Is it possible for a nurse to become a doctor?

allnurses Guide · Jul 12, 2018

Interesting fact: RNs do worse in medical school than the general population.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 12, 2018

MD and NP education and training differ wildly. If the OP wants an MD but goes for NP, s/he will be sorely disappointed.

I disagree, unless she already knows she wants to specialize say be surgeon or neurologist she would be better off as an NP! Truly the time, money, stress and uncertainty of med school and acceptance into a residency program which might not be in the specialty she really desires, is not worth it if she wants to be a internal med or family practice Dr.

Interest is accruing day one on all those med school student loans the four years of med school and many residents can't afford to pay there student loans during residency. I think loans are like $200,000 plus all that interest capitalizing and the loans getting even bigger.

I would think long and hard before going to med school!

cleback · Jul 12, 2018

I disagree, unless she already knows she wants to specialize say be surgeon or neurologist she would be better off as an NP! Truly the time, money, stress and uncertainty of med school and acceptance into a residency program which might not be in the specialty she really desires, is not worth it if she wants to be a internal med or family practice Dr.
Interest is accruing day one on all those med school student loans the four years of med school and many residents can't afford to pay there student loans during residency. I think loans are like $200,000 plus all that interest capitalizing and the loans getting even bigger.
I would think long and hard before going to med school!

I can only speak from experience in my own NP program, of course, but from a reputable brick and morter, getting one semester of pathophysiology and pharmacology... mostly online and with open book tests... and only 1000 hrs of clinical makes me acutely aware of my clinical deficits. Sure, NP is cheaper but if it's medical knowledge the OP is desiring, MD is the way to go.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2018

Try to test out of a class or two.

Go to school outside the US, like the Caribbean.

amzyRN · Jul 12, 2018

You need all the prereqs and then take the MCAT to apply. The prereqs might take you 2 years to complete. You need general chemistry, 2 semesters of physics, calculus, biology, organic chemistry. I think you need a stats course too. I had all the prereqs because I got a degree in biological sciences prior to nursing school, was going to go the med school route, but decided it was too long and expensive and would provide a poor work/life balance.

Even if you have the prereqs, you'll need to study for MCAT and if you get in you'll have 4 years med school, 1-year internship and at least 3 to 4 years residency (sometimes 6 depending on specialty). During your residency, you'll get crappy pay and work sometimes 100+ hours per week. If this is where your passion truly lies, by all means, go for it. It can indeed be done. On the other hand, you could go get your NP or go to anesthesia school (some of them make 200K+ per year). you'll still need the organic chemistry and some prereqs and be an ICU nurse for at least 2 years for anesthesia school.

In short, you're looking at a debt of at least 100K on the low end, plus a time commitment of at least 8 years (or more depending on you specialty-if you are ready to apply now or take the MCAT); 2 more years if you need your pre-med prereqs. So you'd be at least 39 to 42 when you were done. That's not too old, so if you want to do it, don't delay, go for it now. Good luck!

PartyTheNightAway · Jul 12, 2018

Sure, earning a NP degree would have more benefits in the SHORT-TERM. But in the LONG-TERM, becoming a physician would be the ultimate choice. The education and salaries are not even comparable..

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2018

Sure, earning a NP degree would have more benefits in the SHORT-TERM. But in the LONG-TERM, becoming a physician would be the ultimate choice. The education and salaries are not even comparable..

Not necessarily, remember the OP is 30ish years old, meaning graduation close to 40 years old so that adds a dimension to LONG-TERM as far as years to work/repay loans. If you look at the debt load MD vs NP, the interest paid on the loans and time of repayment vs the time you will have an effective working life I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jul 12, 2018

Going to med school later in life than as a very young adult is certainly not anything that is impossible but you really should work out if the financial realities of taking on that kind of student debt is going to be worth it. There are no short cuts to med school by the way and that isn't a bad thing. Think about it from the perspective of a patient, would you want to go to a doctor that got the degree the fastest way possible or the one that worked hard and learned the most?

SisterofMary · Jul 12, 2018

Medicine and nursing are not even in the same galaxy. The nursing education establishment has seen to that. Any similarities between APRNs and medical doctors comes from deliberate and intentional assimilation into the medical framework/model of critical thinking/behavior/knowledge base.

What are the big differences between the nursing and medical frame work?

Nurse2bBae27 · Jul 12, 2018

Hey there! I think its definitely possible to become an MD after being an RN! Medical schools really pay attention to any field/clinical experience that you've gotten, especially since it will make you stand out from the rest of the applicant pool. I am actually doing the same thing by using my "gap years" to obtain my RN license prior to applying to medical school. Just know that the process is not for the faint at heart, it can be very long and tedious but it is definitely worth it! :)

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 12, 2018

Go to school outside the US, like the Caribbean.

This is not a great idea. IMGs tend to have difficulty with the match. As in, they don't always match into a residency. I think they are at about 53%.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 12, 2018

I know a couple of docs who were nurses first, and I also know a nurse who is in med school now. Yes, it is possible. Just know that the entire application process can be very lengthy and stressful, and many applicants have to apply for more than one cycle before they get in. You will need several glowing letters of recommendation from your science professors. You need to have a great GPA on all required courses (and overall great GPA helps too), kill it on the MCAT, have a compelling personal statement, and be prepared to drop a lot of cash on primary applications. If you are lucky enough to be invited to submit a secondary application, that usually costs more money. And then hey, maybe you will be invited to an interview! You pay travel/lodging for those (though you can sometimes arrange to crash with a current student at the school). You must interview well and not come off as someone who can't talk to patients.

If you are extra lucky, you will get accepted somewhere!

So yes, it can be done. It is a long timeline. No shortcuts. You also need to be realistic about where you stand in relation to all the other applicants. You cannot replace grades in MD school applications. I repeat: grade replacement to fix your D in o-chem is not a thing!

I was amazed at what it takes to get into an MD program. I have watched my husband make this journey, and it is not to be taken lightly. Google "physician suicide rates" for some eye-opening info. Med school is a pressure cooker, too. Thankfully my husband did very well on USMLE Step 1, their first board exam. He studied all day, pretty much every day, for 6 weeks. It was intense and stressful but it came with a great score at the end!

Best of luck, OP.