Nurse practitioner or Medical Doctor

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am a former nursing major. Well I need up failing out of the program after 4 and a half years and I finished out with a Bachelor's of Arts. Regardless of my previous failure, I know that I want to help treat sick people so I refuse to let that discourage me. I am only 22 years old and want to go back to school to further my education. My question is I don't know if I should do a direct entry MSN program or take a year post baccalaureate pre med program and enroll in medical school. My passion is to take care of my patients and I do believe thathose who have so much passion are the ones that encounter so much difficulties. ..any suggestions please

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If you failed nursing school what makes you think being a doctor will be easier?

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Thanks ..and yeah I will widen my scope too

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Excuse me ? What sort of a question is that? I am not a 2 year old I am very well aware of the challenges of both fields and I am aware that they are very different and intensive. If you do not have positive suggestions then you don't need to comment and I bet you are a nurse too ? With such a nasty attitude?

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
He's at the beginning! lol. He starts med school in August. :) Thank goodness for his GI Bill!

Edited to add: then we get to do these shenanigans all over again in 4 years when he applies for residency. Hahaha!!! Slightly less painful than the original med school application, but matching into a residency program can be difficult as well. It literally sounds like a combination of The Lottery (great old Shirley Jackson story) and the Hunger Games.

I went thru matching with my husband, so I know what you're saying. One step at a time. The BEST news you've passed on here is that he has the GI bill. Distressing that some new MDs and others in professions graduate with such a tremendous amount of debt. A hard journey but worth it. Best wishes to you both. :-))

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Specializes in GENERAL.

Become an M.D. just go to a reputable medical school not some off-shore for-profit loan mill like Ross University run by DeVry. The internet is stock full of very well meaning students who were abolutely financially raped by these people. You are still young and if you have apptitude in the sciences go for the gold ring. While becoming an ARNP is good, it is still the consolation prize when it comes to medical practice. Many former NPs that I know who have become M.D.s have told me at least when doing primary care "why shouldn't I get the lion's ahare of the money when doing the same work?" This makes sense. By the way, in my first job 29 years ago I was talking to a doctor who was told in nursing school that she would never become a good nurse. At the time, I was speaking to her I believe her title was anesthesiogist. Trust me lots of losers in nursing and especially in education. But some are ok to be fair.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Excuse me ? What sort of a question is that? I am not a 2 year old I am very well aware of the challenges of both fields and I am aware that they are very different and intensive. If you do not have positive suggestions then you don't need to comment and I bet you are a nurse too ? With such a nasty attitude?

It might be helpful to utilize the "quote" feature when responding to people so we know which post you're referencing. Otherwise we can't really tell to whom you're directing your comment.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I went thru matching with my husband, so I know what you're saying. One step at a time. The BEST news you've passed on here is that he has the GI bill. Distressing that some new MDs and others in professions graduate with such a tremendous amount of debt. A hard journey but worth it. Best wishes to you both. :-))

Nice to hear about people who survived the match! lol. Yes, GI Bill + state medical school = very small amount of debt! His GI Bill covers 36 months, but it doesn't count the few months that he's not actively in school, so it should cover all but the last little bit. So awesome! We're both using our GI Bills, it's a fabulous benefit and I am so glad he saved his. He has some student loans from undergrad, but they're not terrible.

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There are many jobs in healthcare besides doctors and nurses.

What kind of role do you picture yourself doing? Some independent research and shadowing might point you in the right direction.

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My GPA is a 3.2. The requirements for the direct entry programs that I have looked at I completed during the BSN program begin I failed out. I have continued to NCLEX practice questions and worked on answering questions. I also have worked as a nurse's aide for 4 years now.

For what is worth it...

I think just looking at what happened with your previous attempt in nursing school it is important that you look critically why you failed that time and make sure that you are set up for success. Meaning, that if your main problem was academics in general (your GPA is on the low side for MSN programs) have you looked into what the major problem seems to be and addressed it? If it was life circumstances - have you changed what was holding you back? I think you get the idea and perhaps you have already looked at all of that.

As for medical school and NP - those are very different imo and provide different training. A NP is not a MD "light" . The focus with an MD is on diagnosing and treating. The NP can have a variety of roles, in some states you can not practice independently.

Your previous work experience as a nurse's aid will give you only partial insight into the nurse's role and while it is overall good to have some experience in the care of other people generally speaking, it does not prepare you really for the RN role or the advanced practice role. I would suggest that you look at your motivation (you write "caring") and what it means to you, how you imagine work could be meaningful to you and such and explore also other professions. Nursing or medical school is not the non plus ultra, there are other great options as well if you like the "caring" or "helping" aspect from social work to psychology to PT/OT/speech and swallow.

Besides that - financing and looking into acceptance and transfer of credits is an important step.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

You have just discovered some of the most unpleasant hallmarks of the nursing non-personality:

1. Maternal condescending (captain obvious) advice.

2. A proclivity for decorating their last names with a fruit salad of letters of the alphabet

(begging the question: "maybe you want a medal?"

3. Oh yeah, not answering the question. "What was that question again? I was too busy thinking about myself and filing my nails."

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Is there a reason you've discounted PA school? At only 2 years long, the program will cost less, especially with regards to lost earnings. You'd have fewer loans to repay and you have the relevant experience most PA programs require to apply. There's also at least 1 shortened DO program for PAs if you decide in the future to go to medical school afterall. There is the issue around independent practice, it's just whether that's an issue for you.

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If you failed nursing school what makes you think being a doctor will be easier?

My earlier comment was referred to you. Do you have kids??your comment is unnecessary. Of course I am aware of the challenges in both programs. If you don't have any positive suggestions don't stay on here

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