NP or MD

[HIstudent808]

Please bare with me on this post, I'm considering going MD but time is of the essence and NPs here in Hawaii aren't really 100% autonomy (because the hospital/clinic you work at determines most of your restrictions) ALSO, I'd really like to have some insight from a current DNP or MS, NP. Someone who recently graduated and if you'd be able to share with me some of the curriculum. Also, I've been told by my counselor that I SHOULD NOT go straight from BSN to DNP without working first.....I really like the job of Doctors and have leadership skills that I'd really be able to implement in their roles, I just know that this is my calling, but I don't like the "synthetic" approach (what I refer to as "prescribing medicine for everything") I love DO! but there are no schools here, I need nurses insight on this from every aspect. To add, I want to apologize to anyone if my post is found offensive. Thank you in advanced.

NOTE: I've completed pre requisites for both nursing (at ADN and BSN levels) and med school.

EDIT!!!! - The pre requisites for BOTH the MD and NURSING PROGRAMS are NOT apart of my bachelors degrees. I only have ONE med school I'd be applying to, HERE in Hawaii and NO, you do NOT need a bachelors to apply but it IS recommended because most people do. I don't appreciate the HATE I'm seeing in some of these posts. For those of you who've responded to help me, thank you so much. It makes sense and I'd really like to get more insight on the NP profession. Additionally, how do you become certified in certain areas? Mental health, peds, etc?

[BirkieGirl]

I guess you need to ask yourself which model suits you more. Medical model is going to be more focused on cure- disease treatment, surgery, etc., whereas nurses are going to focus more on care. Nurses are going to look more at holistic type care-whole person, disease management, etc

I was all set to go medicine and went away to a university in my state, became horribly homesick and went home. the college closest to me offered nursing so I decided to go that route. I've always had regrets for that decision, because I would still love to be a doctor. But for me, FNP will do. I don't worry about job security at all, in my area of the US, NPs pretty much are taking over family medicine. I say if you have the option, really think the option through.

RN= BSN, 4ish years of preparation...then NP training-another 3ish years

Doc= pre-med+MCAT...4 yrs med school then 4+ years residency depending on specialty...possible fellowship if needed...

Also research the actual matriculation rate at the med school you are looking at too.

[PG2018]

Med school:

Daydream about sundry medical specialties and sox figure incomes

Chem I

Chem II

Organic I

Organic II

Physics I

Physics II

2 Biology Courses

Some schools demans specific bio courses, others don't

You must have great grades

You've got take all the labs

Some schools have a math requirement: trig or cal I

You have got to have shadowing or other health related experience

You generally need to have volunteered and done something otherwise fruitful for the community (which I think os absurd for a school requirement)

Take the MCAT

Apply with AMCAs or whatever it's called or the osteopathic version

Interview

Maybe interview again

Gap year

Bachelor's degree

Matriculate

Nursing varies way too widely to easily describe admissions. If you have done or can do the above and are ok with med school conceptually and financially then jump on that ride and hang on.

[Aromatic]

never understood the volunteering part. funny that money hungry schools want altruistic students. probably bc more super-hyper altruistic people won't btch about ridiculous tuition.

[Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP]

I would recommend Med school since you'll have full autonomy regardless of the state you're in to practice. The only thing is that you can't begin to use your degree until you're done with school. If you want to do more of the hands on, be able to work and utilize what you're learning in school while being paid for it, etc, then I think being an NP is a better route to go. You'll just have to go through the RN stepping stone, which, depending on what you're looking for could be a good thing or a bad thing.

[laurenlv]

Very disheartening to see all the rude responses. What is wrong with you people? She is asking a QUESTION. If you have a problem with it, don't answer it! Move along! She doesn't have to be admitted anywhere to get ADVICE.

Anyway, to answer your question. To become an MD/DO, it will be a longer road for you. 4 years med school, min 3 years residency usually, and an additional 2-3+ years if you want to specialize. For most schools, especially top schools, you will need a bachelors. You will also need a competitive mcat score and science gpa. You will have more responsibility, liability, independence and definitely a higher salary. They are taught strictly on a hard science model. (This disease, this medicine). This doesn't mean you have to practice this way. There are many doctors that combine this model with a hollistic approach. If this is what you want, go for it! Don't let location limit what schools you can go to.

For the NP: Less schooling, less competitive getting in than med school, less indepence (in most states), less responsibility (if you are under a MD) and lower salary, but a comfortable one. It could be a very comfortable salary depending on where you live and your lifestyle. You will need a BSN or a Bachelors in another area if you are entering into an entry level program. If you have your BSN, you can get your NP at the masters level in 2 years, or at the doctorate level (DNP) in 3-4 years depending if you choose full or p/t study while you work. You choose your speciality when going into a program such as family, peds, mental health, acute care etc.. These specialties are more general therefore if you want something more specific like gastro or oncology, you work under a doctor that specializes in what you desire and he/she will train you. NP programs make you work while you study because the amount of training that is needed is not fully provided in the program, hence why these program make you work while you study.

In the end of the day, NPs and MDs overlap in many duties but the main differences between them are years of schooling, responsibility, liability, and salary.

Best of luck with your decision!

[Jules A, MSN]

NP programs make you work while you study because the amount of training that is needed is not fully provided in the program, hence why these program make you work while you study.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. In my experience most of the fresh faced little darlings s/p high school who just graduated with their BSN aren't working as a nurse or anything else cause Mummy and Daddy continue to pay tuition for them to become a NP. No nursing experience needed, pay the University, take one or two pharm courses and bingo you have the ability to prescribe medication.

[chiromed0]

Think you need more info. Going MD vs NP is not apples to apples. They are completely different roads. I've kind of done both but not medical school, just pre-med then chiro school...close enough. First, the pre-med basic sciences are a LOT of work to go back and do and you stand no chance of getting in without them, period. Second, the MCAT is a beast in and of itself and requires a lot of time to prepare to take, there's a strategy to it and just jumping in isn't going to work, usually. Then there's the waiting list. Just b/c you deserve to get in doesn't mean you will, especially if it's just ONE school. You have to be willing to apply (strategically) to anywhere in the US that you can get in to for the NEXT year! Not the current one. So you need to talk to a counselor about this b/c it's not a choice of "this or that" academically. If you want to be a physician then be that...if you want to be an advanced practice nurse then be that! Otherwise you are wasting valuable time with fantasies...concentrate on one field and just do it...