Nursing and Pre Med

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · May 7, 2009

Can you clarify what you mean by taking "pre-med?" I know that at my college (keep in mind this was over 10 years ago), pre-med meant majoring in a science (typically biology or chemistry) with the intent of applying to medical school. I think these students (I had a few friends who went this route) had special advisors who kept on top of them to make sure they were taking the appropriate courses which medical schools required.

If I were you, I would check to see what your college specifies as pre-med and see what courses they list as required. Maybe there is the possibility that you could minor in bio or chem? I, personally, couldn't imagine doing both the BSN program and a pre-med program - they both require way too much work alone. However, if you feel you could handle the course loads, then by all means contact your college's pre-med or science dept. and see what they suggest.

Best wishes to you! :)

ETA: I'm sure you could apply to med school with a BSN degree, you would just have to make sure that you have the appropriate science courses also which you may not get in your BSN program.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · May 7, 2009

I think if it's what you want to do, then go for it. If it were me, I wouldn't do both at the same time....it'll be too much. Good luck to you!!

Columnist · May 7, 2009

There are many threads that discuss this. You might find some helpful information in them.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/med-school-after-385682.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/medical-school-vs-366238.html

https://allnurses.com/post-graduate-nursing/nursing-med-school-361078.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/nurses-going-med-369015.html

Good luck with your decision!

HumptyDumpty · May 7, 2009

There are many options you could follow through with. Pre-med requirements are usually just Biology1-2, Chemistry 1-2, Organic chemistry 1-2, and physics 1-2. I would highly recommend taking additional classes in biology, such as Physiology, Histology, Immunology, etc... I would not recommend taking organic chemistry on top of nursing classes though, it is an extremely demanding class. Organic chemistry is an extremely difficult class, nursing courses have nothing on it. You might consider taking an additional year of undergrad courses to knock out the pre-med course work. Medical school admissions would look highly on a BSN as long as you have all the pre-reqs completed. (My first BS was in biology and chemistry, but I decided to go the NP route because it fits more into my life plans and goals) Send me a private message if you have any questions, I have had a lot of buddies go the medical/dental (which is the same) routes.

Bicster · May 7, 2009

Medical school admissions would look highly on a BSN as long as you have all the pre-reqs completed.

Med schools care about: GPA, rigor of schedule/school, MCAT, letters of rec., and something that makes you stand out.

Also, come up with a better line than liking the challenge of Biology. They are going to want to know why you took up space in a nursing program if nursing wasnt your intention.

mom35 · May 7, 2009

I say, "awesome"!! I have fantasized about medical school, however I am 36 and just accepted into NS. I think it would be the ultimate!! So go for it and good luck:bow:

Sharingan · May 8, 2009

It is very possible and I'm sure people are doing it (or have done it). Depending on your school, you might be able to squeeze in some Bio/Chem/Physics/Math classes during Summer. Basically, you need 2 classes of Bio (mostly just general basic ones), 2 classes of General (Inorganic) Chem, 2 classes of Organic Chem, 2 classes of Physics and at least 1 College-level Math (Calculus would be good). These are the minimum.

So, with your BSN, I assume that they'll make you take social-science classes anyway. Thus, all you need to be concerned with is getting all the science prerequisites done. Staying 1 extra year is not a bad thing. Also, another very important thing is to study and do well on the MCAT. It's a big, big factor. You won't get anywhere without a good MCAT score.

Beside these, I also agree with Bicster that you need to have a good reason for wanting to switch profession. Other than that, I'd say go for it. It's your life, do the best you can and be the best you can be. Good luck!!

jjjoy, LPN · May 12, 2009

Just know that being in a BSN program isn't usually just a matter of declaring a major and choosing from a list of nursing classes offered each term. It's a professional program like med school or vet school or culinary school or beauty school. There's often a set track that all students take from day 1 through graduation. You have to apply for entry to the program and it's usually a fairly self-contained full-time curriculum for 2-3 years. There are limited spots in each program (maybe 30-100 per school) and these days there's LOTS of competition for those spots. So you can imagine why you might be discouraged from going through nursing school if you're planning to immediately apply for med school afterwards.

