PhD in chemistry => NP. Sane change?

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I am a 30 year old graduate student (at a sort of second tier program) who should get a Ph. D. in chemistry either in may or over the summer. My undergrad degree was with a BS in chemistry (~3.6 GPA 3.8 in major courses), I have been lucky to have gotten a 4.0 in my graduate courses. I took the GRE in 1999 and got a combined ~2070 (600 Verbal/700 Quant/ 770 Analytical) and I got a (respectable) 690 on the chemistry subject test. I've been primary author on 4 papers, and co-author on 3. I've won a few awards, and am relatively sure I could get at least 3 good references from faculty.

I have taken neither college level biology nor psychology, and only one undergrad level biochem class.

For a variety of reasons (not least of which is that time goes, the life of being an academic becomes less and less attractive), I'm seriously considering a career change, and becoming a nurse practitioner has entered my mind (it's something I considered doing as an undergrad, but life took me in another direction - my mother talked me out of nursing and into chemistry.)

Because I know relatively few people who I can talk to about this (at least before I get more serious about it) I'd like to ask a few questions here. By senior year of undergrad I knew what I was getting into for chemistry grad programs, but this is well outside my experience.

1. I strongly suspect that if I decide to do this, I'll spend next year clearing up prereqs. A&P, microbiology, psyche, etc. I've taken a grad level course in statistical physics, but I suspect I need to take a statistics class anyway (because I've never taken it). This one is not so much a question as an observation.

2. Do you think I'll need to retake the GRE? A few places explicitly say that a previous grad degree takes care of that requirement, but not everywhere. What do you think?

3. In the year that I plan to spend doing prereqs, should I try and volunteer at a hospital or some other medical facility? I guess it can't hurt, but I want other people's opinions as to how important it will be.

4. *I* know that this has sort of been on my mind for a while, but I'm afraid that an interviewer will think that this is strange ... I worry that I'll drop everything here, not do a postdoc, get thru to apply to nursing programs/direct entry np programs and not get past the interview, in the process screwing everything up ;) Should I worry much about this? Are people admitted to direct entry programs usually coming from this far away in their training?

5. Should I try and get into a direct entry program or start with a BSN? I basically plan to apply to both as plan A&B respectively.

6. Is the quality of the school you go to a big factor in determining where you wind up? Are there schools you just need to avoid? Basically in chemistry, there's a heirarchy. People who go to like 5 schools get most of the good jobs. Is the NP profession like that?

7. I'm sure I could go on with chemistry, and be relatively happy, but this *feels* like the last chance I'll have to make a change like this, and it feels right, but at the same time it feels crazy and a little dangerous. I guess this is a yes/no question. Crazy?

I'm sure there's more I've forgotten, but this feels like a good start. Thanks for listening.

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They're not going to make you do pre-reqs to get into a nursing program. Seriously. A lot of them let you do micro and stuff along with the nursing - that's what I'm doing now - and you'll be snapped up like gold.

Just apply. Go for an ADN. Your bazillion science degrees will stand you in very good stead for employment, you can start working quickly, and then you can do the BSN online if you want, although I'm betting a lot of MSN programs would let you right in with just the ADN.

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1. If you plan on applying to a direct-entry MSN program (which I believe would be the best choice for you), you will have to complete some pre-reqs. Your chemistry degree and list of accomplishments are quite impressive, but this will not excuse you from taking the basic required courses. I would check with the schools in which you are interested. Many schools require that the courses are taken within the last 5 years, so this is something else to consider.

2. The GRE is required for many direct-entry programs, but it depends on the school. These scores must be within the last 5 years.

3. Volunteering may be valuable for your situation. First, you want to be certain that this is what you want to do with your life. It will also look good to the schools. Most direct-entry programs are very competetive and it would help to show that you are serious about this career choice.

4. I don't think that an interviewer would find your situation strange at all! I think it's wonderful! We need people who are dedicated to the profession. People in direct-entry programs come from a variety of backgrounds and former careers.

