New user here. I apologize if this is in the wrong subsection. Mods, please move as needed.
I'll get straight to the point.
I am a recent US MD graduate. Did not get into residency. Major reasons were beyond my control. But with the continued trend of having more US grads competing with a stagnant number of residency spots, my story is hardly unique.
Anyway, I passed Step 1 and both parts of Step 2, which were required for graduation. I have worked alongside nurses and have a great appreciation for what they do. I thought about going the RN route prior to embarking on the MD adventure.
I understand that becoming an RN will take more schooling. I am certain I can handle it as well as any other person transitioning from a different career into nursing. And the loans required don't scare me. I bet I have more than 99 % of RN students!
What are your thoughts about this? Have you all run into MD to RN folks?
Will my MD background be an asset or liability when it comes to applying for RN schools or RN jobs post-school?
You have an MD, why can't you become a professor esp. since you enjoy teaching? Couldn't you teach at a medical school or even teach science classes at a local college or university? If that were a possibility and I were in a situation like this, I would teach and continue applying for residencies.
If working with patients is the dream and a residency is not at all possible, then I would apply for direct entry to NP or PA school.
I have only known one person who has done this. She was from Russia, where she was an MD, and for whatever reason her education/experience only equaled an LPN in the states. She had a really hard time with it (we were in LTC). That combined with her very Russian personality (ie: in thick Russian accent: Your mother is dead, we must clean her, we need you to step out -- daughter's sobs ensues. No one had told her she had passed yet.) she didn't stay in nursing long. But as long as you are aware you will have a different role a nurse, more loans, and your starting pay etc etc do your thing.
I wonder what exactly "Russian personality" and especially "Russian accent" had to do with the lack of correct communication skills appropriate for this particular situation (which skills, BTW, none of you took the trouble to explain to your colleague beforeheand) and why, knowing about all that, none of you and none of your management as well bothered to intervene before the things heated up.
Lastly, I would also be concerned about the cost of additional education for becoming an RN ESPECIALLY if you aren't a trust-fund baby. I don't know how old you are, so loans may not seem like a big issue, but once you pull out of your 20's and want to do things like start a family or buy a home, they become a HUGE issue. Nursing was a 2nd career for me after I decided to forgo law school. I had a student loan debt of $85,000 from my previous degree. I added another $15,000 to receive my BSN. My student loan payments are about $1,000 a month – some will be paid in 6 years, some in 10, some in 15, and the remaining in 33 years. The 33 year loans are my federal loans and that whole pay as you earn†isn't as black and white as you may think. Yes, it's good now when you're making a low salary, but once that goes up, you'll see that everything changes and you may or may not meet those income requirements. I also believe there is a 10 year loan forgiveness program, but it's not automatic. You have to make 120 consecutive on-time payments (on time being the key phrase here), work at a qualifying facility (meaning you can't leave for greener pastures at year 5), and then submit your application for loan forgiveness (which is not a guarantee). The other forgiveness program I know of is after 25 years, not 15, but I could be wrong. And believe me, no matter what plan you end up on (I opted for graduated repayment on my previous loans and standard on my nursing school loans), you're not going to see too much of that loan forgiven…maybe a couple thousand at best (I think for me it's a couple hundred because my income went from about $35k in social services to about $50k as a new grad RN), but certainly not a significant amount. The only reason I am saying this is because I have been burned by my poor judgment in relation to student loans and I advise everyone to BE SMART WHEN BORROWING!
I feel like this should be re-quoted for emphasis since it's in the middle of the thread.
It would be like us asking CNA's what we should do because we didn't pass the NCLEX on our first try…chances are they're going to tell us to not give up and waste our education.
Couldn't have said it any better myself...
But if you feel that you'll be content in nursing. Go for it!
I would guess that, in a lot of schools, your med school background is going to be a liability rather than an asset. And, if you've been working toward becoming a physician, I would anticipate you will be unhappy in nursing. Best wishes for your journey!
I would guess that, in a lot of schools, your med school background is going to be a liability rather than an asset. And, if you've been working toward becoming a physician, I would anticipate you will be unhappy in nursing. Best wishes for your journey!
No question of liability per se as long as person eligible for both licenses stays precisely within the scope of practice of the specialty he/she is employed. This is how NPs can work as staff RNs as long as they act strictly within their RN license and do not make diagnoses, put in orders except ones they allowed as nurses, etc.
I even know one guy who works interchangeably as RRT, NP and staff RN. He floats, and sometimes he works three days in one week in the same unit in these quite different roles. Somehow he is able to switch his mind around, keeps all his licenses active and doing just great.
Go speak with a military recruiter. You can join as a general medical officer most likely. You can do a few years and then with that on your record you can probably match with a residency. All the while being an MD.
No question of liability per se as long as person eligible for both licenses stays precisely within the scope of practice of the specialty he/she is employed. This is how NPs can work as staff RNs as long as they act strictly within their RN license and do not make diagnoses, put in orders except ones they allowed as nurses, etc.
I even know one guy who works interchangeably as RRT, NP and staff RN. He floats, and sometimes he works three days in one week in the same unit in these quite different roles. Somehow he is able to switch his mind around, keeps all his licenses active and doing just great.
I didn't mean legal liability, I meant that his having graduated from med school would not help him get into nursing school. It would likely be seen as a "minus" rather than a "plus." Is that clearer?
(From the OP: "Will my MD background be an asset or liability when it comes to applying for RN schools or RN jobs post-school?")
I think a lot of people here don't understand residency matching.
1.The longer you are out school, your chance for matching drops significantly.
2. Lots of US MDs do not match for whatever reason, not a new issue with dwindling residency slots
3. MDs without residency are essentially useless. Not that they aren't smart or bright but any research, volunteer or teaching job WILL require a residency.
4. Applying and interviewing to residencies is very expensive, you can't just shot-gun apply everywhere.
I think a lot of people here don't understand residency matching.
1.The longer you are out school, your chance for matching drops significantly.
2. Lots of US MDs do not match for whatever reason, not a new issue with dwindling residency slots
3. MDs without residency are essentially useless. Not that they aren't smart or bright but any research, volunteer or teaching job WILL require a residency.
4. Applying and interviewing to residencies is very expensive, you can't just shot-gun apply everywhere.
You are mostly correct, having a daughter who has gone through the match twice, residency and fellowship, a couple of corrections. One the expense is traveling to an interview, some places will pay for hotel some not. Unlike applying for medical school there is only one application fee, the expense is the travel. No interview no chance of being ranked.
If you have an interview you have a chance of being ranked. Second there is something called the scramble which means you have a second chance to fill unmatched slots, it takes effort and hustling but being an American makes you more desirable since no visa needed. I am guessing the legal situation mentioned maybe the road block, like nursing to get a license you have to be free of any legal issues
I didn't mean legal liability, I meant that his having graduated from med school would not help him get into nursing school. It would likely be seen as a "minus" rather than a "plus." Is that clearer?
(From the OP: "Will my MD background be an asset or liability when it comes to applying for RN schools or RN jobs post-school?")
HelloWish, ADN, BSN
486 Posts
You have an MD, why can't you become a professor esp. since you enjoy teaching? Couldn't you teach at a medical school or even teach science classes at a local college or university? If that were a possibility and I were in a situation like this, I would teach and continue applying for residencies.
If working with patients is the dream and a residency is not at all possible, then I would apply for direct entry to NP or PA school.