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?

[Dranger]

ClaraRedheart said:

If they're paying for it, I'd say stick it out. Most hospitals will pay for an advanced degree (including Med School) if you're sure that you want to do that. Working as a nurse for 2 years, I have to say I do not, would NEVER want to be a doctor. They work too hard. I make enough money to be happy working 3 12's a week. I don't need or want that kind of stress in my life.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

What hospital have you found that will pay for 250K+ med school? Yup I am sure that 3K TA with a RN contract is going to cover it...

C'mon now.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I am guessing that you are quite young and at the mercy of your living situation and somebody else's purse-strings.

I would just hand your parents the school's info re: Academic Requirements for the program, and the Dean's phone number. If they don't believe the school, then they (and you!) really DO have a problem!

Wish you the best!

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

You need to do what you want.

[Mishey2]

Curious to know if your parents are from another country? In Nursing schools in some other countries, the Nursing curriculum is considered a pre-med course and includes courses that are considered basic pre-med courses such as Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Histology and Genetics so after graduating with a BSN, they move onto the Med Proper program. If you read other topics here, many nursing schools in the US do not require chemistry at all, only some require basic chemistry. In Med school, you will be required to have taken Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry plus other science classes (some with lab) and be strong in Math college courses including college level Calculus classes prior to going into the Med program. Calculus is not a requirement in Nursing just Introduction to Statistics and for the BSN (in my experience), Biostatistics is a requirement for the research study we had to conduct in our 4th year. So, don't waste your time taking classes that are not applicable to Med school and missing out on the classes you do need. The educational system is different here.

[Ultraposh]

Take out loans and go to med school. Your family seems like they are more interested in themselves than your desires. I think they don't want to think about the financial burden you may put onto them. Even if you have loans you would need enough to cover housing, car(insurance/note/maintenance) food, phone bill and don't forget the loan payments from nursing school. They probably don't want to worry about bailing you out of situations. But the brighter side is people DO get through med school and it is primarily by loans.

I want to add... See about becoming financially independent. You do need a support system but you also need to do what makes you happy. Why be a miserable nurse? Talk to a financial advisor about switching your major the time is now to do so. Find out how you will be able to fund medical school and if it seems like it will all work out go for what you want. Worse comes to worse later you could do an accelerated bsn in 1 yr with your pre-med bachelor degree and the courses will already be completed for you to return for med school. If you did become a nurse first the smartest route would be that way, an accelerated bsn after pre med. you will have two degrees in 5 years and you will have two directions to choose from to further your education.

So to answer you question which I forgot I'm sorry. Ask them what they think about you switching your major to premed and then when the time comes when you graduate revisit the topic. Let them know you can become a nurse in 1 year after you finish premed. If you really want your family to be so deeply included in your future. Who knows once you finish premed they may have a different feeling than now. I think this route makes everyone a little more happier than one your way and one completely their way. I personally would do what the hell I wanted and not include family opinions.

[floatingribs]

Okay as someone who is very seriously considering this path but at this point am realizing it's literally not possible here's a list of reasons:

1) literally no courses overlap: literally none I am not joking none of them. But A&P, biochem, and microbio???? Nope med schools will not take those as your bio credits.

2) No flexibility in nursing: nursing is a full course load 100%. It's a tough major. Trying to fit in pre med classes is literally not possible w/ out summer classes and course overloads. Pre med consists of 2 gen bio, 2 gen chem, 2 orgos, 2 physics, 2 maths (usually into calc), and some higher level bios for specific med schools (like genetics, mammalian physiology, zoology)

3) THE NURSING SCHOOL WILL HATE YOU: they have no clue first of all, they literally take personal offense, and it's just so hard since you've got to get the dean's approval for those course overloads but at the same time in emails they bltantly state that you should not be doing this as a nursing student.

4) expensive: pre med requires around 60 extra credits outside of nursing. I would literally graduate with over 180 credits, and even at a state school it's well over 20K

5) MCATS: finding time for them firstly if you finish your pre med requirements and nursing as a major scores the lowest among them

6) flunking nursing school: if pre med affects ur gpa, it affects your overall gpa. You're going to have to sacrifice nursing classes at some points and it'll hurt when looking for jobs.

Lastly nursing is not a easy field, not just in college, but it requires a lot of patience. You have to want to be a nurse and it's your college. I see some people on this thread saying look into NP but it still won't be the same. Being forced into a major is only going to hurt you and I wish your family would understand that. Good luck tho and hopefully you'll get to be a physician!

[OCNRN63, RN]

ClaraRedheart said:

If they're paying for it, I'd say stick it out. Most hospitals will pay for an advanced degree (including Med School) if you're sure that you want to do that. Working as a nurse for 2 years, I have to say I do not, would NEVER want to be a doctor. They work too hard. I make enough money to be happy working 3 12's a week. I don't need or want that kind of stress in my life.

The OP isn't you; she wants to be a physician. She does not want to be a nurse. Why should she force herself to do something she has no interest in? Not to mention, she would be taking up a spot in a nursing program that could go to someone who really does want to be a nurse.

We all have different interests. There's nothing wrong with someone saying s/he doesn't want to be a nurse.

FWIW, I never worked anywhere that helped pay more than a pittance toward advanced degrees. The best I saw was 4K a year; not remotely worth going to nursing school just to get 4K for med school.

[NewNP620]

If you don't want to become a nurse- DON'T!!! You will be unhappy. It just doesn't make sense to become a nurse first if you already know you want to be a physician. I became a nurse practitioner through a direct-entry program and I am struggling to find my first job. I acquired ludicrous debt (my undergrad bio degree was covered by a scholarship), the clinical hours simply were not sufficient IMO, and I seriously regret not going to medical school. Follow your heart and do what is best for you- you will not regret it. Best of luck!

[AbstracRN, BSN, CNA, RN]

I don't know I have been reading comments from others, but I know a nursing student who is becoming a nurse so that she can work her way through med school. Med school is expensive and if you look at the amount of debt you would incur it may be a good idea and at the very least if you get a job at a hospital near your school you are also building tenure someplace. I would said say expand your view, sometimes we can short change ourselves by looking at things from one angle.

[sjalv]

AbstracRN2B said:

I don't know I have been reading comments from others, but I know a nursing student who is becoming a nurse so that she can work her way through med school. Med school is expensive and if you look at the amount of debt you would incur it may be a good idea and at the very least if you get a job at a hospital near your school you are also building tenure someplace. I would said say expand your view, sometimes we can short change ourselves by looking at things from one angle.

I have never heard of anyone 'working their way' through med school. The coursework is simply too demanding. Not to mention the clinical component that would take up any extra time you could imagine having to work in the first place. And finally, once you're a resident, that is your job. I don't see how anyone, RN or not, could expect to work during med school.

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

It is the most expensive route you can take. You will not save money- you are going to take out loans for nursing school, then you are going to take out another set of loans for med school. You won't work during med school. You won't make much money during your residency. The philosophy of nursing is very different than the philosophy of medicine, meaning that when you get to med school you are going to have to relearn a different way of thinking through problems. Someone mentioned before that none of your nursing credits will transfer to med school. Nursing school is primarily didactic so you won't be "ahead" of other med students with your nursing experience. Honestly there are so many reasons not to go to nursing school first, it is simply NOT a stepping stone to being a doctor. It is a different career. I understand that you want your family's support, especially in such a difficult program. But there is no reason to go through nursing school if you already know it isn't what you want. I wish you luck!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

sjalv said:

How old are you? Why is your family deciding your career path for you?

I have a hunch that the family is selecting the career path due to cultural reasons. I get the vibe that the OP's parents may or may not be immigrants.