5. I believe that the direct-entry program would be your best choice. You have waited long enough to do this.

6. Many people on this site will tell you that the quality of the school doesn't really matter. In the end, if you are able to get the job that you want, I guess it doesn't. The hierarchy that exists in chemistry is probably not there in nursing. Personally, I would not attend just any school. You want to look at several factors including the pass rates for boards (both RN and NP), the faculty, clinical sites, and employment of graduates.

7. You should go with your gut feeling on this one. If you don't do this, will you always wonder what if--?

Good luck with your decision!

Katy

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I am a 30 year old graduate student (at a sort of second tier program) who should get a Ph. D. in chemistry either in may or over the summer.

I'm sure I could go on with chemistry, and be relatively happy, but this *feels* like the last chance I'll have to make a change like this, and it feels right, but at the same time it feels crazy and a little dangerous. I guess this is a yes/no question. Crazy?

Dear Almost,

I'm in a similar situation. B.S. in Biochemistry; worked in labs for several years. M.S. in I.T. and been working in software for 5 years. Thought about med school during college/post-college but convinced myself I didn't have the grades or drive.

Now as I'm unhappy with my current career choice, I find myself coming full circle back to medicine. The excellent quality of care I've received from N.P.s in my own experience compared to PCPs is leading me to nursing rather than medical school. I'm currently planning to to apply to direct-entry programs for Fall 2007.

I'm 31; my SO and I are talking about getting married, buying a place, having kids, so this is not a decision I'm taking lightly either. I've signed up for volunteer orientation at a local hospital and planning to shadow some NPs in the area in different fields so I feel confident this is the right decision.

Crazy? Maybe.... but the way I look at it is if I don't follow my dreams right now, in 5 years I'll be that much older and not any closer to where I want to be.

Good Luck!

Becky

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

Hi! I don't think it is strange at all. I have a similar story-I received my BS ('99) and MS ('01) in biology and was working in bio research and then I decided I hated it and applied to nursing schools and got my BSN last May 2005. And now I'm an RN and I applied to nursing grad schools last fall & will be starting classes soon (next month!!!) to become an NP. I also took the GRE in 1998 but was told by my particular nursing grad school that I needed to re-take it since it had been greater than 5 years.So I took it this past Dec. again. But not all schools will make you re-take it, so check first. I still had to take psychology and A & P before I got into my BSN program, but again, I bet each school is different, so check around before you start taking classes. Good luck with everything and PM me if you want more advice. I think nursing can be stressful at times, but I can honestly say that I'm happy I switched into it and that it is very satisfying at the end of a long day. :)

-Christine

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Hi! I graduated from UC Berkeley's College of Chemistry and understand some of what you must feel. I just got into an Accelerated BSN program and explained what it took to do so here:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/got-into-rush-universitys-absn-program-chicago-148631.html

With your background, you would probably feel out of place with your classmates in a community college nursing program. If you TRULY know you want to be a nurse practitioner, DEFINITELY go for a direct-entry MSN program!

Actually, some of those direct-entry programs even let you change your mind after your first year and leave to work with a BSN, if you wish. My friend who's now in Johns Hopkins's direct-entry MSN program told me this. She has a BS in chemistry and an MBA.

How can you know if you really want to be an NP? Keep in touch with NPs near you or on allnurses.com and develop a mentoring relationship with them. A mentor really has helped me throughout my whole application process and career transition. Ask if you may shadow some of them around their office, as they see patients. (I got a medical assistant certificate and volunteered for a doctor for a few months, working with a nurse practitioner and physician assistant as well, and seeing intimately what they did.)

Yes, you must take all of their prereqs! In fact, I retook something like Chem 1A because one of my schools required it had to be taken within the last 5 years. My community college teacher let me challenge it successfully by examination within the first 2 weeks of class, however, so I never actually took the class.

