volunteer somewhere and don't screw up your interview and you're in somewhere.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2009

It seems from what I've seen that as long as you satisfy their requirements for admissions it shouldn't matter what your degree is in. If you can fit in all the extra science classes (and I mean a LOT of extra science classes) and it's something you think you might want to do down the road, then go for it.

It's true. Plenty of history and english lit majors get into med school as long as they complete the pre reqs, have a great GPA and MCAT score, it really really doesn't matter what the degree in.

I will tell you though, that you will be questioned in interviews about why you want to be a doctor rather than a nurse. It's easy enough to tell them that you want to diagnose and come up with treatment plans for patients rather than follow orders, though. Ultimately it won't count against you as long as you have all your ducks in a row.

JStyles1 · Sep 12, 2009

check the school but most schools want chem 1 and 2, organic 1 and 2, bio 1 and 2, and physics 1 and 2. nursing school is hard enough without adding those classes on top

JStyles1 · Sep 12, 2009

I was looking on the USF medical school site and it looks like that only 1 gen chemistry and 1 organic chemistry is required...plus a physics and a biology(i know bio and chem are required for a BSN program) so that'd be only 2 extra classes? But even with that, are medical schools willing to take somebody who didn't major in one of the three major sciences?

no, it is 2 semesters of chem, bio, o chem, physics, english, and math. that is the 1 and 2 class of each course

http://www.hsc.usf.edu/medicine/mdadmissions/academic_requirements.htm

MissBehavin · Sep 12, 2009

It is not unheard of but...... MOST medical schools see a BSN or nursing background and are NOT impressed. I have 2 friends that went this route. You are considered a "non-traditional student" (which means you will have to work twice as hard, and have better grades then the "traditional" candidates. Oddly enough you do not have to major in Biology or Chemistry, most prefer a Liberal Arts degree (with killer grades in upper level chemistry and physics, and shadowing a doctor or volunteer work). When my friend (a BSN with about 5 years experience, and a 4.0 science gpa) went on her interviews for medical schools. The FIRST question they always asked is "why are you considering a career change?". They dont see nursing as linked to medicine (very sad, but true). They also are very aware of the "nursing shortage" and do not want to take nurses from a field, that they feel is under staffed and needed. She was accepted to one in the end, but she had to work twice as hard.

I do know that DO schools prefer someone with a medical background of any kind. They can compete for the same residencies as the MD's, along with having a few just for DO's. A DO is in every way equivilent to an MD the training is just a little different (more holistic/focus on the total person). I am doing a BSN to MSN (ACNP) route myself, after heavy consideration of medical school. I think that since DO's have a more holistic view, if I were to have gone to medical school, it would have been the DO route.

Ask yourself "why am I drawn to nursing?" For me it was the patients, I like spending more time with them, educating them, and getting to know them a little better. That is why I decided to become a nurse practitioner, I still get to be a nurse, and have the autonomy I wanted.

GOOD LUCK and Best wishes whatever you choice is :)

MuddaMia · Sep 13, 2009

I work with a dr that was a nurse first. She went to school in antigua. It took 3 years from start to finish--then she did her residency here in USA.