I am 35 years old and have a BS degree in science but would have to repeat all of my pre reqs and take the mcat as it is old at this point and need to increase my gpa. I am applying to nursing schools right now and my hope is that I will be content eventually being a NP. I always felt like I resonated more with being a doctor. I love learning in depth things, love science, and love the aspect of diagnosing. I do not have kids yet and still want them, tick tock. I always wanted to go to med school in my 20s but did not want to "waste my years"in med school and honestly was concerned about the workload. I guess to be honest, I wanted to be a doctor but was scared if I could succeed in the path. Plus the cost of med school worried me. I instead spent time working in other areas, got out of debt, bought land etc etc. I chipped away at my pre reqs for nursing school thinking that I could be content as an eventual NP plus I need to do something. Wanting to go to med school and basically putting life on hold with hopeful dream of one day finally doing it has sucked life out of me and has left me stagnant. I must move! Now that I am in the admissions process of nursing schools I have regular freak outs. I want to be confident in my decision to move towards an NP as i feel it is the smarter of the decisions. I am so scared I will always think of what my life would have been, grass is greener syndrome. Does anyone else have these thoughts?? Why is the dream of being a physician so hard to shake ? Why does it make me want to give everything up to follow it even though on paper it is the most ridiculous option before me? I was thinking I could go to nursing school ( hopefully get a quick bsn) and then work for a while and then decided to go to med school or NP school. By then I will be 40 +! Also, I want to have kids still. Looking for any insight, hope. Thanks in advance.
35 year old female wants kids should I go to med school?
- Thread starter bird0824
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2014
- Messages
- 2,140
- Reaction score
- 2,322
Does anyone else have these thoughts?? Why is the dream of being a physician so hard to shake ? Why does it make me want to give everything up to follow it even though on paper it is the most ridiculous option before me? I was thinking I could go to nursing school ( hopefully get a quick bsn) and then work for a while and then decided to go to med school or NP school. By then I will be 40 +!
Plenty of folks have decided mid career to change course and pursue a career in medicine. I did it after completing my masters degree in education and having spent years in the classroom. Folks on the forum will tell you that age is but a number. As for answering whether you should become a nurse or a doctor, you're going to have to weight a lot of factors: life goals, type of work, years of training, etc. I would not recommend pursuing a degree in nursing and then transition to medical school. Most nursing courses are not accepted as prerequisites for medical school so those would likely need to be repeated. Depending on what your GPA is, you may not need to retake courses. There are two types of medical schools that will allow you practice as a doctor: allopathic, which confers a MD, and osteopathic, which confers a DO. Both degrees will allow you practice medicine and pursue specialty training. MD traditionally has higher mean GPA/MCAT scores than DO but the difference is shrinking.
If I were in your shoes (and I have been), I would spend some time researching different career paths, shadow nurses and doctors to get a feel for the type of work you would do (admittedly this may not be possible in the current environment) and make a decision that will enable you to best balance your career aspirations with your personal goals.
Plenty of folks have decided mid career to change course and pursue a career in medicine. I did it after completing my masters degree in education and having spent years in the classroom. Folks on the forum will tell you that age is but a number. As for answering whether you should become a nurse or a doctor, you're going to have to weight a lot of factors: life goals, type of work, years of training, etc. I would not recommend pursuing a degree in nursing and then transition to medical school. Most nursing courses are not accepted as prerequisites for medical school so those would likely need to be repeated. Depending on what your GPA is, you may not need to retake courses. There are two types of medical schools that will allow you practice as a doctor: allopathic, which confers a MD, and osteopathic, which confers a DO. Both degrees will allow you practice medicine and pursue specialty training. MD traditionally has higher mean GPA/MCAT scores than DO but the difference is shrinking.
If I were in your shoes (and I have been), I would spend some time researching different career paths, shadow nurses and doctors to get a feel for the type of work you would do (admittedly this may not be possible in the current environment) and make a decision that will enable you to best balance your career aspirations with your personal goals.
mickmouse301!
Full Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2019
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 77
Hello!
I think you first have to decide whether you want to go to medical school or be an NP. You have to ask yourself questions like: how much patient interaction do I want? Would I be comfortable being a mid-level provider in my career? How much of a guaranteed work/life balance do I want (NPs have a much more accessible work-life balance)?
