Nursing to Med School

minniebrown · Nov 14, 2013

Like some of the other people here, I considered going to med school and I have taken all of the prerequisites with my previous degree. One of my parents is a physician, so I'm able to see that the fields are different. I'm still in school, so I can't fully articulate the differences, but the focus is different as well as the approach. I still have thoughts about going to medical school, but I won't do it because it would probably kill me.

ellaballet · Nov 15, 2013

Lol if you ever want to get someone worked up, ask a PA what the difference between a NP and PA is and why ones a doctoral and ones a masters level. My boyfriend just graduated PA school and whenever people bring this up the kid wont shut up.

People can say what they want about docorate vs physician blah blah blah, I just know I'm ****** at myself for wasting 4 years pre med plus all the effort of studying and taking the mcats when I could have just gone and done nursing right from the start. Hindsight bias is 20/20, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. If you really know what you want to do, don't beat around the bush and just go for it. While yes, nursing will provide you with experience in the medical field its an extremely long way to go about doing it. Shadow a doctor for a summer or something. Volunteer. Save yourself the money lol.

unionnurse12 · Nov 15, 2013

I worked for a pulmonary doctor who took this course to become a doctor. At 18 she became a RN...at 21 BSN...at 24 went to medical school...U can tell she was a nurse first by the way she interacts with her patients. She is a wonderful pulmonary doctor and despite being paralyzed from the waist down due to falling out of her attic during her fellowship she over came it all and now runs a very successful practice.

In the words of old blue eyes.."I did it my way"

vitamingirl722 · Nov 16, 2013

Lol, wow at some of the things I read in this thread... My gyno is a DNP at a major hospital in my state... everyone refers to her as doctor so-and-so. Her coat obviously states her credentials (ARNP), also when I go to my family doctor everyone in the office refers to the PA I see as "doctor so-and-so", his coat also has his credentials. :sarcastic:

Anyways, I like many other pre-nursing majors thought about going the MD route but do your research and make the personal decision what path you want to take. I rather be an RN and work my way up in my field as I see fit for myself.

Juiliana · Nov 22, 2013

I am also considering this path as well, not as a MD but as a PA. There is less schooling than a MD and DNP.I thought about being a DNP, however, I think being a PA you have more freedom to pick your specialty than a DNP. My aunt is a Medical Doctor, she has no life, no husband, no kids and she is miserable. She is considering leaving the profession. I don't care about being a Medical Doctor for the title or the status. It's not worth the student loans and 72 hour shifts.

I rather be a PA than DNP because I can choose any specialty without a residency. I can freely choose to do Dermatology today and then do Surgery tomorrow. DNPs and MDs don't have that freedom. They are stuck with one specialty unless they are willing to go back to school to change their specialty. I feel like as a PA, I will have a LIFE. I will have a Physician to fall back on if I need help, but he does not have to be physically there to watch my every move. You can get to do everything a Physician does because you go through two years of medical school with medical students. It is more advanced than DNP. In some states, PAs can ever have their own practice like DNPs. Some Physicians I have talked to would choose a PA over a DNP because they are more advanced and their training is based on the medical model. The DNP will always be looked at as an Nurse. However, some places rather have DNPs because of their years of experience as a Nurse.

That is just my 50 cents. I hope this helps.

allnurses Guide · Nov 22, 2013

I am also considering this path as well not as a MD but as a PA. There is less schooling than a MD and DNP.I thought about being a DNP, however, I think being a PA you have more freedom to pick your specialty than a DNP. My aunt is a Medical Doctor, she has no life, no husband, no kids and she is miserable. She is considering leaving the profession. I don't care about being a Medical Doctor for the title or the status. It's not worth the student loans and 72 hour shifts. I rather be a PA than DNP because I can choose any specialty without a residency. I can freely choose to do Dermatology today and then do Surgery tomorrow. DNPs and MDs don't have that freedom. They are stuck with one specialty unless they are willing to go back to school to change their specialty. I feel like as a PA, I will have a LIFE. I will have a Physician to fall back on if I need help, but he does not have to be physically there to watch my every move. You can get to do everything a Physician does because you go through two years of medical school with medical students. It is more advanced than DNP. In some states, PAs can ever have their own practice like DNPs. Some Physicians I have talked to would choose a PA over a DNP because they are more advanced and their training is based on the medical model. The DNP will always be looked at as an Nurse. However, some places rather have DNPs because of their years of experience as a Nurse. That is just my 50 cents. I hope this helps.[/quote']
Many inaccuracies in this.
But good luck in your path and career.

elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 23, 2013

Oh the misconceptions..

