"Nursing is my fallback plan"...for medical school

Jks322 · Oct 23, 2014

Hmmm it's always so interesting to hear why people are going into the medical field. I know there are CNAs who go to nursing school, nurses or PAs who go to medical school, etc etc. I think this person is wrong when they say nursing is easier than biology, especially when they failed their last exam. However, a BSN will result in a greater salary and good medical experience compared to a degree in biology. I don't think it's wrong that she is becoming a nurse to get more experience and to stand out when applying to medical school, but it is a shame that she's taking someone's spot who wants nursing to be their profession for life, especially if she is failing nursing courses or med school prerequisites. I know a lot of schools say students must have a C or higher in their prerequisites as a minimum, but many, if not all, choose student who do not have C or very few Cs. I really hope the medical school application/interview process opens her eyes. She could have become a medical assistant or EMT in order to gain experience. Choosing nursing as a gateway for medical school is painful for me to hear as a pre-nursing student.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2014

If that's her plan, that's her plan. If it's not realistic, she'll find out in time and make a new plan.

How does "Amy" feel about your plans for the future?

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 23, 2014

I don't know who told her you don't need A's for medical school... LOL. A biology/chemistry major probably would have prepared her better for the MCAT too... I've seen bio/chem majors bomb the MCAT as well, even after a review course.

This girl is in for a rude awakening.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 23, 2014

Problem with nursing being a back up is that nursing does not prepare one for medical school. In fact, one classmate I know was interested in med school and talked to the college of medicine and found out she would have to take two years of prerequisites before she would be able to apply.

And if she is struggling in nursing school, she won't make it into med school.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 23, 2014

I agree that this particular student is in for a rude awakening ... but I have known several people who used nursing as a stepping stone to other careers and don't see anything particularly wrong with it.

Approximately 10% out of the approximately 100 students in my original nursing program ended up in either medical school or law school. A couple others went on to other types of careers -- health-related business careers, hospital administration careers, etc. People's lives follow varied paths. We don't all have to follow the same path in lock-step fashion.

boomerang12 · Oct 23, 2014

As someone who has really considered the medical school option (I always thought I could graduate, take a couple bio/chem courses while working and then go, but lately I've been really interested in eventually going the NP route instead as I love the patient interaction nursing provides, plus it would put me in way less debt lol), I can say I don't think it's a bad plan at all, where she is going wrong is not taking her schooling seriously. Getting into med school is difficult, especially with a nursing degree as it is often not their first choice for undergrad degrees, so you need to get good grades, do volunteer work and interview well and still it's very possibly you won't get in even having done all that. Honestly, most students really can't afford to get a biochem degree, not get into med school and have no job prospects. Nursing is also a job where you can work prn shifts during your first few years of med school, which once again helps with the financial burden. While you may not necessarily agree with it, it is a route that a lot of students go because it makes sense. And I really don't think there's anything wrong with it. It's not necessarily that these students don't enjoy nursing, most of the ones I know would be perfectly happy nurses if they didn't get in, thus why they chose to get their undergrad in nursing. Also most of them are very intelligent and have great critical thinking skills so I think they will be great nurses if they stay in the field.

dorkypanda · Oct 23, 2014

It is indeed an interesting debate. but it's probably more of a what kind of role would you like to play in the health field since a doc is not the same as a nurse. Med school is hard to get into, let's not kid ourselves. all the onchem, physics, biochem, calculus and etc. could scare some away cause getting a great or super undergrad GPA is needed. the MCAT isn't any easier either, one needs a score higher than 28 maybe 30's. then there's the aspect of having lots of volunteering hours and a lot of research hours too, they love that. even if you have interviews that won't guarantee you a spot in the programs..it's pretty tough. I don't think a lot of people get into a program their first application try. I've seen this happen to someone going through it. It's rough having to take the MCAT over again.

dorkypanda · Oct 23, 2014

I'm not so sure to say nursing is easier than bio or bio is easier. It seriously depends on what the person naturally likes more or naturally understands better. going the bio way kind of lends itself that you're seriously looking to apply to med school, Pharm school, Optometry school, dental school, those kinds of things.

caliotter3 · Oct 23, 2014

She's a strange bird. I never met a pre-med student in college who was not striving for A's in all of their classes.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 24, 2014

Unless she's planning on only getting in to med school in the Carribean, I don't see how she thinks she'll get accepted in to med school! :eek: The competition is very fierce to get in.