Nursing and then some to MD?

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So here is an idea I had. I am a CNA right now and one of my patients said he had a degree in NP and a Ph.D in Psychology and said because he is so well off in his medical stuff he has taken a lot of the courses he needed to be a doctor. He could do it soon if he wanted to.

I was wondering...

If I get a Paramedic degree, a PA degree, and NP...would I still need to do 8 years to be a doctor or because I have so much medical practice am I just to do a few classes and then clinicals or what?

John

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I'm not sure about the requirements, but if your really interested in becoming a MD why don't you start on that path now?

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I'm not sure about the requirements, but if your really interested in becoming a MD why don't you start on that path now?

Because I don't think I can pay for it on a CNA salary. Plus I want the experience. I'd like to go this path, but was wondering of the ability to do it the way I asked. Is it at all possible? Does it get classes out the way?

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Specializes in CVICU, CRNA.
So here is an idea I had. I am a CNA right now and one of my patients said he had a degree in NP and a Ph.D in Psychology and said because he is so well off in his medical stuff he has taken a lot of the courses he needed to be a doctor. He could do it soon if he wanted to. I was wondering... If I get a Paramedic degree a PA degree, and NP...would I still need to do 8 years to be a doctor or because I have so much medical practice am I just to do a few classes and then clinicals or what? John[/quote'] Your way seems a lot more expensive in the long run not to mention a lot more difficult. All you need for med school is a bachelors degree in any area with core prerequisite: 1 yr of science, math, and physics. These upper level courses aren't standard in PA or NP pre-reqs so therefore would not save you time on medical schooling. Of course the PA degree would get you your bachelors (or masters depending on the program) but you would still need to finish pre-reqs, go to 4 years of med school, 4 years of residency and possibly a fellowship. That's 8 years minimum on top of what would seemingly take 8 years minimum to complete all the degrees you listed. Simply not a feasible route in my opinion.
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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I am not sure why you would go to both PA and NP school then to medical school. They are all separate disciplines (and therefore there is no shortening of school) with 3-4 years of postgraduate work plus residency. And it gains you nothing in functionality.

Your friend with the NP and PhD is no closer to a medical degree than a new grad premed BA/BS, and actually may be behind them.

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Just because they're both health careers doesn't mean they're similar schooling.

Start with your bachelor degree and go from there.

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Then how do I get to MD? I mean I know I have to do my 8 years but I mean I need a good medical paying job to get some experience to be a doctor so I don't go in blind, plus I can have the money saved up so I don't need to work too much during school.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You get a bachelors degree that includes the pre-requisite courses and apply to medical school. PA or APN/MSN are not going to reduce the 4+ years for a bachelors and 8+ years for medical school, internship & residency.

Medical school does not require a medical job or medical experience. Nursing is a nursing model of care not a pre-req to medical school.

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You get a bachelors degree that includes the pre-requisite courses and apply to medical school. PA or APN/MSN are not going to reduce the 4+ years for a bachelors and 8+ years for medical school, internship & residency.

Medical school does not require a medical job or medical experience. Nursing is a nursing model of care not a pre-req to medical school.

I understand that but what I'm saying is because as a nurse you know what Lovanox is and what hydrocodone, morphine, Advil, etc. where as a regular person knows. You know the types of diseases because you have healed people with them. That doesn't all count towards MD, knowing all this stuff for nursing? Or NP? PA? Etc. Especially PA where you do a lot of doctor-type stuff.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Especially PA where you do a lot of doctor-type stuff.

You don't need any healthcare experience to be a PA or an MD. It may benefit you in practice but it is not required. In fact, healthcare majors tend to perform worse on MCAT.

To be an NP and do "doctor-type stuff" you need to be a nurse first.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Your ideas are not very good I am afraid to tell you. You won't need to save money, though it would not hurt. You do not need health care experience to be a doctor. You can not get credit for past experience in medical school.

The irony is that the path to completing medical school is often shorter than that for NP. You can be a doctor in residency less than 3 years after graduating from college

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Being an NP or a PA will not mean you can skip med school or the prerequisites for med school.

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