NP to MD

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I have been a CNM/FNP for 7 years and "fell" into the role of and Oncology NP. I am loving it but am quickly seeing the invisible glass ceiling. I originally was going to go to Med School but became enamored with the NP role. Does anyone now of any reciprocity agreement with MD programs? Or anything about this possibility?

This is a really interesting thread - I'm an RN at the moment (first degree biochem) and I'm heavily debating if I want to go back for NP, PA or medical school. The quality of life issue worries me a bit for the MD route, but I am concerned if I go NP or PA that I will have put in those 2 years and at the end of the day still want more. It's a tough call so it's good to hear other people in similar boats.

It is a tough call. I currently have two psychiatrists within 20 yards of me and we do the same thing all day long. They have a greater knowledge base in the sciences and of course make more money than I do. They also have many more years experience than i do. I've taken care of both their patients while they have been away, and the one that is the clinic supervisor quit meeting with me after just a few meetings as we were always on the same track. I can question them anytime but I do so rarely as again, they agree with me. However, I am sending a patient to one of them currently for a second opinion, the same as if I would do if I was another physician. They have, on the other hand, asked me about my documentation. It seems as if my notes are completed most of the time between patients and I rarely go home more than 20 minutes late. You would never find me coming in on Saturday like one does to finish his notes. I'm so lazy I have to be efficient. All the "extra" education I want is now under my control and tailored to what I want not a blanket curriculum that I need to spend time and money on. So, like you say, it is a tough call.

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Do a google search for NP to MD it should give you a link

http://www.nptomd.org/

This is a program that is four years and considers your experience as an NP.

Been thinking long and hard on this myself. Graduated a year ago from NP school and just can't let the thought go.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Do a google search for NP to MD it should give you a link

http://www.nptomd.org/

This is a program that is four years and considers your experience as an NP.

Been thinking long and hard on this myself. Graduated a year ago from NP school and just can't let the thought go.

Check with your state board of medicine if they recogize this school first. There are quite a few of these types of medical schools that are offshore (foreign) and heavily advertise to US citizens. Some have established a fair amount of reputation (St George's, AUC) but this one I believe is on the "avoid" list. Also, good residency programs are very picky when it comes to where their residents attendeded med school. I once worked with a resident when I was in Detroit who attended a Caribbean school where less than half of the graduating class got into a US residency program.

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Do a google search for NP to MD it should give you a link

http://www.nptomd.org/

This is a program that is four years and considers your experience as an NP.

Been thinking long and hard on this myself. Graduated a year ago from NP school and just can't let the thought go.

I would highly recommend not going to this school. Foreign schools have a lot of problems compared to their US counterparts. There are those that are highly regarded (the UK, german and most australian schools), those that are accepted but with hurdles the graduates have to endure (SGU, Ross), and those where it is difficult for graduates to get residencies. This is the latter.

Foreign, Non-european schools tend to have major problems compared to the US:

1) Attrition- they tend to have a high drop-out/fail-out rate

2) Their USMLE pass rate is miserable

3) Their rotations are very subpar

4) Their ability to get residencies is very limited

From this school, it would be near impossible to get pretty much anything other than a family medicine residency, and even then, you would probably have difficulty getting an FM program to accept you. Do not underestimate the difficulty to get a residency in the US. No residency and all that money you spent means nothing.

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What do you all feel about a Nurse Practitioner to Medical Doctor bridge program?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Moved to NP forum.

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oh thanks :-) I'll check there

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I have a feeling that in years to come, which may be 10, 30 , or 50 years to come, they will have aNP to MD program

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I personally don't feel anything. There aren't currently any NP to MD "bridge" programs and there aren't likely to ever be any.

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Specializes in FNP.

Highly unlikely and highly undesirable. It is counterproductive to the stated goals of NPs, for one thing. There is no support for that politically in the NP organizations I am involved in (ACNP and AANP) and I can only imagine the outright hostility that any such proposal would be met with by the AMA, lol. No, I think we can safely say hell will freeze over long before this would be considered, and when it is considered, it will be immediately shot down.

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Specializes in FNP.

Answered this in the other thread, but no, I don't think they ever will. The NP organizations are firmly opposed, NPs are not likely to be interested in submitting to the AMA, and the AMA is not likely to ever approve such a thing. It's a nonstarter.

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It would probably be similar to the PA to MD bridge- a 3 year program followed by residency.

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