Getting A Bsn With The Intention Of Becoming A Doctor

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2006

I just wanted to get some thoughts on this. There are a number of people who are entering the BSN program with me in the Spring who plan on using their degree as a "springboard" for medical school. By this I mean that they planning on graduating with a BSN and taking the prereqs for medical school on the side. Is that fair? Personally I don't think it is fair. I know a number of people with GPA's above a 3.5 who not only didn't get into the nursing program but they also didn't make it onto the waitlist as well. Now mind you I know that you can get you undergraduate degree in anything, but I think in a way that its unfair for someone who never intends on using their nursing degree to take the spot away from someone who does. What do you think?

I think that if they meet the admission criteria, pay the $$, and make the grade it is just as fair for them to be admitted as anyone else.

Personally, I believe if there were more MD's with a nursing education, they would end up being more caring and compassionate. Not that MD's can't be caring and compassionate people without a nursing education, because there are MANY that are. What I mean though is that nursing helps you look past the dx and "medical" tx and care for the pt in a more holistic manner.

anouk · Nov 30, 2006

I think that if they meet the admission criteria, pay the $$, and make the grade it is just as fair for them to be admitted as anyone else.
Personally, I believe if there were more MD's with a nursing education, they would end up being more caring and compassionate. Not that MD's can't be caring and compassionate people without a nursing education, because there are MANY that are. What I mean though is that nursing helps you look past the dx and "medical" tx and care for the pt in a more holistic manner.

As I said before I know that as an undergrad you can major in anything. (I think I probably should have flushed out my post more) There seems to be the misconception that obtaining a BSN its easier to get good grades because majoring in nursing is not as hard as the science majors.(which I know the science majors are EXREMELY DIFFICULT) So some of the people that I've encountered who want to do this (some but not all) didn't come to the realization that while taking their nursing prereqs that they wanted to be doctors. They seem to have a disdain for nursing. Its like they picked it because they thought it was an easy major.

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2006

As I said before I know that as an undergrad you can major in anything. (I think I probably should have flushed out my post more) There seems to be the misconception that obtaining a BSN its easier to get good grades because majoring in nursing is not as hard as the science majors.(which I know the science majors are EXREMELY DIFFICULT) So some of the people that I've encountered who want to do this (some but not all) didn't come to the realization that while taking their nursing prereqs that they wanted to be doctors. They seem to have a disdain for nursing. Its like they picked it because they thought it was an easy major.

Oh, well then, the joke is on them if they think nursing is an "easy" major. :lol2:

Sheri257 · Nov 30, 2006

It may not be fair for those who want to pursue nursing but, on the other hand I think it's a great idea for doctors to have some nursing background. Maybe it would give docs a much better understanding of what nurses do and what they go through.

I just recently attended an MD seminar and it made me realize how difficult their job is ... and how clueless I am about what they do.

:typing

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 30, 2006

I've known nurses who have decided to go to medical school and become doctors, but not anyone who has done that on purpose.

I agree that it may help them become better doctors, but I'm not sure what they're accomplishing by doing it that way. I would think that just taking the pure science courses would be quicker in the long run, and I don't know that having a BSN makes it easier to get into medical school.

The docs I've known who had been nurses really were very good!

Crocuta, RN · Nov 30, 2006

I could see perhaps getting a nursing degree as a first step since it would guarantee that you could make a tolerable wage while in school (it's a far sight better than bussing tables.) But the whole reason that medical school majors are clustered around biochem, biology, etc is that it's easier to get all the medical school prereqs out of the way with those degrees. Getting a BSN is still going to require them to take all those classes. It doesn't seem like a very efficient route to me if there is no interest in nursing at all.

augigi, CNS · Nov 30, 2006

I wouldn't think people do nursing because they think it's easier. Likely they think it's related, and will give them the opportunity to gain experience in healthcare before committing to medical school. If they earned their place, they have a perfect right to be there. I'd rather they were there than someone with less ability or skill who ends up as an RN.

And don't forget, a vast majority who apply for medical school don't make it into the course, so they may end up in the nursing workforce anyhow.

CarVsTree · Nov 30, 2006

As I said before I know that as an undergrad you can major in anything. (I think I probably should have flushed out my post more) There seems to be the misconception that obtaining a BSN its easier to get good grades because majoring in nursing is not as hard as the science majors.(which I know the science majors are EXREMELY DIFFICULT) So some of the people that I've encountered who want to do this (some but not all) didn't come to the realization that while taking their nursing prereqs that they wanted to be doctors. They seem to have a disdain for nursing. Its like they picked it because they thought it was an easy major.

I was a bio major prior to nursing - I thought nursing was harder than my sciences. Not that the conecepts were harder, I was just so much busier in NS.

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 30, 2006

I just wanted to get some thoughts on this. There are a number of people who are entering the BSN program with me in the Spring who plan on using their degree as a "springboard" for medical school. By this I mean that they planning on graduating with a BSN and taking the prereqs for medical school on the side. Is that fair? Personally I don't think it is fair. I know a number of people with GPA's above a 3.5 who not only didn't get into the nursing program but they also didn't make it onto the waitlist as well. Now mind you I know that you can get you undergraduate degree in anything, but I think in a way that its unfair for someone who never intends on using their nursing degree to take the spot away from someone who does. What do you think?

I have a friend that got into and finished medical school and her undergrad was in Sociology.

She did well on the MCAT's.

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 30, 2006

I could see perhaps getting a nursing degree as a first step since it would guarantee that you could make a tolerable wage while in school (it's a far sight better than bussing tables.) But the whole reason that medical school majors are clustered around biochem, biology, etc is that it's easier to get all the medical school prereqs out of the way with those degrees. Getting a BSN is still going to require them to take all those classes. It doesn't seem like a very efficient route to me if there is no interest in nursing at all.

Plus taking up a slot for a Nursing student, when any of them can major in Chemistry, etc, and still get into med-school.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 30, 2006

I say if you are going to go to med school, go straight for that. Nursing and medicine are completely different programs of study and careers. I would not recommend becoming an RN if MD is really what you plan. Go straight for that.