potential future nurse seeking wisdom from current nurses

[George4life]

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?

[LegzRN]

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

There are accelerated BSN programs for those who hold an undergraduate degree in another field. If you didn't get in, you could consider that option. Don't believe the hype of the "nursing shortage." Browse this site for a minute and you'll find thread after thread about new grads and old grads that can't find employment. Med school is difficult, but I've known many people who have been accepted and graduated. Maybe they didn't get their first, second, or third choice and had to end up going through a DO program, but they still graduated and are now practicing medicine.

[mrzgirl]

I was in a similar rut not too long ago with majors and career choices. If it's available to you from your school, you may want to consider going to a career counselor. They have a way of making you discover exactly what you want in a career. I was in love with math and astrophysics, but didn't want to be stuck behind a desk for the rest of my life...

Have you considered doing a job shadow of a nurse, MD, or both? I too had considered going into medical school after nursing, but once I got into the clinical setting I was appalled at most of the doctors (not to say they are all bad, but the majority I have come across so far are rude and have terrible bedside manner), and it seemed to me their job description was akin to sitting behind a desk all day. Like I said, depends on what you want in a career.

Before I risk rambling on too much... an anesthesiologist once told me to stick with nursing because there is more opportunity in this field than with medicine. Also, the demand for nurses largely depends on where you live anymore. New grads in more urban areas are having some trouble finding jobs right away.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I know an RN to General Surgeon. She takes no prisoners either. Yeah baby.

[roma4204, BSN, RN]

If you are treating nursing as a back up plan, then you have a very harsh reality coming to you. Nursing is a completely different profession with different goals than those of a physician.

It sounds like you have flip flopped countless times and still haven't found what is right for you.

I would encourage you to get off the internet and get into an actual hospital. Talk to the nurses there and get some experience. Then decide what the best plan is for you.

You would be miserable for the rest of your life if you are working as a nurse and nursing is not what you love to do. You can say that about any career but nursing poses a very specific challenge. There is nothing you can do to make the job more "bearable" besides go into it for the right reasons and know that it is for you.

If you want to be a physician, go to med school!

[TeleMeMore]

I like your style of thinking.

I don't see any problem with going this route IF you don't mind the enormous time it will take. In order to get your RN you definitely should get a BSN, at least you can use that to satisfy the degree pre-requisite of med school (unless it is like BIO specific-then you really don't need a BSN but another 4 year bio/health sciences degree). If a BSN+other pre reqs will suffice for med school, I say go for it. BUT I do think you should apply to both the nursing program and medical school AT THE SAME TIME, you may get into medical school! Take all your med-school pre-requisites, take your MCAT and apply, and at the same time, apply to a BSN nursing program. If you don't get into med school, get your BSN, get RN experience, you will have a career out of it - one you may love in the end, or you may not and you can at that point choose to try again at medicine. But like you said, if you do not get in will you be satisfied being an RN? But at this point you can get experience and then go for a masters and perhaps get a MSN and become a nurse practitioner? You really do not NEED 1-2 years RN experience to apply to med school, although it surely would help because you know what its like in the hospital as compared to fresh undergratuates who have no exposure but if it isn't neccessary then there is really no need to waste time, energy and increase stress if you at least try to get into medical school from the beginning. Think about how much stress you'd be saving from not having to study for all those nursing school exams!!

Have you ever thought about nurse practitioner or PA? With PA you don't take the MCAT just pre-requisites and its another three years.

I understand that you are using nursing as a back up plan and many nurses may be offended by that but I certainly am not. Everyone needs a back up plan and although becoming a physician is completely different than nursing it is in the same area of interest, the human body. It isn't like you are wanting to do accounting as a back up plan then wanting to become an MD. To me, it makes sense. While scope of practice between RN and MD is completely different, they work as a team to treat the disease/patient and are very much so related. You definitely won't lose out by being an RN first (except $$ and time). If you do end up becoming a nurse and then becoming a physician, you will probably be a better physician for it and have a clear understanding of what its like on the nurse's side.

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

George4life, There is nothing wrong with going from RN to MD. Becoming an RN will give you an excellent foundation to start from. You will work with doctors and other members of the healthcare team, rns take a+p 1 and 2, micro, chem and several other prerequsites. The RN program is very challenging, i'm not comparing the rn to md, but RNs are highly educated, and while you are working as an RN you will gain clinical experience and earn a living while preparing for med school. Make your decision carefully, it is life changing and expensive. I wish you the best in what ever you decide.

[ticklemenita]

I say if you know you want to be an MD be an MD. If you want to be a nurse then go for it. There are options like DNP or CRNA that you could do if you wanted to stick with nursing. I love being a nurse. The downside I could think of would be nursing school is very hard and time consuming, and the pay as a nurse is not all that great to start off with. I have heard of people who have made the transition from RN to MD and it can be done. But why rack up all these loans for both. Just pick one and go for it.

[laurah4k]

Who pays for your education??? You might consider an accelerated BSN program, given you hold a BA and have a some bio background. Good luck to you!

Edited to add: Keep us posted, I'd love to hear where your path leads you!

[mkjh]

Nursing school isn't a breeze to get into either!

I'd get some volunteer or tech experience in a hosptial to see which field appeals to you more and then make your decision.

[TickyRN]

please just aim for Med school, if it doesnt work out then go to nursing school.

do your prereqs for med school and take the MCAT. focus on getting the best results and if you are a strong candidate. Prereqs for medschool and nursing school are different and pull you in different directions. Nursing school is hard by itself, what if you become an RN, life happens and you are unable to go back to med school.?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Think about your reasons for becoming a doctor. What attracts you more toward being a doctor than being a nurse practitioner?

Nursing is hard work, and it can be very rewarding. There are never guarantees of a job, even in nursing. There aren't guarantees of a job as a doctor either, however. Do you think parts of nursing are unbearable? I ask this since you asked how to make it less unbearable. Is it logical to consider a career that you know has unbearable parts to it?

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

Sorry to break it to you, but there is NO guarantee of a job. Ever.

Especially in nursing. Just read all the posts here by new grads not being able to find their first nursing job. You'll be in for a rude awakening should you find yourself not being able to even land an RN job in the 1-2 years you were planning to work as one.