Although in the short term it may not matter which NP school you attend, I have lived through 2 recessions here in Silicon Valley and never want to be caught in a weak job position ever again. One of my Los Angeles friends, who was an Acute Care NP, says in some places NPs do have a harder time finding a job. Don't assume you will always be able to have one, and strive for the best universities and credentials possible. Always keep growing and adding to your repertoire, and stay flexible and resourceful. That's the way to have job security.

Yes, get as MUCH actual health care experience as possible. From my link above, you see that I volunteered in an ER for two years, got a medical assistant certificate from a vocational school, worked for a doctor's office, got a nursing assistant certificate from another vocational school and thus trained in a nursing home, and now am getting my EMT certificate. When I interviewed for admission, the professor told me I had more experience than most of the other applicants.

What is it like day-to-day as a student nurse? The best experience I have found is to actually be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). To get the CNA license, you train in all the "menial" but important tasks that every nurse must not only know, but be efficient and good at (changing diapers, bathing patients, etc). It's a far far cry from being an academic and intellectual, but if you can handle doing CNA work, and you can do it quickly, with grace, that is excellent preparation for nursing school. And it will impress the socks off of admissions committees who are tired of seeing arrogant applicants who know nothing about the day-to-day reality of being a nurse.

Good luck and let me know if you have questions!

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Also, please read this article, comparing the clinical preparation of NPs vs. Physician Assistants:

Evaluating The Clinical Preparation Of Physician Assistant Versus Nurse Practitioner Students And The Characteristics Of Their Preceptors

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijapa/vol4n1/mhe.xml

They say that new NPs typically have a less rigorous background in pathophysiology and other "hard" sciences than PAs. That's a problem for me, with my hard science and engineering background, and it may worry you. I considered becoming a PA vs. NP when I first started on my trek into nursing, and I prefer the "medical model" of education (biochemistry, pathology, histology, hard sciences) to the "nursing model" (nursing theory, nursing diagnoses, assessment, etc), which feels more watered down.

If this difference concerns you, perhaps you could get extra pathophysiology and pharmacology on your own somehow. If it doesn't, great.

By the way, if you hadn't heard, the biggest difference between a nurse and a doctor is that a nurse does NOT treat or cure disease. A nurse does not make medical diagnoses. A nurse tries to alleviate symptoms of disease, monitors and assesses patients, and deals with the EFFECTS of a disease.

Of course, an NP does make "medical" diagnoses and does try to cure disease, but in the process of becoming a BSN nurse (which you must do first), you must forget acting like a medical intern.

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Specializes in med surg, icu.
Evaluating The Clinical Preparation Of Physician Assistant Versus Nurse Practitioner Students And The Characteristics Of Their Preceptors

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijapa/vol4n1/mhe.xml

You should also note that the article is primarily based on studies in NP schools in Georgia..

If you're going to use that article to make a judgement about PA school vs. NP school, you should read additional articles about NP issues that are SPECIFIC to the state of Georgia:

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_article_id=13566&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4704880&nav=5kZQ

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Thanks for noticing that! I did not. You are right, and I had no idea Georgia still did not give NPs authority to write prescriptions.

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Specializes in med surg, icu.

It's a little difficult to read an article comparing the roles of a PA to those of an NP in Georgia and then use it as an example to base one's opinion on NP's nationwide because NP's in Georgia have only recently begun to have their scope of practice expanded, allowing their abilities to be better recognized and appreciated by physicians, patients, etc.

Also, one has to realize that the education of an RN prior to entering NP school is extremely different in terms of depth and content when you compare it to the education of an emt or medical assistant going into PA school... but that's better discussed in the allnurses.com Nurse Practitioner forum (by people who are either already in the profession or already going through either type of program instead of a noob like me). ;)

edit: here's the discussion thread for the clinical differences between NP's and PA's: https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/clinical-differences-nps-pas-83016.html

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