Now, Wait A Dang Minute, Here!!!

globalRN · Nov 11, 2008

Read everything that u can.

pick a really good diagnostician and learn from them how

they arrive at their diagnoses. Their process of clinical reasoning/critical thinking

can teach u a lot about how to put the pieces of the puzzle together

emtneel · Nov 11, 2008

i graduated last Dec, and still consider myself a new grad (only 3 mo experience) will be starting a new job soon in urgent care, i will be the only provider on night shift. And i am scared too, but i just have to remember all i've learned and my scope of practice, and that school doesn't teach you all the answers but how to find the answers.

I think that's great they suggested you go to Med school, but its a lot easier said than done. You have to take a lot of pre-req's, most are different from Nursing school, usually an equivalent to at least 2 yrs undergrad, then take the MCATs then MAYBE you get accepted somewhere, then 4 years of Med school, then 3-8 yrs of residency. So its at least another 10 year commitment and LOTS of BUCKS$$$$.

I still may go to Med school, I def. would do it without hesitation if it wasn't so dang expensive!

Also don't know how old you are, but if you want to have a life and have kids....

People do it in med school/residency, but i wonder if they are missing their childhoods...

Anyways, not sure, i didn't think NP school was that bad, nor BSN school. My undergrad in pre-med/Bio with Chem minor was wayyy more difficult than anything Nursing i've done...It could just be that the cumulative effect of school made it seem less difficult..

I also did some of my Biology degree at a German University and those courses were REALLY tough, plus they were in German!

JDCitizen · Nov 11, 2008

Hi, all. I usually post in the General forum, did not know there was a thread for NPs.
I graduate December 13, a bit more than a month from now, and to say I'm a little overwhelmed is understating it by a landslide. I don't know if I can do this.
So, you can imagine my surprise when, the other day, as I arrived for my clinical rotation in my ER, the Medical Director (who's also my preceptor) and another doc told me to sit down so that we could talk.
My first thought was that I was in trouble. I'm very outspoken, and sometimes I come across as overbearing. But no, that was not it. Instead, I get the shock of my life....these two crazy fools want me to go to MEDICAL SCHOOL!
All I could think was, Now, wait a dang minute, here! I'm not even sure I'm going to survive NP school, and they want me to think about MED school?!?!?! I was completely floored.
Bottom line, I'm flattered, but I am scared outta my wits too. How did you NPs do it? Nursing school was never this bad! Thanks in advance.

Hmmm all the prerequisites aside (pre-med, MCAT, etc.)..... One might want to do the old pro / con list. Basically it all about you, your family and a future that is wide open.

Also the expense may be shifted / decreased if you look into programs for training rural bound doctors.

Don't sale yourself short being a Nurse practitioner is a career just like being a doctor is a career. Just don't put yourself in a position where you look back and with "should have, would have, could have".....

My thought; it seems you have more than a bit of desire here so do the research... Best wishes.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Nov 11, 2008

No matter what you choose they have paid you a huge compliment.

daydreamer7130 · Nov 11, 2008

Indeed ! what a huge compliment!

You may consider med school depending on your personal circumstance. I have tossed this around also. However, I would do so only if the school advanced placed me. I already have 8 years into my MSN/FNP when I graduate in May 2009.

I know Pennsylvania is considering advance placement for NPs and PAs who wish to pursue medical careers. They will place you into a 3rd year rotation. This is due to the shortage of primary care docs.

Look into this with other states!

Congrats! :yeah:

emtneel · Nov 11, 2008

Indeed ! what a huge compliment!
You may consider med school depending on your personal circumstance. I have tossed this around also. However, I would do so only if the school advanced placed me. I already have 8 years into my MSN/FNP when I graduate in May 2009.
I know Pennsylvania is considering advance placement for NPs and PAs who wish to pursue medical careers. They will place you into a 3rd year rotation. This is due to the shortage of primary care docs.
Look into this with other states!
Congrats!

I have NEVER heard of advance placement, can you tell us what school is doing that?

core0 · Nov 11, 2008

I have NEVER heard of advance placement, can you tell us what school is doing that?

