MD to RN?

Have you considered becoming a physician assistant?

There is also some state (Michigan? M something ....) that allows med schools grads to practice along side physicians because they are severely lacking and need the additional help.

If your scores are truly going to prevent you from getting a residency, there are a few options:

1. Assistant physician (not PA) meant for IMGs or US MDs in Missouri that takes MDs without residency and essentially makes them midlevel providers under physician supervision.

2. Direct entry NP

3. PA school

Even though you respect and admire nurses, I really don't think you would be satisfied being a bedside RN. At least put your knowledge to use as an MD.

I pretty much recommend this for anyone considering nursing as a career but you really need to shadow several nurses. Shadow nurses working in med/surg, critical care, peds, etc. Check out different hospitals at different times. I know you've done these clinical rotations in med school but it's important to see these areas from a nurse's perspective. If you're set on nursing, going the NP route would probably be best with your background. Consider the direct-entry MSN in that case. On a side note, I was excited to see your reference to the movie Gattaca as when I've referred to it most people have no idea what I'm talking about.

I do know a few people who did the MD to RN route, not because they weren't matched with residency, but because 1. Their foreign medical education and experience didn't transfer to the US, so rather than start the process all over, they did an MD to RN route and became CRNA's or NP's. or 2. They simply did not enjoy medicine and truly loved nursing.

Anyway, people here have already offered a lot of suggestions and you know your situation the best, so only you can decide. Personally? If I were in your position, I'd be reaching out to medical school graduates for advice and not nurses. We have no clue what the residency process is like and you can try to explain it until you're blue in the face, but we will still probably tell you to keep trying for a medical residency because we know how hard you worked to get into medical school and graduate. 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. If you are still insistent that following through on being matched to a residency just isn't possible, I very much would suggest looking into direct entry NP programs. Ask a few bedside RN's what their plans are, and quite a few will say they want to become NP's. With someone that has your drive, determination, and intelligence to get into, and graduate from, medical school, I just don't think a lifetime of bedside nursing would be fulfilling and that is something to keep in mind.

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 2^nd 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!

Whatever path you choose, best of luck!

Dec 10 by jackshepard

Thanks for all the responses.

Just a few things to clear up any questions about my background. I graduated from school with an MD degree. I was able to pass Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS. I haven't taken Step 3 yet as that exam is meant for first year residents. and following . . .

Dear sir:

It sounds to me like you are exhausted, perhaps depressed. At the same time, I find some solace in perceiving that you, unlike many MD's, did not pursue this field for some sort of ego trip. The fact you are willing to assume a nursing role instead of getting your "rightful due" as a physician proves it.

That being said, we have a crying need for primary care physicians who are willing to work in less-well-off places. I implore you to look into getting your residency in a program like the one I mentioned. We need good doctors, ones who will not run off the second residencies end to get some expensive job in the big city. There are millions of poor people who need access to primary care, and many states like mine have no licensing for nurse practitioners.

There might be a reason you did not get into the residency of your choice. Please consider that it might be a message to you.

I think you're perfect just the way you are.

Become an entrepreneur, and do what you find yourself enjoying doing right now: Teaching.

Record some lectures” and put yourself out there. Charge a small fee for your lecture topic. If you've got a knack for it, and you enjoy it, why not?

You can even offer teaching tapes for med students as well.

Just a thought.

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 wish you were my friend during nursing school! What you did for your friends to help them learn sounds wonderful. I have also only known people who were physicians or went to med schools in other countries and had trouble finding residencies in the US. One in particular applied to A LOT of schools and finally got offered a residency in not the greatest area after the 3rd year of applying, but at least finally got one. I would say to just keep applying while doing things you actually enjoy and that will pay the bills in the meantime. I agree with what everyone else said, nursing is such a different scope of practice and there are crazy smart nurses that seem to know everything but maybe don't give up just yet...

I know how hard it is to match. Our local university is trying to get the hospitals to open more spots, but it seems to be a futile battle. They have taken it public, and I'm glad. Many don't know that you aren't guaranteed a residency spot once you graduate med school. That being said, being an RN might not be enough. As others have suggested talk to some schools about N/P or PA routes. Or stick with teaching for now. I cannot imagine the frustration you are experiencing. I wish you the best of luck.

Never heard of it. I would try my best, meaning I would become willing to relocate almost anywhere in order to continue with my chosen health care sector training. Nurses have their own issues and there's no sense in trading your problems for a whole new set. It's better to deal with the 'devil you know'.

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.