potential future nurse seeking wisdom from current nurses

Nurses Career Support

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Hello. I am a 24-year-old student considering beginning the pursuit of a career in nursing( R.N). My tentative Plan is to earn my BSN, take the state test to become an R.N, and then work as an R.N for 1-2 years. After I gain the experience in the field, I plan to apply to leave the field, apply to medical school, and try to become an M.D. Why do I want to become an R.N. before becoming an M.D.? What is my rationale? There is always the possibility that I will not be able to get into medical school or that I will not become a doctor. If this happens at least I can fall back on my BSN and work as a R.N. It is, in other words, a contingency plan. However, I choose the field for a specific reason. I have changed my major three times. 2)I studied spanish for six semesters, earning a AA in spanish education. I came to realize that I held no real interest in spanish due to the fact that my parents sort of pushed me into the field. 2) I then started to study mathematics, but soon discovered that the subject bored me( it was nothing more than numbers on a page). 3) I then started to study biology. After one semester of study, I came to the realization that there is no future job certainty with a B.A in biology. What am I going to do when I graduate? where will I be employed? 4) {Understand that I have always held an interest in the human body. I am fascinated by the complexity of it. Also, I have always been interested in a healthy lifestyle and how humans can achieve it. As such, as a young boy I read many nutrition books that advocated healthy diets. Even as i am writing this post I am watching the Discovery Fit and Health channel on cable t.v. A Baby who was born with two heads conjoined at the skull is undergoing surgery to remove the parasitic head. Anyways, I am now, on the verge of changing my major from biology to nursing because of my interest in the human body. Other reasons that are influencing me include the nice paycheck, my patience, and the high demand for nurses ( a guarantee of a job). Now, I have read many posts about the life of a nurse. some speak positively of it and others speak negatively of it. the negative posts have me concerned.1) PLEASE TELL ME THE TRUTH. WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES TO NURSING? HOW CAN I DEAL WITH THEM TO MAKE THE JOB MORE BEARABLE? 2) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY PLAN? IS IT A GOOD ONE? OR IS IT FLAWED? WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT? :jester:

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Specializes in Step Down.

Sorry to break it to you, but there is NO guarantee of a job. Ever. Nursing is HARD and sometimes back breaking labor. You really have to enjoy it and be able to handle anything.

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Dito. I'm a first semester student in a adn program and we started out with 50 by the end of the semester it's projected we will have around 30 students to remain. My teacher also stated that this is because of the students thinking "rn=jobs+big paycheck" #EPICFAIL! if you have a major of biology I would strongly encourage you to Persue that degree and and go the medicine. I feel like they have more job stability than nurses-I've never heard of hospitals having to downsize so they're letting DOCTORS go- but I've heard that plenty of times about nurses! If you are put off by the number of years in med school to obtain a MD and the hefty price tag- look into going the PA route (Physical assistant). They make a pretty good salary and with the shortage of doctors they seem to have good job growth opportunities. If your dead set on going into nursing then you could always go the entry level masters program way or the 2nd degree option. That way if you decide either career isn't for you you will have a biology degree you can fall back on. You can do anything with that from research to teaching. Teahing biology had it's perks- my anatomy professor at my school( it's a community college) makes around 80,000+ a year- basically sets her own schedule( aside from classes) and has set vacation days! Can't beat that!

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Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

We see tons of threads like this... but has there ever been any success stories from RN to MD/DO? I would love to see one.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I know 2 anesthesiologists and 3 surgeons that worked as RNs through medical school. All of them worked nights on the weekend.

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We see tons of threads like this... but has there ever been any success stories from RN to MD/DO? I would love to see one.

hello. so what do you think? it is unlikely to succeed via this route I gather from what you wrote? what would you suggest?

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Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

If your ultimate goal is to become a physician, just go to med school. Nursing school will not prepare you with the classes needed to excel in med school (organic and inorganic chems, multiple biology classes, physics, etc etc etc)

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I know 2 anesthesiologists and 3 surgeons that worked as RNs through medical school. All of them worked nights on the weekend.

really. I was thinking of working for a year then going back to school(med school)

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If your ultimate goal is to become a physician, just go to med school. Nursing school will not prepare you with the classes needed to excel in med school (organic and inorganic chems, multiple biology classes, physics, etc etc etc)

the thing is though, I have heard that med school is extremely difficult to get into. so what if i dont get in? that is my fear

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If your ultimate goal is to become a physician, just go to med school. Nursing school will not prepare you with the classes needed to excel in med school (organic and inorganic chems, multiple biology classes, physics, etc etc etc)

oh and my ultimate goal is job and financial security

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If nursing is a contingency plan, why not go the direct route apply to med school first, or at least the same time? If you get in, no need for nursing school. If not, you still have plenty of time for nursing school.

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If your ultimate goal is to become a physician, just go to med school. Nursing school will not prepare you with the classes needed to excel in med school (organic and inorganic chems, multiple biology classes, physics, etc etc etc)

From the OP's post above, you CERTAINLY need a contigency plan. You know yourself, go to RN and then pursue MD as you described.And by then,you should know if you truly want to continue to purse the MD school.

But you do need a contigency plan. Six semesters studying a major you did not even want. Hot dang!

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