This Spring I was accepted into a nursing program which I should graduate from in 2017 with my BSN. I've completed the first year of the program which is just generals and pre-reqs.
I know I'm looking several years ahead with some of these questions, but I'd like some advice from some people who have or are doing this. I don't want to just stop at the bachelor's level.
Before you say that nursing isn't a good degree to seek if I want to go to med school, I know that nursing isn't a "standard" degree to get before med school, but I think it would give me some slight advantages over those who pursue the more typical pre-med school degrees like biology or chemistry. I don't have much interest in research or academia; my goals lie in patient care. Thus, I have chosen nursing as my bachelor's degree. If I don't get into med school then at least I can fall back on my nursing degree and still care for patients.
My first semester of actual nursing courses will only have two classes: "Nutrition and the Role of the Professional Nurse" and "Foundations of Nursing - Health Promotion." I completed A&P2 so that's why I just have the two classes as of right now. That's just 11 credits so I'm looking to add another course to bump me up above 12 credits, which is full-time status. Are there any courses which I could look at to give me an edge or help prepare me for either CRNA or med school?
What are the requirements for CRNA schools?
What are the requirements for med school?
What are some of the challenges that I might face obtaining a BSN and then applying for med school?
How stiff is the competition for CRNA and med school?
Ballpark figure, what is the cost of CRNA vs. med school?
Is there any other information or advice you could give me? Thank you in advance for your help!
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
I went after a biochemistry degree my first time in college, for several reasons:
1) I like science
2) the degree covered me for the hard sciences required for many of the other health care professions (dentistry, medicine, veterinary, pharmacy)
3) I could get a job with it after graduation.
You'd be quite frankly better off getting a hard science or life science degree and taking your pre-requisites required for med or professional school, than getting a nursing degree and tacking on pre-med courses to it. Nursing school is just as hard as pre-med and science courses, because of the clinical component.
New pre-nursing member here. The only reason I feel qualified to make a comment is that my wife is a physician, which means that she and I have both experienced all of the aspects of becoming a physician. In addition to the big differences that everyone else has mentioned, also be prepared for a second mortgage payment after med school, because you will be financing nearly (if not above) 200k for the venture, followed by a three to 10 year commitment at a relatively low wage for residency and/or fellowship, depending on your specialty. Not to discourage you from medicine if you want that over nursing, but med school is a commitment unlike any other I have ever seen, and if you decide you don't care for it, finding a job of comparable pay to get rid of the loans without living on the "30 year ramen plan" is going to be tough, unless you are really good in the casino or playing the powerball.
I struggled with the same question as the OP when it was finally my turn to go back to school, and settled on nursing with a goal of becoming a practitioner at some point, as my happy medium. This was partly due to my age, the already accumulated amount of school debt under our roof, and the feeling that I can be happy in doing this job. Of course, everyone's situation is unique, but FWIW this has been mine with the physician side of things.
Ok..so you decided to go to nursing school and want to be a Doctor. Cool..now..stop thinking about being a doctor and focus on getting your BSN. If you are planning to go to school to be an MD or a CRNA you will need excellent GPA from nursing school which is going to take MAX effort. If you graduate nursing school with a strong GPA..THEN worry about everything else. You are putting the cart before the horse if you think you are going to just walk through nursing school. Focus on being a NURSE. You say the BSN will give you good experience? Well.you better get the experience. I worked for 4 solid years after getting my BSN before I even considered more school. I am not saying you can't or won't do it...but just focus on nursing school. One step at a time. All that future planning won't mean a thing if you screw up in nursing school.
Wrench Party
823 Posts
I went after a biochemistry degree my first time in college, for several reasons:
1) I like science
2) the degree covered me for the hard sciences required for many of the other health care professions (dentistry, medicine, veterinary, pharmacy)
3) I could get a job with it after graduation.
You'd be quite frankly better off getting a hard science or life science degree and taking your pre-requisites required for med or professional school, than getting a nursing degree and tacking on pre-med courses to it. Nursing school is just as hard as pre-med and science courses, because of the clinical component.