NP to MD bridge program

[deltasis02]

I am a RN and, I was looking at some old post of two nurses, which quotes the following:

Mar 19, '06 by anapurnas

"I think the previous posts are trying to say that having a bridge program would allow the NP to "see the forest" without having to re-do a lot of their education. Also, experience is worth a lot. I don't think anyone is trying to say being an NP is like being an MD.

In addition, I know plenty of med students/resident/physicians who felt that their 2 years of basic sciences was useful for the tests but are rarely used on a daily basis. And none of them still remember most of those basic sciences details. But they, as we all, can look them up when needed and understand what's going on.

NPs actually see more of the forest in my opinon as they're trained to see the person as a whole, not just the disease process.

NP education should be more standardized are there are many poor-quality programs out there.

If you think about an MD preparation, it's 2 years of basic sciences (of which NPs have some of that), 2 years of clinical education and additional science courses (of which NPs have a lot of), and a residency. Most NPs with experience have already had the experience of what part of a Family Practice residency would be like, and a bridge program could add to that the additional time and higher acuity of exposure.

In my NP program, I rotated WITH the Family Practice residents and was seeing the same patients as the Chief of the FP residency program (I was paired with him). I saw them independently and would just run my plan by him. I have to say that as a result of my program, he agreed with my plan almost always. I had to look up more, but I felt with a bridge program an NP could quickly catch up to the level of an MD. Of course, this is because I feel my NP program was excellent, and I fear that most are not."

And

Mar 19, '06 by Papadoc

"Again...I know it's very tempting to think that as an NP, because in the end of the day you do similar, or even same work as some of the FP docs, to think that it's close to MD. As I've stated in the above post, I'm an RN for quite a few years, and I thought before starting my med school, that I have an edge over young premeds. Not so, at least when it comes to the basic science portion of the program. It's something that you guys just ouhgt to try. I'm afraid it's impossible to explain to those who haven't tried both.

But good luck with your cause."

Since I was researching the topic, "NP to MD bridge program", I found the two comments to be very interesting. To follow the above posting, you'll have to go back to the original thread. Any way :), the view points are coming from two different level of nurses: a RN and an Advance Practice Nurse. The level of education (knowledge and training) are different among the two. Therefore, a BSN level RN vs a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (MSN prepared plus many hours of clinical training under physicians and other NPs related to diagnostic & treatment) entering medical school will be totally different between the two, esp. since some NP programs offer an additional 2 yr residency (instead of 4 yr residency like med school) that gives the NP the option to train under a physician along with medical residents (did research and found some of the NP curriculum to be very challenging). Due to the same basic classes (anatomy, physiology, medical pharmacology, pathology, etc.) and extensive training, I can see how a NP to MD bridge program can be legitimate (for both NP or PA). Now, how successful it will be (meaning how prepared the individual will be when they graduate from the NP-MD program) depends on the curriculum and training offered by the school and the qualification of its educators, but that is the successor of any disciplinary program.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

These threads are OVER 8 years old....Are you looking for a program? In your past posts you are an APRN...correct?

THread moved for best response.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

It's not going to happen.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

What is your question?

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

I personally don't think it's an extremely far out concept. Nor do I feel it's an impossibility for the future. Now, how far in the future this could possibly happen is the true question into opinion.

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