I would like to see this also. There are specific rules that prevent anyone from getting a medical degree without three years of medical school. There is a program at LECOM that is three years long. It only takes 10-20 students per year out of the regular admissions pool. The students are placed directly into specific FP residency slots. If you decide to go into another specialty then you owe the school extra money.

David Carpenter, PA-C

emtneel · Nov 11, 2008

I would like to see this also. There are specific rules that prevent anyone from getting a medical degree without three years of medical school. There is a program at LECOM that is three years long. It only takes 10-20 students per year out of the regular admissions pool. The students are placed directly into specific FP residency slots. If you decide to go into another specialty then you owe the school extra money.
David Carpenter, PA-C

David, at LECOM are they paying or reducing the tuition for people who are doing this?

Medical school is still definitely in the back of my mind, but i really want to get my current loans paid off (which i am trying to do at an accelerated rate!)

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Nov 12, 2008

Wow! What a great testament to your practice as an NP student!

All flattery aside, you need to decide what is feasible for YOU. What do YOU want out of life? Just because someone tells you to do something, you don't have to do it...

I occasionally get the MD bug, especially since my little brother is applying to med school this year. The neonatologists at my last job begged me to consider med school. Then I go look at all the prereqs and fees, and then peek into the MCAT prep book at Barnes and Noble. That smushes it real quick....LOL.

I'm sure I could get in and get through med school, but I would be looking at about 12 years of school to become a neonatologist. ~2yr prereqs, 4 years for med school, 3 year residency, 3 year fellowship. I hope to be married, own a home, and have a couple of kids by then. I would miss out on some of the most important years of my life. Many of the residents I work with are sitting on $300k+ of debt, and are getting paid about $10/hr for the number of hours they put in. NPs here make more money than first year attendings!

I am perfectly happy as an RN. I'll be perfectly happy as an NNP in a year (gosh, I hope so... LOL) I love my life. But that's the point. It's my life. You need to decide what is important to YOU, and not base your dreams on what others suggest.

Best of luck in whatever you decide!

Stephen

core0 · Nov 12, 2008

David, at LECOM are they paying or reducing the tuition for people who are doing this?
Medical school is still definitely in the back of my mind, but i really want to get my current loans paid off (which i am trying to do at an accelerated rate!)

If I remember correctly the you pay three years of tuition instead of four. You agree to work in primary care for a set number of years or you owe them one or two years tuition (around 50k if I remember correctly). The key to the system is you are automatically placed in one of a select number of primary care residency slots. This is the real problem with any shortcut to medical school.

The way the system works you have to apply for residencies and interview during your fourth year. The key components are step 1 which is taken at the end of your second year and letters of reference from your rotations. Anyone who shortcuts the process will be a horrible disadvantage in this process. Probably not a problem for non-competitive residencies but you would be unlikely to match in anything competitive. This is why the program is only open to primary care.

Also the program is not guaranteed. You apply to enter after Anatomy (the first 12 weeks). They only accept 10-12 students if I recall. All the others are on the traditional four year path.

David Carpenter, PA-C

emtneel · Nov 12, 2008

If I remember correctly the you pay three years of tuition instead of four. You agree to work in primary care for a set number of years or you owe them one or two years tuition (around 50k if I remember correctly). The key to the system is you are automatically placed in one of a select number of primary care residency slots. This is the real problem with any shortcut to medical school.
The way the system works you have to apply for residencies and interview during your fourth year. The key components are step 1 which is taken at the end of your second year and letters of reference from your rotations. Anyone who shortcuts the process will be a horrible disadvantage in this process. Probably not a problem for non-competitive residencies but you would be unlikely to match in anything competitive. This is why the program is only open to primary care.
Also the program is not guaranteed. You apply to enter after Anatomy (the first 12 weeks). They only accept 10-12 students if I recall. All the others are on the traditional four year path.
David Carpenter, PA-C

I looked at the website. Not sure if you are really bypassing any classes. I know a lot of med students have some time off i believe in 3 and 4 year. It seems like they just condense it more.