NP or MD

PA school, as a few pps suggest, seems like a great option here to consider!

If you have the financial means and time, go the MD route. More doors will open for you as there would be no practice restriction.

That said, if you go to NP school, yes I would say it's better to have experience first. For one, you'll learn how to talk with patients. Secondly, if you want a more leadership role (vs solely clinical practice), you will be able to draw on your experience for projects and such. You will also add to your resume before graduation, which is essential if you want a leadership position after graduation. If the experience is in an area you want to build your practice, even better. NPs do not get a lot of time to learn clinical practice in school (only about 1000 hrs of hands on clinical time), so whatever you can do to learn outside of school can only help.

Again, DNP vs MSN NP depends on if you want the leadership role. The extra classes in the DNP are in management, research utilization,etc. NOT clinical practice. If you imagine yourself forming and writing organization policis or leading and evaluating programs, then the DNP is probably more helpful. If you want to focus on treating patients, you would want the MSN.

Also to keep in mind, you can always start wit the MSN and go back to finish a DNP when you're at a point in your career to take on leadership roles. This is fairly common.

But I also agree with other posters. Focus on choosing your major (nursing or another degree for premed) first. If you decide on nursing, you will have plenty of time to figure out advanced nursing degrees. Good luck!

Actually, now that I think about it, I am not sure if PA is ideal for you in the sense of not liking "synthetic" medicine. PAs will generally have less autonomy than NPs (and obviously than MDs). That's not to say you have to just hand out pills to everyone in any of these roles. There is so much more to healthcare than that. However, I think you are going to want more autonomy to choose how much to focus on one thing or another.

As far as DO vs MD, I don't think that will matter so much. These days, the end result isn't that much different (other than some people having unsubstantiated bias against DOs). If that is the only thing holding you back, just do the MD.

I think the general consesnsus (from your counselor and most rns) is that becoming an NP requires experience. Why? Because your program will not have the extensive training and residency that mds get. That is why you NEED acute care experience. Docs have 4 years med school, a year of internship, and at least another of residency to learn their craft. NPs get a more limited training PLUS the experience they bring. Thats mainly it.

That makes a lot of sense. how much years of experience is thought to be appropriate?

Do you have a competitive MCAT?

I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but TEAS 6 overall is 92.7. I'm planning on doing MCAT in June.

Actually, now that I think about it, I am not sure if PA is ideal for you in the sense of not liking "synthetic" medicine. PAs will generally have less autonomy than NPs (and obviously than MDs). That's not to say you have to just hand out pills to everyone in any of these roles. There is so much more to healthcare than that. However, I think you are going to want more autonomy to choose how much to focus on one thing or another.

As far as DO vs MD, I don't think that will matter so much. These days, the end result isn't that much different (other than some people having unsubstantiated bias against DOs). If that is the only thing holding you back, just do the MD.

The NP program that is offered here in Hawaii says it's focused on "primary care" for FNPs. Does that mean I cannot sit for the Mental Health certification?

Good golly, this thread is not going well.

OP, my understanding is that you have not yet completed any college degree yet, correct? You have done some college courses, but not a full degree? It is a little unclear where you are at in the whole job/schooling progression of things, and that may affect the advice that you get here.

If you choose the NP route, I would agree with your counselor that going straight to DNP without work experience is not ideal. Gaining that work experience will likely mean working nights, weekends, a specialty that you don't like, and/or having to move away to a place with a better job market. With time being "of the essence", consider that at least two years of experience would be preferred and may even be required for some NP schools or specialties. If you have not yet gotten the bachelors degree, the time factor may not matter so much - both require a bachelors degree, and then either a MSN or med school. After that you will either be a resident MD, or a novice NP (both are paid positions).

Speaking of specialty, do you know which you would like to pursue? If you go the MD route, you will have several years before you are at the point of making that decision, but if you choose the NP route, you choose a specialty when you being your graduate degree and that will determine where you can use your degree (i.e. pediatrics, family, adult, acute care, primary care, neonatal care, mental health, etc.).

As far as DO vs. MD, sure, there are differences in the programs, but the type of healthcare provider that you become is up to you.

Are you unable to go to school outside of Hawaii?

Finally, have you considered physician assistant as another career option?

Good luck in your decisions!

I'm sorry my OP sounds confusing, I also think it's because most people are under the impression that you NEED a bachelors before you apply to medical school (the one I'm applying for doesn't) AND the fact that I'm stuck between NP and MD is reliant on my undergraduate degree.

Moving isn't an option for me. I'm really leaning more towards the NP route. It seems like there is more flexibility between specialties? Correct me if I'm wrong. However, it seems that if one wants to change specialties, it isn't easy. I'm interested in internal medicine and mental health. What are my options as an NP? The program here says it's focused on FNP but doesn't say much about other specialties...

Which med school are you inquiring that doesn't require a bachelors? I know for other countries, that is the route, but Hawaii being a state, I would imagine it follows US convention that requires bachelors degree?

Anyway, if time is of the essence and you can get into med school, you probably should as it will be either just as lengthy or a bit shorter than NP. I personally could've never gone to MD school, I just couldn't do org chem. It was the one course that kept me back. So kudos to you for making it.

Which med school are you inquiring that doesn't require a bachelors? I know for other countries, that is the route, but Hawaii being a state, I would imagine it follows US convention that requires bachelors degree?

JABSOM doesn't require a bachelors degree, just a minimum 90 credit-hours in specific areas.

Which med school are you inquiring that doesn't require a bachelors? I know for other countries, that is the route, but Hawaii being a state, I would imagine it follows US convention that requires bachelors degree?

Anyway, if time is of the essence and you can get into med school, you probably should as it will be either just as lengthy or a bit shorter than NP. I personally could've never gone to MD school, I just couldn't do org chem. It was the one course that kept me back. So kudos to you for making it.

John Burns SOM, o-chem was EXTREMELY challenging. But I'm really leaning towards the DNP, but I'm wondering about the specialties as an NP. I like mental health. Do you know anything about certifications? Do RN certifications serve the same purpose if you are a DNP???

^ that I can't answer, I'm just starting out as an RN myself. But I would probably guess no.

if you get/got 30+ on mcat do med school as long as you don't mind putting in 8 years of 80 hour weeks. do schools you can get in with a 25, which id hope anybody can make that can click boxes. not really much difference between do/md except you can't match the top 3-4 most competitive specialties as DO.

if you don't want to dedicate 80 hours per week get a few years of nursing exp under your belt then go for NP but still realize the career afterwards is just as difficult as a doctors without as much pay but still a very good career option.