Beyond the NP vs. MD/DO question, I think that all of these questions are going to be a deeply personal choices, and if it were me, I would:
1) make sure you are bouncing these ideas off of a mentor or a therapist; someone you trust. They will be able to give you more specific input and be able to walk through all the possible outcomes
2) keep in mind that there are many ways to have children, and you can always adopt. I am not sure it has to be a binary choice necessarily in this case: having kids or going to medical school. I did meet a woman who was pregnant in medical school, and some schools are more flexible than others when it comes to this.
3) stay calm about time. personally for me, although I worry about 'wasting time' and 'time passing too quickly', I try to find peers or friends who are +5 or +10 years older than me and bounce these ideas off of them. I think it is good to keep in mind that you don't die/turn into a pumpkin at 40, and that if you think moving towards this goal would give you a lot of personal fulfillment and peace, then you will be a more enlightened, happier 40-year-old. and the time will pass regardless, so I think moving towards a goal in that time is not the end of the world/is a good idea!
These questions above are all very tricky and deeply personal, and I think it is important to keep in mind that you will always have some sense of uncertainty and question if you are making the 'correct' choice. But this is a normal, human condition, and as long as you can move towards a path that feels fulfilling, then I think you are doing the best job you can!
Good luck!
I think you first have to decide whether you want to go to medical school or be an NP. You have to ask yourself questions like: how much patient interaction do I want? Would I be comfortable being a mid-level provider in my career? How much of a guaranteed work/life balance do I want (NPs have a much more accessible work-life balance)?
Beyond the NP vs. MD/DO question, I think that all of these questions are going to be a deeply personal choices, and if it were me, I would:
1) make sure you are bouncing these ideas off of a mentor or a therapist; someone you trust. They will be able to give you more specific input and be able to walk through all the possible outcomes
2) keep in mind that there are many ways to have children, and you can always adopt. I am not sure it has to be a binary choice necessarily in this case: having kids or going to medical school. I did meet a woman who was pregnant in medical school, and some schools are more flexible than others when it comes to this.
3) stay calm about time. personally for me, although I worry about 'wasting time' and 'time passing too quickly', I try to find peers or friends who are +5 or +10 years older than me and bounce these ideas off of them. I think it is good to keep in mind that you don't die/turn into a pumpkin at 40, and that if you think moving towards this goal would give you a lot of personal fulfillment and peace, then you will be a more enlightened, happier 40-year-old. and the time will pass regardless, so I think moving towards a goal in that time is not the end of the world/is a good idea!
These questions above are all very tricky and deeply personal, and I think it is important to keep in mind that you will always have some sense of uncertainty and question if you are making the 'correct' choice. But this is a normal, human condition, and as long as you can move towards a path that feels fulfilling, then I think you are doing the best job you can!
Good luck!
D
deleted1005514
You keep saying you still want to have kids, but there’s no mention of a partner...are you with someone, planning to adopt or do the single mom thing?
At 35 with a bachelors completed you could get through your pre-reqs fairly quickly...I started my bachelors from scratch at 33, finished it and my masters at 39 and started med school this past fall. You don’t have to tackle 6 years of school first.
Take a good long look at what YOU want, without the thought of years and kids. Kids may or may not happen, that partner may not show up, etc. Ten years from now, do you want to be a doctor or an NP? My mom is a nurse getting her NP now, and she loves being a nurse and wouldn’t want to ever be a doctor. I wouldn’t want to ever be a nurse. Neither one of us is right or wrong...we just know what we want.
At 35 with a bachelors completed you could get through your pre-reqs fairly quickly...I started my bachelors from scratch at 33, finished it and my masters at 39 and started med school this past fall. You don’t have to tackle 6 years of school first.
Take a good long look at what YOU want, without the thought of years and kids. Kids may or may not happen, that partner may not show up, etc. Ten years from now, do you want to be a doctor or an NP? My mom is a nurse getting her NP now, and she loves being a nurse and wouldn’t want to ever be a doctor. I wouldn’t want to ever be a nurse. Neither one of us is right or wrong...we just know what we want.
