older students- RN to MD?

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I am an older student about to start nursing school in the fall. I was wondering if there are any older students out there who are in nursing school and plan on going on to medical school. Or older nurses who are in or plan to attend medical school. For those that are, did you find age to be a problem in your endeavors? Did you graduate and secure a job as an RN before attending medical school? Did you continue to work while attending medical school? How did you fund your schooling? How many years do you have left in school?

I'm just curious for now. I have thought about attending medical school, but I have two young children, and I think I may have to wait until after they graduate if I decide to go that route. I'm 28 now, and I would be 37 when the youngest graduates. Am I just too old?

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Specializes in Emergency.

I have been running this in my head over and over and over again. Im 22, I will be 23 in Sept and finish nursing school when I'm 25. I plan on working as a RN for 2 years, maybe 3, and in that time I plan on taking the courses for Med school, and studying for the MCAT, so thats probably a year or so. I'll be around 28 when I start and finish when I'm 32. Look at it this way, you will still have a G O O D amount of time to work as a physician. As far as kids, its doable. I have a 5 month old, so he will be in school, so no worries about daycare. I think if it's what you truly want to do, then do it. A lot of people will say if you want to be a doctor, go to med school. I don't necessarily believe in that. Things happen. I think nursing is a great thing to do before being a doctor. It will give you the opportunity to realize if nursing is what you want to do, or being a doctor. Just go for it. I am not completely sure if that is what I want to do, but if I do not pursue med school, I will become a FNP, and try to open my own clinic. My advice would be just to sit down and thoroughly think of your goals and plans and see where med school falls. As far as funding, all I can say is that there is student loans, and there will be a lot of them, so be prepared for excessive debt. But I dont think its excessive if its truly what you want to do.

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Well, I can't give you first hand advice, but I am a similar age (29) and will start an ADN program in the Spring. I fully plan to get a BS, then apply for a MS program to become a practitioner. When the kids are older...I won't say graduated...I have some tentative plans to apply to med school. I don't think age matters, and 37 is NOT too old, imo. You get one mind, one life, and a both are a terrible thing to waste. Plus, the way I see it, we need to be doing something we like, that we can do for nearly the rest of our lives cause by the time we get out of med school who knows what the retirement age will be, lol. Seriously though, I want a job that I don't have to retire from till they kick me out:D

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Specializes in ccu, med surg, ltc, home health.

I agree that your not too old. Get your Rn then go from there.You may love being a nurse and continue from there or you may work as a Rn for a while then get you md. I was 32 when I got my RN. I'm 35 now and am planning getting my BSN within the next 2 yrs. I am seriously considering becoming a forsenic pathologist

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Well, I can't give you first hand advice, but I am a similar age (29) and will start an ADN program in the Spring. I fully plan to get a BS, then apply for a MS program to become a practitioner. When the kids are older...I won't say graduated...I have some tentative plans to apply to med school. I don't think age matters, and 37 is NOT too old, imo. You get one mind, one life, and a both are a terrible thing to waste. Plus, the way I see it, we need to be doing something we like, that we can do for nearly the rest of our lives cause by the time we get out of med school who knows what the retirement age will be, lol. Seriously though, I want a job that I don't have to retire from till they kick me out:D

I know it's not that old. But it feels old for a student. I know there are students out there older than me. I guess part of it is also wanting to be successful NOW, instead of being a bit more successful LATER. I don't know. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in ER.

You make it sound like you're 50 years old. I know students older than 50 and pursuing an RN degree. I am 32 with a BSN, and I still want to advance my education after at least 2 or 3 years of experience. Nobody's too old for an education, I say go for it!!!! Just make sure you have that balance in your life in terms of diet, exercise and peace of mind in order to keep you active and young!

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You make it sound like you're 50 years old. I know students older than 50 and pursuing an RN degree. I am 32 with a BSN, and I still want to advance my education after at least 2 or 3 years of experience. Nobody's too old for an education, I say go for it!!!! Just make sure you have that balance in your life in terms of diet, exercise and peace of mind in order to keep you active and young!

I know I'm not that old, as I said in a reply above. But my question was more about being too old to be a doctor at almost 45 or so. Anyway, I feel old now among my ten-years-younger peers, and that's all that really matters.:mad:

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Just curious why not interested in advanced practice nursing? It would be less schooling and you could still be a provider.

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Specializes in Just started in HH.
I know I'm not that old, as I said in a reply above. But my question was more about being too old to be a doctor at almost 45 or so. Anyway, I feel old now among my ten-years-younger peers, and that's all that really matters.:mad:

Well, should I ever decide to pursue an MD degree, I'd be about 60 years young when I'd start getting paid for my services. :D How's that for starting later in life? My take on age is it's a state of mind...that's how I' see it...though when I was in my 20s, I honestly thought 60 was ancient. Ha, how time has a way of changing your thinking. :)

Your question about being "too old" to be a doctor at almost 45 is probably more a concern you have about how your "baby" peers will perceive you. To that, I say very respectfully, "who cares?" If you're called to be a doctor in your wiser years, age shouldn't be a hindrance. As long as you have a passion for medicine, are in good health, and your mind is intact, pursue your dream. Heck, I'd be your patient simply because you'd have more life experience than the "baby" doctors...;)

You should know I returned to pursue my nursing degree at 47 years young/old...uhhh, I felt a wee bit out of place among the teeny bopper students, as I saw them, but managed to get over it. After all, I wasn't there for them. Yes, at times, it felt like I was attending school with my kids. :) I was 2nd to the oldest in our class; my dear friend was 52 years young. If we did it, you can too.

I wish you much success in your pursuits.

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I asked this same question to a friend, and she gave the best advice ever. "You could be 60 and NOT a doctor." I say go for it.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Skip nursing and go straight to medical school. Medical school and residency are going to take a lot out of you life as will nursing school and gaining experience as a nurse. You should decide, either nursing or doctor. They are very different professions.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Agree with PeteyPie. Working towards a goal is fulfilling. I have friends who did the RN-MD route and they each received money from loans or had an employer backing them (contract deal). One worked as office RN for cardiologist, then heart profusionist (spelling?) then MD. Still working at the same clinic.

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