Need reasons why becoming a nurse first, then becoming a doctor, is a bad idea

[jeaux]

I am currently a nursing major, sophomore year of college, and applying to the nursing program this coming Spring. I am in this field because it's mostly my family that's forcing me to become a nurse and won't support me at all (in whatever support I need) if I change my path, which makes me feel horrible. I didn't mind at first, but now I've decided that I really want to be a physician (specifically, oncologist). They tell me that if I want to be a doctor, I should take nursing first, then go become a doctor.

I told them why that's not the smartest choice at all, despite the fact that some some people go that way, but those are usually people that wanted to be nurses first but changed their mind and wanted to go to medical school. I need more reasons why this isn't smart at all. I have that it'll be a waste of time and money to go back to school because you have to do med school pre-reqs. I told my parents this and they literally don't believe me.

What are some other reasons I could tell them, to convince them, to prove them wrong?

[vanilla bean]

This is why it's a bad idea:

jeaux said:

I am in this field because it's mostly my family that's forcing me to become a nurse

Sometimes, part of becoming an adult and/or embracing your own autonomy is to decide that you're going to make your own decisions about how to live your life and dealing with any consequences that come along with those decisions. Only *you* can know if it is worth it to you to take charge of your own future and if the fallout with your family will be something you can live with.

[OCNRN63, RN]

You're the one who has to know what's right for you. Ask them why it's so important to them for you to be a nurse. Explain to them that being a doctor is where you are drawn. Ask them if they really want you to be stuck in a job that you don't like. Ask them if they want you to waste money on a degree that you won't use, should you go to medical school. If they think nursing is a career with plenty of jobs, show them data that we're in a glut in many areas due to the proliferation of for profit schools.

It's really hard to answer your question without knowing what it is that's driving them to insist on your being a nurse.

[jeaux]

OCNRN63 said:

It's really hard to answer your question without knowing what it is that's driving them to insist on your being a nurse.

They want me to be a nurse because it's in the healthcare field, job security, it's right after you graduate college, and the money.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

jeaux said:

They want me to be a nurse because it's in the healthcare field, job security, it's right after you graduate college, and the money.

The reality, there is not a nursing shortage, many new graduates find it difficult to find first job, especially in hospitals!

best wishes

[lavenderskies, BSN]

You should go for the career that you want. You may lose financial support and you know what.....that's ok. It might take you longer and you might have to work harder but LOTS of people do it.

[mago8388]

Don't waste your time pleasing others and go for what makes you happy. If Oncology is what you love and want to be a physician go for pre med.

[nolanurse88]

You're an adult. Make your own decisions not your parents.

[Dranger]

As a nurse who did pre-med this is why it is a bad idea:

1. Its the longest round about way to get to a goal

2. Almost none of the nursing pre-reqs count towards pre-med forcing you to use summers to take classes

3. Statistically nursing majors do the worst on the MCAT compared to any other major

4. Resentment from peers/nursing faculty

5. Lots of questions from med school ADCOMs that will be difficult to answer in med school interviews

Have nurses become doctors? Sure, but it is much much easier to just go the pre-med route and just commit. No point in doing nursing if your goal is to be a physician.

[Cola89]

Have you thought about the possibility that they don't want to fund an 8 year education? Or that they don't believe you really know what you want and getting your RN would be better in such a case?

I personally don't think anybody should become a nurse (or anything) if that's not what they want to do for a living. Who has time for that?

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Who is paying for college?

Go where your heart it. However, in the short term, nursing is more financially secure. I do not recommend nursing as an undergraduate degree unless you are very intellectually gifted and/or prepared to work very hard to maintain a competitive GPA.

[tcRN2015]

I think the higher grade curve in nursing programs alone is reason enough not to do nursing as a premed major... Like someone said earlier, you will need summer courses or extra time after your BSN to finish prereqs for med school.

Have you considered NP? Good pay, high autonomy, you CAN work in oncology. I think one major plus about NP vs MD route is NPs tend to have a better work-life balance.