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes! I've been having similar thoughts and considerations, more and more with time. I'm a 32 year old male, married and hoping to start a family at some point soon. That part wouldn't affect me as much as it would you, but it's certainly an obstacle. I've been a practicing Physical Therapist for the last five years, working primarily in orthopedics, with some geriatrics as well through home care. The role of the outpatient orthopedic PT has slowly evolved into a bit of a primary care provider role (of musculoskeletal issues). With the advent of direct access (no need for a physician's referral to begin care, and in some cases to continue care- depends on your state), we have begun to incorporate more education for screening, and triage if the patient isn't totally appropriate. Delving into all of this extra education, I've sort of become dissatisfied with the level and scope of 'primary care' that I am able to provide. I love the idea of primary preventative care, basically GP work. This has all been building over the years of course. I similarly did not pursue a medical degree when I was younger, in part due to self doubt, in part due to the sacrifice of time etc. I always thought that as a PT I'd make less money, but have more down time and balance in life for family and hobbies. With student loans, and the prospect of supporting a family, there goes my balance- because I need to work more gigs for more money. I don't have any real advice for you, because it's really a nuanced decision that requires you to do a lot of cerebral calculations, cost benefit analysis of money, time, and many other subjective values. It also requires a fair deal of soul searching. Why is it hard to shake those aspirations and dreams? Probably because your calling and the way you derive your sense of meaning in life is related to caring for other people, and you're probably an intellectual. That's my answer. I could stay within my own profession, and really challenge myself- get involved in research, get into teaching more etc. But at the end of the day- is all of that extra work going to bring me the same satisfaction (and money- lets be practical here too) as pursuing and MD/GP route or FNP? That's what I'm currently assessing! Wish you luck in your process, please feel free to reach out if you need someone to bounce ideas off of, would be happy to help, and I have the time since I'm furloughed haha.
You definitely have to figure out what is right for you. If you will regret not going to medical school when you are an NP then I say just go for it! As a female who is in medical school and had her first child during medical school, this should not stop you from following your dream. Find a good family friendly school and you can have it all. Medical school really is one of the best but most difficult challenges you will ever face in your life and in my experience, my family is actually what helps keep me grounded.
Hey ! Wow at least you are a Physical Therapist. I was crippled by my decision to go to med school in my 20s so I did not go back to school at all! I got jobs doing totally different things hoping I would decide to move forward with med school. I never felt quite "ready"in my 20s though. I was not confident I could make it through the course load. I did not want to give up my "20s" for the "fire hose"studying that everyone talks about in med school. I was always worried about having a family which i thought i would have started by now. Blah blah.... for whatever lame reasons I didnt have the mindset. So, here I am. Push comes to shove. **** or get off the pot for me. At least you have a stable career. It is crunch time for me. I have all of my nursing pre reqs done etc etc. I must move forward. I emailed an older woman who went to nursing school and was a nurse for 20 years and then decided to go to med school. She responded back to me a couple of days ago and wow.... the things she mentioned really put things in perspective for me. The toll med school takes on a partner and a family. The sacrifices that must be made. I really think that I need to go on the path of BSN---- to NP. Meanwhile hope to have kids here within next couple and then if i want to go to med school later then re evaluate. The cost of med school alone at our age is like mind blowing. What are your thoughts? I also like preventative care and GP work ( sounds crazy ? haha) i also could picture myself as a surgeon but that ship has sailed. Anyways, could you pursue a BSN or would you go for a direct entry FNP? PA?
Last edited:
I am dating someone, but who knows what the future holds. I could end up not getting pregnant or not staying with this person. So nothing is in stone. Did you decide you did not want kids?
D
deleted1005514
No, actually I have a lot of kids, I just waited until the youngest was school age and then decided it was time for me to achieve my goals. However, I don't think you have to choose between kids and medical school...you can have both, you just might have to sacrifice other things.
I don't get the free time that other med students get, so in some ways it's easier for me to burn out...I study, go to class, come home and take care of other people. I rarely get a minute to myself unless I fight for it. My time management skills have to be on point, or everything falls apart. However, I have a built in support system that thinks I'm SuperMom, I have a reason to go out and grind every day, and I have built in stress relief when I can come home and bake cookies and hang out with my favorite people daily. I think the good outweighs the bad, but I also have the most supportive husband and kids ever, so that helps.
