Possible to take extra class per semester at another school during nursing program?

[RnStudent2021]

I am entering into the nursing program in Fall 2014, but I plan on attending medical school after I get my BSN. The prerequisites for med school is not fully covered by nursing. I will need Chem 2, Organic Chem 1 and 2, and Physics 1 and 2. My question is is that I would like to take one of these classes each semester at a community college during my nursing program instead of another year and a half of school after I graduate. I was wondering how possible/impossible it would be to tack on another class? Thanks in advance for the replies!

[roxalot]

I think this is smart in a way as you have a plan B in case you don't get into medical school, however you are taking the seat of an actual student who wants to be an RN and not go on to medical school. Not sure how I feel about that. I know there isn't a nursing shortage, but it just doesn't sit right with me.

Organic Chemistry is A LOT of information (I majored in Chemistry the first time around). I am redoing some of my nursing prerequisites because mine expired, but I knew people who struggled with Organic Chemistry while taking a much easier load in their other classes. Physics isn't exactly a cake walk for most people, it's a lot of calculus which I excel at and took both physics 1&2 while taking Organic chemistry 1&2 and made A's. I'm a super science geek though.

I don't think I'd like taking Organic while taking and trying to keep up my GPA in Nursing School.

FYI not all medical schools even require a degree, it's 'preferred' at most (well the last time I looked about 5 year ago). I know many people who have been accepted to medical schools with minimum requirements met (however they had 4.0 gpas and killer MCAT scores).

[crossfitnurse]

You learn all the medical stuff in med school. Your foundation is in your bio/chem classes... I guess I just don't see why. I get what you're saying but the two careers are different, other wise it would be all doctors working at a hospital. Different roles and different foundations.

To save money and time, I'd get my solid foundation in the bio/chem/org chem then apply to med schools.

Maybe take a pharmacology class? Even patho?

But I just see nursing as a waste if your goal is to be a doctor.

[crossfitnurse]

But instead of listening to us I think you should schedule a meeting with a pre-med advisor at your schools.

They will let you know what's best. But I would put money on it that they would ask the same question as to why you'd want a BSN in nursing first. If they were on the same wave length, nursing would be in the med school department, but it's not. Schools have their own nursing school department.

[zoe92]

Have you heard of a major called "medical laboratory science"? I feel like if you want a plan B but want to get in your sciences to apply for med school, this is a good major for you.

I may be way off in my thinking. But it came to mind when I read your post because the state school I am familiar with offers this program & has you take more upper level sciences than nursing programs do. I know a couple people who are getting their BS degree in this so they can get a job after graduation, work for awhile & apply to PA or med school.

[zzbxdo]

I agree with all the above. I mean if you're an experienced RN and choose to go back later, taking classes part time while working is definitely doable. One of our new Peds anesthesiologist was a picu/nicu RN and he's awesome. But if you're planning to use your BSN as a leg up to med school, you wouldn't be that competitive, probably wouldn't fair as well in school, nor have the best premed grades. Yeah bio and chem won't get you far alone, but other majors like biomechanical engineering and stuff are pretty legit. That said I know people who also did premed with the stupidest majors, but they did a lot of volunteering and community involvement as well.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

I am taking classes during nursing school. Is it hard? YES! But I'm getting through it. One extra 3-credit hour class per semester, and my school schedules my clinical days around it, because it has to be an evening class. I don't work though. I'm in a community college program and want to bridge as soon as I graduate, so I wanted to get my prereqs done during. So, yes, it's possible.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I decided to go into nursing and then medical school because I will have medical knowledge when entering and if I don't ever get in then at least I will have a career. Biology and Chemistry aren't known for their well paying jobs.

I guess thats a good idea as long as you know that the thought process used by nurses are way different from the medical model.

Please don't underestimate nursing school, people who do that are usually caught of guard at the volume of work. Adding classes and getting great grades to be competitive in medical school would be very challenging. Only you will know what your limits are.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Just wanted to chime in...

Some years ago I met a Russian-born nurse who actually pursued two degrees simultaneously - BSN & Math. She was a nurse at the time she immigrated (mid 1970's), but the process for getting into US nursing was so cumbersome she just decided to start all over. When she discovered how "easy" it was to enroll in college (after experiencing this in a communist country) she couldn't resist the educational freedom that was available. She was not dependent on loans, so apparently neither school was aware of the situation at the time - LOL! She didn't think it was a big deal and was surprised to find out that others felt it was extraordinary.

I guess it's all a matter of perspective, right? Most of our limitations are self-imposed.

[monaa]

Yes, but it is probably going to be A LOT of work doing it that way.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

You might be able to pull it off but I don't know if you'll be able to devote enough time to a) get very high grades in your med school pre-reqs AND b) pull the grades that you'll need in nursing school to pass. (Nursing schools often re-calibrate grade averages to mean different things. ie. a c-average is a d-average in nursing school and you can only fail one class before they kick you out.) Also, necessary reiteration of the multiple posters who emphasized the VOLUME of work required to get through nursing school.

You also have to consider that medical schools really like to see community involvement and volunteer work on applications. The "well-rounded applicant" is a big deal these days. You'd have to basically be superhuman to do nursing classes, nursing clinicals, medical school pre-reqs that require achieving a high grade, AND the extra fluff that will make your med school application stand out.

I like whoever suggested a lab sciences degree. You'll cover a lot of your advanced pre-reqs and it'll open up some laboratory research/volunteer positions that look good on a medical school application.

[Fin1216]

Organic chem and physics are no joke! I have a degree in biology, and you are correct that those fields arent well known for high paying jobs. Nursing school is no joke either though, I dont think I could handle taking Ochem or physics along with my nursing classes. But I think its a good idea to have a back up, it is always better to have more options than none (especially in this economy...no such thing as job security). Only you know what you can handle though, but I like what a PP mentioned about getting a degree in lab sciences. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN]

I think you should focus on nursing school when you're in nursing school! After you graduate you can find a job. While you gain experience in the hospital you can see if you really want to invest in med school. You could also take one class at a time while working as an RN. So basically you would be working and taking pre reps for med school. This is just my two cents;)