MD works as RN

suzanne4, RN · Nov 11, 2005

No issues at all. This actually been quite common place for years, you are just starting to see more doing it.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 11, 2005

I suggest that you check out the International forum and you will find quite a few others doing the same thing.

HappyJaxRN · Nov 11, 2005

Wow! How wonderful. You will bring so much to nursing. I think you will be accepted by many. Those that don't, they're loss. We have a couple of nurses at my hospital who were MD's in other countries and they are doing well. We also have a tech who was a PA in Africa. He works on my floor. And tons of techs who were nurses in their country. Most of them are waiting to take the NCLEX to get licensed here in the states. Good luck!

elkpark · Nov 11, 2005

Welcome to allnurses!

Just keep in mind that, if/when you are licensed as a registered nurse in the US, you will be limited to the legal scope of practice for RNs in whatever state you are licensed. The fact that you have an MD degree won't change or affect that; you will not be allowed to perform acts that require a license to practice medicine without having a US license to practice medicine.

Best wishes!

papawjohn · Nov 11, 2005

Hey Nursemd

I've worked with a great nurse who was a family-practice Doc in Haiti. He was greatly loved and respected.

Papaw John

Trauma Columnist · Nov 11, 2005

I work with a doctor from Pakistan that works as a mental health masters-prepared therapist. She is wonderful.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Nov 11, 2005

Hello everyone,
I just came across this wonderful forum and decided to post my question.
I have MD and RN degree from my country and currently is thinking about nursing career in the USA. One of my concerns is will nurses accept me as a nurse if they will know about my MD degree. What kind of problems can I be faced in this scenario? Any advices how I should behave? I will appreciate any replies. Thank you:) .

Great to see you are choosing to add to our shortage in the US. But out of curiosity why are you choosing nursing over practicing medicine? What feild do you have medical experience in? Best of Luck to you and I don't think you will have any problems at all from other nurses because you have a great amount of info to bring to the table.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 11, 2005

Hello everyone,
I just came across this wonderful forum and decided to post my question.
I have MD and RN degree from my country and currently is thinking about nursing career in the USA. One of my concerns is will nurses accept me as a nurse if they will know about my MD degree. What kind of problems can I be faced in this scenario? Any advices how I should behave? I will appreciate any replies. Thank you:) .

There is an MD from another country in our program and has become quite the center of attention. I think you will have no problem. Good luck.

nursemd · Nov 12, 2005

Great to see you are choosing to add to our shortage in the US. But out of curiosity why are you choosing nursing over practicing medicine?

I would love to practice medicine here, but the effort to re-enter this field seems to be incompatible with my family life.

What feild do you have medical experience in?

Mostly Critical Care.

Thank you all so much for your responses, I did not expect to get so much support.

I posted my question here because one old nurse advised me to always hide my MD experience. Her words were:''Never tell nurses that you were a doctor. They will think that you are smarter than they are and will feel envy". I hope this is not the case, but what do you think about it?

And another problem - how doctors may react if they will know that a nurse has foreign MD degree?

childpsych74 · Nov 12, 2005

I worked with an ICU RN who was a Critical Care MD in her country (china). She said the same thing about working as a MD here. I think she sat for the NCLEX and was in no problem. We were always curious how they did things in China, o.k. we KNEW she was smarter than us, and it didn't matter. We kinda soaked it up and learned a lot. But we NEVER felt like we excluded her or felt she felt she was better than us. She needed to practice her english and was glad to talk.

Good luck! I think it's awesome. I don't think you should hide it.

I would love to practice medicine here, but the effort to re-enter this field seems to be incompatible with my family life.
Mostly Critical Care.
Thank you all so much for your responses, I did not expect to get so much support.
I posted my question here because one old nurse advised me to always hide my MD experience. Her words were:''Never tell nurses that you were a doctor. They will think that you are smarter than they are and will feel envy". I hope this is not the case, but what do you think about it?
And another problem - how doctors may react if they will know that a nurse has foreign MD degree?

CHATSDALE · Nov 12, 2005

I would agree with the idea that be a proficient nurse and learn our language if it is different from your own...and to keep your previous experience on the qt...

i know that the different requirements might keep you from becoming a md in this country and that the cost and if you have to start from scratch this might it would be rough

i don't know if the nurses would be jealous or not might be

i now of a nurse who was the charge nurse where i worked before and now he is working as a cna because he lost his license...i don't know if the people he works with know the whole story

we need to accept co-workers at face value