Dranger · Nov 23, 2013

I am also considering this path as well, not as a MD but as a PA. There is less schooling than a MD and DNP.I thought about being a DNP, however, I think being a PA you have more freedom to pick your specialty than a DNP. My aunt is a Medical Doctor, she has no life, no husband, no kids and she is miserable. She is considering leaving the profession. I don't care about being a Medical Doctor for the title or the status. It's not worth the student loans and 72 hour shifts.
I rather be a PA than DNP because I can choose any specialty without a residency. I can freely choose to do Dermatology today and then do Surgery tomorrow. DNPs and MDs don't have that freedom. They are stuck with one specialty unless they are willing to go back to school to change their specialty. I feel like as a PA, I will have a LIFE. I will have a Physician to fall back on if I need help, but he does not have to be physically there to watch my every move. You can get to do everything a Physician does because you go through two years of medical school with medical students. It is more advanced than DNP. In some states, PAs can ever have their own practice like DNPs. Some Physicians I have talked to would choose a PA over a DNP because they are more advanced and their training is based on the medical model. The DNP will always be looked at as an Nurse. However, some places rather have DNPs because of their years of experience as a Nurse.
That is just my 50 cents. I hope this helps.

Check your facts next time, the only reason I'd be a PA over an NP is in the military. PAs do all of the fun stuff and have a lot more autonomy. NPs are mostly used in clinics or not at all (At least in the military spectrum). I find this odd because CRNAs are used A LOT....

calivianya, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2013

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I think it's a great idea to be a nurse before becoming a doctor. Everyone who's saying to just go to med school obviously doesn't care about money or really likes taking out huge student loans. If you are not independently wealthy, I think it's a fantastic idea to work and save up a significant amount of money before going to med school so you have something to live off of while you're taking classes without taking out loans for living expenses, too. I know I'm planning not to go back to grad school until I have at least $20,000 in the bank. So, if you're going to work and get some money before going through an educational program that costs more than a really nice house where I live, why not go ahead and get experience in healthcare while you're doing it? Why not go ahead and get a job that pays decently enough that you are able to save while you are working? Nursing checks off both of those boxes very nicely. I dare you to find any other job that starts at $20/hr and up right out of school that you can get with only three years of college. There aren't a ton. I know a lot of people with a lot more schooling than that making under $15/hr.

Not to mention - being a nurse first will make you a fabulous doctor. The friendliest doctors I know with the best bedside manners were nurses first.

Side note: I don't get what the big deal about the title of doctor is on this thread. Someone with a doctorate is a doctor, period - whether it's in medicine, nursing, philosophy, or underwater basket weaving. Physicians do not have a monopoly on a word that is the title of a degree. It would be like nurses with a MSN saying everyone had to call them "Masters" and that no one else could ever use that word for any reason. It's just silly.

allnurses Guide · Nov 24, 2013

The title thing is really a non-issue.

The only time it ever bothers me in the slightest is when an intern rounds with me, I have to sign their plans, and they get to be called Dr. Intern and I go by my first name.

It really doesn't matter in the long run.

jjjones9009 · Nov 24, 2013

Whoever started this "Posting"....I don't know why your asking for people opinions about this. Make your own choice, you only live once, and nobody else will live your life but you. Some people say it's stupid or a waste of time to go to nursing school and then med school...and it may be. BUT this is your life; do what you want to do.

so_good124 · Nov 28, 2013

no I wouldn't do this. you should become a nurse and then continue on to be a nurse practitioner or crna. nurse practitioners often do the same work as a physician assistant .