Hi everyone, so I was a medical student and now in the transitioning state to becoming a nursing student. I've looked around for forums about this topic, but not much is seen, except for the transition from nurse to doctor. I've completed my HESI and TEAS V exams a couple of weeks ago and have applied to a few schools. Currently, I'm at a community college finishing up pre-reqs for the schools. I was just wondering if there is any former medical student that made the transition to nursing, if they would like to share their experience and to give any pointers about anything.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Hi everyone again. I wasn't expecting this many responses. I was actually in my second year of medical school in the Caribbeans and just couldn't cut it. The class that got me was Pathology, a 14 hour class, and just a killer of a class. When it came down to it, it was either attempt to pass a class or fail and never get into anywhere else.
The reason I'm taking pre-reqs at a community college is because there are a few classes that are required for the nursing pre-reqs that I didn't take as an undergrad like sociology, psychology, development and ethics. Unfortunately, I've had classes pertaining to theses in med school, but the process to transfer the credits was going to take money and time, so I figure why not just take it and make an easy A. I have a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry and graduated with 3.8 overall GPA in undergrad.
So end the end, the main goal is to still be able to help people. I've talked to a few people about nursing and most seem to love their job.
So back to the main question: Is there any advice from anyone that was a former medical student that transitioned to nursing?
Two of the nurses who work in my hospital where physicians who went back to nursing school. Both were physicians in other countries and were, for one reason or another, unable to obtain a residency in the USA. One was a cardiologist in Russia, the other an OB-GYN in the Philippines. My observation is that they struggle with way nurses are treated by managment, and the condecending attitude certain physicians have for nurses. My advice is to be humble.
Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
Op, I suggest you to prepare yourself mentally as many others have said, the healthcare model in nursing is different. We do not go so much into the medical illness, instead it is about the person as a whole. Nurses use a set of nursing diagnoses and I recommend that you familiarize yourself with it by purchasing the NANDA. I think that you will do great, good luck and don't give up!
I had a friend who went to that medical school. Isn't that an "easy" one to get into? Just curious because that's what I "heard." She had a bad MCAT score and got rejected at other places but into that one fairly easy.
How does this contribute to the discourse of the thread?
Advance the nursing profession indirectly (in this case) and put some thoughts behind a reply to a former medical student contemplating your profession as a career. Thanks.
How does this contribute to the discourse of the thread?
Advance the nursing profession indirectly (in this case) and put some thoughts behind a reply to a former medical student contemplating your profession as a career. Thanks.
I was honestly curious thank you. No offense but have you read any other trash on this thread. If you don't like it, leave it alone.
I was honestly curious thank you. No offense but have you read any other trash on this thread. If you don't like it, leave it alone.
If that's how you feel, then I suppose I've got nothing else to add.
But trying to kick somebody at his/her weakest, insinuating he couldn't pass pathology while a student at a school that supposedly accept rejects is hardly professional. It's not even humor... I'll take your second comment to the OP's question as a big improvement.
(But I've given way too much space to this nonsensical and I'll add no further comment on this).
No experience with this BUT nursing is HARD. Medicine is HARD. Just do your best and don't tell anyone you were in medical school, they might take offense. I understand why you are making the choice to be a nurse but nursing is not a consolation prize. Good luck!
Don't understand why saying Pathology being hard has anything to do with becoming a nurse. There are many hard classes in nursing school.
The reason many might not be so forth coming towards you is because of the general nurse/physician relationship. If you don't come in with a chip on your shoulder and proclaim to the mountain tops that you were a former med student. You will do fine, just remember thinking like a nurse and thinking like a physician can be two different things. Please update us on your transition.
To the OP, not trying to discourage you from nursing, but you said your ultimate goal is trying to help people. Have you considered the Physicians Assistant route?
Among other things...PA school is, essentially, 90% of info given in medical school compressed into two years instead of four. Studying for PA was more than once compared with attempting to drink from fire hydrant.
And, PA profession does its damnedest to destroy its image as "salvage pathway" for failed residents, medical students, IMGs, etc. Rightly or not, that's their current politics.
I had a friend who went to that medical school. Isn't that an "easy" one to get into? Just curious because that's what I "heard." She had a bad MCAT score and got rejected at other places but into that one fairly easy.
Med school is med school, all caribbean and FMG doctors have to do a US residency/pass US boards to practice. Almost 80-90% of the doctors I work with are international graduates and are ALL very capable.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Almost 80-90% of the doctors I work with are international graduates and are ALL very capable.
I envy you. I also work with many foreign trained residents and physicasn. I certainly can not say that ALL of the residents and physicans I work with are very capable. Some of them simply are not. Though I haven't noted more incapable forgeign trained docs than incapable US trained docs.
PMFB-RN, RN
5,351 Posts
Two of the nurses who work in my hospital where physicians who went back to nursing school. Both were physicians in other countries and were, for one reason or another, unable to obtain a residency in the USA. One was a cardiologist in Russia, the other an OB-GYN in the Philippines. My observation is that they struggle with way nurses are treated by managment, and the condecending attitude certain physicians have for nurses. My advice is to be humble.