A big part of nursing school is making sure students will be able to pass the licensing exam - the NCLEX, so much of the testing throughout school is geared to mimic NCLEX testing. In my opinion, the more you enjoy the sciences, the more frustrating NCLEX-style questions can seem as they can often be more about how carefully you read the question (supposedly testing your "critical thinking") as opposed to how well you know about various conditions, treatments, etc. It can be frustrating to have studied and learned so much about various conditions but that knowledge may not much be tested on exams.

The depth of instruction in nursing school is also a consideration. As a biology-lover myself, I was again frustrated at the way a ton of material was rushed over with little opportunity to sink one's teeth in. We supposedly were covering 1000 page nursing texts in each 10 week terms. That meant lectures were usually the instructor just regurgitating the 3-minute version of signs, symptoms, treatments, pathophys, and nursing considerations of one condition after another, no time for questions, discussions, looking at the big picture or delving into the details. I always much preferred the more in depth version of courses as opposed to the cursory "non-major" equivalent of a subject. While it was a ton more work, I much more enjoyed OChem 101than OChem 1A. I discovered that nursing coursework was often more at the level of OChem 1A.

Basically, what I'm suggesting is that if you love bio, study bio. If you want to be a nurse, go to nursing school. If you want to be a doctor, go to med school. If you're not sure whether you want to be a doctor or nurse, you could consider majoring in bio (taking pre-reqs for the schools), and then get as close to the medical field as you can... volunteer in a hospital, become an EMT or nursing assistant and work part-time / summers in the medical field, etc.

Just thoughts! Best wishes to you!

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · May 12, 2009

A big part of nursing school is making sure students will be able to pass the licensing exam - the NCLEX, so much of the testing throughout school is geared to mimic NCLEX testing. In my opinion, the more you enjoy the sciences, the more frustrating NCLEX-style questions can seem as they can often be more about how carefully you read the question (supposedly testing your "critical thinking") as opposed to how well you know about various conditions, treatments, etc. It can be frustrating to have studied and learned so much about various conditions but that knowledge may not much be tested on exams.

Actually, it depends what school you go to - in some places where roughly half the biology students are premed (like my undergrad) the tests are often geared to look like MCAT questions, which also do the "which answer is the most correct" thing that the NCLEX does. So far, I've been one of the students least thrown by the test questions since they're similar in style/format to the ones I saw when I sat the MCAT.

jjjoy, LPN · May 12, 2009

Actually, it depends what school you go to - in some places where roughly half the biology students are premed (like my undergrad) the tests are often geared to look like MCAT questions, which also do the "which answer is the most correct" thing that the NCLEX does. So far, I've been one of the students least thrown by the test questions since they're similar in style/format to the ones I saw when I sat the MCAT.

I'm wondering if you have taken any NCLEX-style tests? Even more specifically, taken any nursing school NCLEX-style test? Unlike actual NCLEX test bank questions, nursing school NCLEX-style test questions may not have been through a rigorous control process before being put on a test. There is often very little background info given so you must make assumptions and it can at times be rather vague even what the question is *really* asking. Sometimes, the right answer has more to do with matching the question stem and answer (You are assessing Pt Smith who has condition A, B & C; what do you do first? a. instruct X b. look at Y c. administer Z; correct answer b. b/c answers a. and c. aren't assessing) than about whether or not you know how to properly assess something. I find those types of questions annoying.

I'll admit to not having taken MCAT style questions but I sure hope they are nothing like NCLEX style questions!

Bicster · May 12, 2009

Unlike actual NCLEX test bank questions, nursing school NCLEX-style test questions may not have been through a rigorous control process before being put on a test.

Such a great point.

I loved taking the HESI at the end of last semester, I was finally tested on valid, well thought out and reasoned questions, instead of the purposely misleading, poorly written ones my "professors" came up with.