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2016
- Messages
- 39
- Reaction score
- 60
Having kids is possible with the right partner (not necessary SAHP, but someone who is willing to be flexible). What is your support system like? Do you have family who are willing to help with childcare? I'm inclined to say follow the path that makes you happiest, no regrets. It is possible to have kids prior to, during, and after medical school. However, having support nearby or a spouse dedicated to caring for kids will make your life in school much easier. Getting into medical school is tough and you'll have to be ready to pack your bags and go anywhere. This happens again for residency.
This is a long winded response, but maybe the thought process will be of value to you- since we seem to be juggling similar competing values...
It's really a tough call, especially with regard to the sacrifice. For me it really comes down to 3 different things - calling/passion, time, and money.
Time:
I'm an introvert, my free time, my down time to exercise, read etc is hugely important to me. I sacrificed a lot of that for 3 years of PT school, and even my 2 years out of school where I had to really work hard to integrate all I had learned and get into a groove, while making crap for money. The first 2 semesters were probably comparable to med school ( I went to New York Medical College for PT, so I had a direct comparison, the med school faculty taught us our basic anatomy/physiology, neuro etc) in terms of volume of content and time spent studying (non stop). I didn't personally find time to exercise or read leisurely for those two semesters- and I was single. PT goes heavy on musculoskeletal anatomy/cadaver, kinesiology, cardiopulmonary and neuro for physiology, and then the rest is a bit lighter because it's not as relevant to our scope, whereas med school is heavy like that for 2 years. With time also comes the consideration of career longevity. As a 50/60 year old practitioner, it's ostensibly easier to perform your job functions as a primary care provider doing blood work and physicals, than it is to lift patients, demonstrate exercise, perform manual therapy etc.
Money:
If I decide to apply to med schools, there are probably only a handful I'd be interested in applying to due to cost, which is huge risk. Hedging my bets and applying to both is tough- because the different requirements make the prerequisite phase even more time intensive. GPs make less money than many of the other specialities- I don't want to pick a school that gives 250k in debt just to become a GP. That leaves me with state schools, and of course- NYU which is free AND has a 3 year GP tract ( as does SUNY Stony Brook now- I'm in NYC). Med school is competitive, but NYU is extremely competitive. While my prerequisites GPA for PT school was not bad ( somewhere in the 3.8 - 3.9 range- overall undergrad GPA was 3.6-3.7 range) - I'd have have to maintain that with orgo/biochem/genetics, while preferably continuing to work at least part time, and do insanely well on the MCATs. Going down to part time work to take these courses and study for the MCATs is for some reason tough for me to mentally commit to.
By contrast, the NP route- I too would have to pursue an (accelerated) BSN first, and then look at my NP/certificate options after that- there are unfortunately no easy ways to transfer into the profession even with my license- even for PA school. The only direct entry program near me for nursing is Columbia, and it's 90 k roughly, and you only get your MSN. Would still need to shell out time and money for an FNP or whatever cert you are looking for. ABSN can be done in a year to a year and a half after a few prerequisites and cheaply through a state school. Many of the NP/cert courses are part time or hybrid online- good for money, probably intense time management skills required. But the salary of an FNP in a family practice is half that of a GP, from my understanding. A salaried PT position is often capped just before or just at the 6 figure mark- a small chunk below the average NP salary, and huge chunk below GP. I'm at my cap after 5 years, my only way to increase pay is to work multiple jobs (Per diem) or start my own business- which I've tried briefly, and did not enjoy.
To me- PA school isn't on the table anymore, too much time and money for too little return of money, with no real autonomy for your license. NPs can work towards having more autonomy.
The passion/calling bit:
Is probably the make or break one here. If I felt totally at peace with my scope and profession, I probably wouldn't be having these thoughts and considerations. I often am frustrated with my lack of scope to use the full extent of my knowledge, or my lack of knowledge due to my lack of scope haha. PT isn't sexy, no pharmaceuticals involved, as such a lot of the research on our interventions is lacking in quality, quantity, or both. Not saying PT doesn't work or help, but in certain areas we really lack the research- especially with prevention- we can't really prevent low back pain for instance of there are no real physical predictors ( only some psychosocial). Whereas Heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes etc have some pretty clear biomarkers and anthropomorphic measures to address.
