Going from nurse to doctor? Thoughts?

[tguy32779, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone,

So I'm currently a (pre-req) nursing student in college right now getting my BSN. I want to work as a nurse (preferably in ICU or CCU) for several years and then move up in my healthcare career. I'm not sure if I want to become a CRNA/Nurse Practitoner or go to medical school and become a doctor (either an anesthesiologist or a cardiologist). Some say it's impossible to do that while being a nurse and other say it isn't. My mom has actually been a nurse for 30 years and she says a lot of doctors she knows started off as nurses. Do you all think this is possible/a good route?

Thanks!

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

I don't think it's worth it once you reach a certain age due to how many years you have to go, tuition, and the uncertainty as to whether you'd actually be able to practice as a doctor. As a nurse graduate you'd still have to do all of the med school prerequisites, go on to med school, start and finish residency and then past boards (there even may be more to it but that's my basic understanding). Nowadays, if you start too late in life you'll be forever in debt.

[twinsmom788]

If you have a strong desire to become a physician, stop now and take a long hard look at your grades so far. Everything you do will count. How are you at taking standardized tests ? You must score extremely well on the MCAT, top grades in tough courses, have great extracurriculars , write and interview well. And that is just to get into medical school. Also look at the possible schools you would consider for the application to acceptance rate. Please pm me for more info. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I actually don't think it's a bad idea.

I have worked for a nurse as a few years, and I'm thinking about going to med school myself. I will have my car paid for before I go to med school because I make decent money as a nurse. I also bought a house on my nursing salary, which I would not have been able to buy working minimum wage. My mortgage payment is less than the average rent for a much smaller place around here, so I will save a lot of money in living expenses alone because I had enough money to buy a house. I also plan to stay working as a nurse PRN so I can cover my living expenses. I don't know many other jobs where you could work 2-3 days a month and cover your mortgage payment and bills, you know?

The med school next to me charges 50k/year per tuition but lets you take out 76k/year in loans for living expenses plus tuition. If I go to that school and don't have to take out the living expenses part because I can pay for those myself, that's a savings of $100,000 over four years, and that's nothing to sneeze at.