Ultimately, I think I'm also leaning more towards NP due to reduced time in prerequisites and schooling/balance of lifestyle in the long run, and financial (less debt, with the exception of the NYU medical program which is a huge gamble). There is still that nagging bit of me that knows I could get into med school and grind it out, but I'm wary of the time commitment and sacrifice.
Again... long winded, but maybe some of these considerations help- even if they aren't directly pertinent to your situation.
D
deleted1005514
Just out of curiosity, is that your personal email as your username & photo? If so, I would recommend you change them both to protect your anonymity.
Thanks. Yeah, I literally signed up yesterday, this was my first post- and I didn't realize that I had made a mistake haha. I changed it this morning, looks like it just took effect. Working on my profile.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2020
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 132
We definitely have a couple older individuals who are second-career in my class (who have families/kids). As the OP mentioned, the one thing to think about is that she would likely be near 40 by the time she enters Medical School or NP school. While that is not "old" by any practical means, the volume of material that you have to memorize at least the first 2 years (which I can speak on, I'm assuming it's the same M3 and M4), is HUGE.
Young 20-somethings (and maybe early 30s), it's easy to pull all-nighters, get very little sleep, and have the stamina to memorize that kind of volume of information. The older you get, it is a lot harder to do that. If you add a family on top of that, it becomes even harder (you just don't have the available hours). Med School and Medicine in general, is largely test-heavy, and I can't imagine how tough it would be to be near their 40s with a family having the stamina and memorization ability to go through all these tests and volumes of information. When all is said and done, you will be training until you're nearly 50.
That is not to discourage you; I'm sure it can be done based on will-power and drive. But you will have to be really great with your time management, and you may want to have some specialties in mind that you would be okay with in case your scores are not near the upper percentile. I just say that because if all you wanted to do was Dermatology (for example), and couldn't imagine doing anything else; given the competitiveness and the fact that you will likely be stretched very thin, I wouldn't want you to go to Medical School just for that, given the competitiveness.
I started Med School later than many of my classmates (I'll be turning 30 this year), and while I've done pretty well so far, memorizing large volumes of information is definitely harder than it used to be and pulling "all-nighters" like some of my 20-something classmates do is painful (and something I try to avoid, although given the large volume of information, it's sometimes necessary). I honestly don't know if my mind/body would be able to do it at near 40, especially with kids/family!
Hats off to you. It won't be an easy road, but if you want it badly enough, I'm sure you can make it happen. I'm sure there are a few others out there who have traveled this path, even though it is somewhat rare. Good luck!
Young 20-somethings (and maybe early 30s), it's easy to pull all-nighters, get very little sleep, and have the stamina to memorize that kind of volume of information. The older you get, it is a lot harder to do that. If you add a family on top of that, it becomes even harder (you just don't have the available hours). Med School and Medicine in general, is largely test-heavy, and I can't imagine how tough it would be to be near their 40s with a family having the stamina and memorization ability to go through all these tests and volumes of information. When all is said and done, you will be training until you're nearly 50.
That is not to discourage you; I'm sure it can be done based on will-power and drive. But you will have to be really great with your time management, and you may want to have some specialties in mind that you would be okay with in case your scores are not near the upper percentile. I just say that because if all you wanted to do was Dermatology (for example), and couldn't imagine doing anything else; given the competitiveness and the fact that you will likely be stretched very thin, I wouldn't want you to go to Medical School just for that, given the competitiveness.
I started Med School later than many of my classmates (I'll be turning 30 this year), and while I've done pretty well so far, memorizing large volumes of information is definitely harder than it used to be and pulling "all-nighters" like some of my 20-something classmates do is painful (and something I try to avoid, although given the large volume of information, it's sometimes necessary). I honestly don't know if my mind/body would be able to do it at near 40, especially with kids/family!
Hats off to you. It won't be an easy road, but if you want it badly enough, I'm sure you can make it happen. I'm sure there are a few others out there who have traveled this path, even though it is somewhat rare. Good luck!
Yes, I completely understand your thought processing.
Time I understand what you are saying in free time, and time in general. I actually was stressed during my undergrad taking exams etc. I would sometimes feel guilty for doing things that i enjoyed because I knew I should be studying. So if i felt like this then, how will i feel in med school!? Many that have gone to med school tell me it is a marathon. You have to really keep your head straight and be in for the long haul. And i keep hearing "fire hose"analogies. Which are scary to hear but i am trying to be practical here. I feel like I will love the material to learn for med school because I love learning about science and the body etc etc so I will enjoy studying. Then I think about a family. I have to say I ( as a woman) am not willing to be pregnant or to have a new born through med school. I know myself and i will have a total freak out and be spread way to thin. So what does this mean for me? I am not even pregnant now nor do I have a crystal ball to see the future ( I only have so many more years of fertility). So I am again, trying to make decisions now that will encompass many other things i still want. Which is the problem to begin with and why i didnt go earlier. Always thinking I didnt want to sacrifice, the future family etc etc.... oh decisions! Now, an advantage for you is you do not need to worry about getting pregnant etc. Is your spouse supportive of you not being around much during the next few years if she does want a kid etc? We both need to consider our age as well and put that in the timeline. So say you have to take your pre reqs ( which i thought you mentioned) so lets say you start that and it takes you 1 year. lets say you get into med school at age 34, 35. Then , you can not work while in med school so you have years of lost income for this. So, that puts you at 38 , 39 when you are done. Then you do a residency ( which i heard you make 13-15 per hour once you calculate it out for hours) Then you come out of residency at 42, 43 . My numbers are higher then this because I am a little older than you are but it is something to look at not sure it is helpful. My number is more like 47
Money
I hear you about the debt. I own some land that I was able to purchase through my 20s that i could sell and technically pay for med school ( worth 250 k or so) or i could get a loan etc. Something that is a concern whether you are in your 20s or 30s or 40s any age is med school is extremely expensive. This can not be ignored in my opinion. The lady doctor that I previously mentioned emailing said she probably die before she pays off her student loan! She is a GP and went to med school in her 40s. This is a real problem. Now, you could go to those schools that you mentioned, yours scores look good hopefully you can get in. You would have to be dead set on not changing your GP path since it is a tuition free program for GP path only. Or you could work in an undeserved area where they do a pay back thing.
PA school is also out of the picture for me
Now passion- this like you said is the real issue for me as well. The real keep me up at night issue. How will this regret go? Will we regret more not going for med school or if we go for it and all of the sacrifices made while pursuing it ( family, income, debt blah blah) will NP be satisfying for us? The doctor that I spoke to ( the older doctor) recommended I pursue NP she said i will find my niche... and be mentally stimulated and have the other things in my life that I do not want to give up. I think we can do both ( family med school etc etc) i just think you can not do both well. She said she missed out on so many firsts of her child, cuddle times, school events .
Now, there are things about nursing i really am not looking forward to. I have to get a BSN as well and assume work for a while before NP. Do you think of this also? I have tons of thoughts in my head that have crippled my decision making for years. I have already done most of my pre reqs for nursing school and have done very well and I did very well on the hesi and teas. I wish I could be excited about the path to NP. Maybe if i start thinking of things differently and stop worrying about all of the what ifs. Ultimately I am sure we wil be happy and find a niche as NPs.
Yeah, time and age are certainly issues. Time less so if you feel as if you're not spending your time in a worthwhile manner. I don't regret the last 5 years as a PT, because I loved most of that time and learned so much. I wouldn't look at it as missing out on time, you are pursuing something that you are passionate at about. It will be stressful, but learning the material should also really scratch that itch. If not, then maybe not a good option.
A few other thoughts to consider- the few MSN/FNP programs that I've looked into are hybrid and part time. Many can and do work while going through the program. Some of the ones that I've looked require a minimum of 1 year to get in. I've also read that not having years of hospital/inpatient experience doesn't seem to make much of a difference, especially if you're looking at FNP.
Another consideration. I've been on this forum far too long today haha, found a previous PT who became an MD telling another guy in my situation the following... " But the bottom line is, if I had to do it over again, I'd do PA in a heart beat at a community college. Most PA's aren't working "under" as much as they are working alongside. I didn't appreciate that until I actually started practicing. Talk to some PAs. Do your research now. Trust me, it'll be worth it. It's less time in school, very financially and clinically rewarding. Talk to an ER PA, a PM&R PA, an ortho PA, a neurosurg PA (in private practice). Ask them what their day is like and then you tell me you want to go to medical school and spend 8 years learning to do what a PA does in 3."
Pretty solid advice. Maybe in your situation- if you can't stomach the idea of working as a BSN for even a short period, reconsider PA with the above in mind? After reading and reflecting on that myself, I am gradually thinking about ruling out the possibility of med school/the GP route. If depth knowledge is a concern- there is no one stopping you from doing as much CE as you want, at your own pace too.
here is a good blog post too that I read today... not totally relevant to you, but there are parts of it that may resonate or help you figure it out.
Carve Your Own Path.
Ever since my 2 year old daughter was born, I have taken a long hiatus from writing (she’s quite a handful!). Despite my absence, I have been so encouraged by the emails that I have received …
theptnurseguy.com
I agree about the time comment. Yes, if i love what i am learning and doing, time goes by anyways so might as well be doing what we want and love. So i was a scribe in the ER for a couple of years and I was really turned off to the role of a PA in the ER and NP for that matter. I also shadowed a PA in urgent care and she had to bring the xrays etc to the doctor to like consult and tell the doc the course of action. I have not shadowed a NP or PA in primary care sadly but I heard they can work fairly autonomously. Now, this could vary depending on location etc.
Also, I have heard that you can work part time while in NP school. I think I could get through being a nurse for a short period of time. I find healthcare and medicine important and interesting. I just feel like I need to get my head on right. Im also spending way to much time researching med schools, thinking of this and that, talking to people about their decisions this vs that. I am exhausted again over this and i just want to make a decision that I can stick with. I know that this is up to me in the long run. Have you considered any other specialties you might do if you do end up at med school? Do you think there is a big difference in an NP and an MD or DO as a GP? I heard that gap is very small.
THanks, I will look at that. BTW my major was exercise physiology. Love that stuff. lots of people went into PT from my major.here is a good blog post too that I read today... not totally relevant to you, but there are parts of it that may resonate or help you figure it out.
Carve Your Own Path.
Ever since my 2 year old daughter was born, I have taken a long hiatus from writing (she’s quite a handful!). Despite my absence, I have been so encouraged by the emails that I have received …
D
deleted1005514
By GP do you mean only doing 1 year of residency and then going into practice, or doing a full residency (3 years) in a primary care field, such as Family Med, Internal Med, Ob/Gyn, or Peds?
WOW what a great blog. This really resonate with me. It reminds me of what the older doctor lady told me as well. That we are always trying to be enough. She said even when she graduated med school she felt like maybe she did not do enough and should have specialized. I know for me I am always thinking that I need to pursue all of these things. I am dating someone who speaks 3 other languages and I am always comparing myself to him also! Now I am learning portuguese and spanish at the same time while stressing on med/ vs/ np stuff haha. We both do need to find our own path in this and remember why we made the decisions. Write them down. Discuss with your spouse etc. Whatever path I choose i just want to be the very best I can be at it. and be content. Thanks again for sharinghere is a good blog post too that I read today... not totally relevant to you, but there are parts of it that may resonate or help you figure it out.
Carve Your Own Path.
Ever since my 2 year old daughter was born, I have taken a long hiatus from writing (she’s quite a handful!). Despite my absence, I have been so encouraged by the emails that I have received …
I meant general practitioner so it is 3 years of residency. I am not aware of a 1 year residency program.
D
deleted1005514
General Practitioner is the title referred to a medical school graduate who goes through 1 year of residency and can legally practice medicine, however, it can sometimes be difficult to get credentialed & approved for insurance reimbursement, due to desire to have board certified physicians. It is a title of a bygone era...there were many GPs 40+ years ago, but now it is standard to do at minimum a 3 year residency. Just wanted to clarify that we're discussing the same thing before I warned someone off a path that might lead to frustration and misinformation. 🙂
I see. Thank you for clarifying.
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2014
- Messages
- 677
- Reaction score
- 774
As a recent graduate with an amazing spouse, I think that’s the key. It wasn’t easy managing studying for boards with a newborn and a toddler demanding my attention, but our whole family was “in it” and made it work. It’s definitely hard to want both when neither is certain.
I’m not sure how true this. It sounds a bit ageist to me, honestly. I definitely lost any desire to pull all-nighters in med school, but I think that was due to maturity than anything. I learned how to balance time with my family with studying, doing research, working part-time, and staying healthy and in shape. I was not that balanced as a single pre-med.
