Anyone here who went NP to MD?

[MD4Me99]

So, I was talking to a friend recently about my plans of going to Med school. I’m very non-trad, almost 35, with 4 kids under 8! I told her how I can either choose between NP or MD/DO and how MD/DO might be a longer route. She then started telling me that the rigor would be same especially with “kids”. She left after 1 yr of NP school and is an MS3 right now.
So, someone who has gone thru both NP and Med school....are both equally challenging? She said her full time brick and mortar NP school was same as being in Med school.....just with little extra “exams”. How do the two compare, especially if you’re doing it with kids? I completed an accelerated BSN before I had kids....I didn’t find it like life or death situation lol. It was manageable. Thanks!

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[Ultimax]

I am an NP, and I will start med school next year, I am married with 2 kids. No way NP curriculum is the same as MD curriculum. Let me give you my perspective. I scored 97 percentile on the AANP board certification, and only knew the answer for maybe 25% on the USMLE Step 1 practice test. NP curriculum didnt go deep at all into etiology and pathogenesis. We did not learn about bacteria, viruses, fungi, coagulation cascade, cytokines, chemokines, etc. If you ask any NPs about the intrinsic pathway and extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, I would be surprised if they know the answer. Its not because they are not smart, its the training that is not as rigorous as MD’s counterpart.
The challenge will be harder when you have kids, especially when it comes to clinical rotations when you may have to move elsewhere. Its hard, but not impossible. Many NPs on this forum are non-traditional and were able to do it. You can do it if you have passion for medical knowledge.
A good estimate (maybe) of how hard the exams will be is for you to take the MCAT, and there is moderate correlation between the MCAT and USMLE Step 1.

 

[MD4Me99]

I am an NP, and I will start med school next year, I am married with 2 kids. No way NP curriculum is the same as MD curriculum. Let me give you my perspective. I scored 97 percentile on the AANP board certification, and only knew the answer for maybe 25% on the USMLE Step 1 practice test. NP curriculum didnt go deep at all into etiology and pathogenesis. We did not learn about bacteria, viruses, fungi, coagulation cascade, cytokines, chemokines, etc. If you ask any NPs about the intrinsic pathway and extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, I would be surprised if they know the answer. Its not because they are not smart, its the training that is not as rigorous as MD’s counterpart.
The challenge will be harder when you have kids, especially when it comes to clinical rotations when you may have to move elsewhere. Its hard, but not impossible. Many NPs on this forum are non-traditional and were able to do it. You can do it if you have passion for medical knowledge.
A good estimate (maybe) of how hard the exams will be is for you to take the MCAT, and there is moderate correlation between the MCAT and USMLE Step 1.

Thanks for replying. Oh yes, I understand they’re both different curriculums and med school is a lot more in depth. She was talking about the hours spent studying, time away from kids, studying every day/night is basically the same for NP school too. I just couldn’t understand how. I know med school is taking a lot of info every single day but I couldn’t understand where she was coming from. She said I’ll be studying day and night either way lol

 

[Ultimax]

Its true, you will compete against your peers, who will devote to study full-time and research activities to get into competitive specialties. Nursing knowledge and patient interaction experience wont help you do well on USMLE Step 1, which is arguably the most important exam; as it will help determine your chance to match into your favorite residency.

 

[deleted367183]

I was in a 3-year direct entry NP program and I left with a BSN after one year to start premed prerequisites. Yes, obviously, med school is miles more difficult, but it's not quite as difficult as one might think. All the sciences are a lot of information at 200 level, rather than a little information at 400 level.

 

[MD4Me99]

I was in a 3-year direct entry NP program and I left with a BSN after one year to start premed prerequisites. Yes, obviously, med school is miles more difficult, but it's not quite as difficult as one might think. All the sciences are a lot of information at 200 level, rather than a little information at 400 level.

How would you compare the studying time of both schools since you’ve been through both? Did you have to study the same, a little bit more or double the amount in Med school? I’m assuming you went full time in NP since you were direct entry? Thanks!

 

[MD4Me99]

Oh wait, I completely ignored the part where you said you got out after BSN....oops!

 

[deleted367183]

For the BSN portion at least, the study time is not remotely comparable to med school. I essentially did not study and got Bs. And this was at a "good" program. Other students reported that the BSN year is the most intense of the three direct entry years. So I suspect NP and MD are not even in the same ballpark.

 

[deleted367183]

I hesitate to say it because I don't have kids--though I am a woman--but with children and a BSN already in hand, I would think long and hard about NP. I only have one med school mom friend--surprise! baby that arrived in M3, along with a preexisting 4-year-old--but I think she would give the same advice. My other mom physician friends have basically given their children to other people to raise, though of course I would never talk that way to their face.

 

[MD4Me99]

I hesitate to say it because I don't have kids--though I am a woman--but with children and a BSN already in hand, I would think long and hard about NP. I only have one med school mom friend--surprise! baby that arrived in M3, along with a preexisting 4-year-old--but I think she would give the same advice. My other mom physician friends have basically given their children to other people to raise, though of course I would never talk that way to their face.

That’s exactly what I’m scared of—giving my children to other people to raise! Although I have a part time nanny right now too and can afford a live in nanny but I feel like they might resent me later for being away so much. But who knows, they might be happy that mom is not here to yell if we fight lol. They’re very attached to me since they’ve always been home with me until they started KG. Plus, my husband travels for 3-4 days every six months 🙁. Thanks for your advice though, I really appreciate it 🙂

 

[deleted367183]

You're very welcome, for whatever my advice is worth! One other consideration I would look at is the cost of NP at your local public institution. My direct entry program was at a private institution (a big mistake in itself) that cost as much as medical school. I said, for this kind of money, why not go to med school?!!!! If I had started at my local highly-regarded public school, I might be an NP right now.

 

[MD4Me99]

You're very welcome, for whatever my advice is worth! One other consideration I would look at is the cost of NP at your local public institution. My direct entry program was at a private institution (a big mistake in itself) that cost as much as medical school. I said, for this kind of money, why not go to med school?!!!! If I had started at my local highly-regarded public school, I might be an NP right now.

That’s another dilemma! The cost and the time. The cost isn’t a big difference for between the programs unless I go to a private Med school (which most likely will be the case if I ever get accepted lol). The thing is my local public Uni (they’re also the only public Med school in my city) only offers DNP not MSN plus no other school here offers an MSN with a NP track. So, the DNP is 4yrs anyways....well at least the one I wanna go into if I went that route. It’s a dual track FNP/PMHNP.

 

[MD4Me99]

Then again, I follow this med school mom with seven kids on Instagram and feel like why can’t I do this? The grass is always greener on the other side, I guess? Lol

 

[deleted480308]

Then again, I follow this med school mom with seven kids on Instagram and feel like why can’t I do this? The grass is always greener on the other side, I guess? Lol

I follow an astronaut navy seal doctor....I’m only one of those

 

[MD4Me99]

I follow an astronaut navy seal doctor....I’m only one of those

Jonny Kim? Sorry, I really didn’t understand your tone or point but we can follow anyone we want for inspiration in one area or the other....doesn’t mean we have to be everything they are 🙂

 

[deleted480308]

Jonny Kim? Sorry, I really didn’t understand your tone or point but we can follow anyone we want for inspiration in one area or the other....doesn’t mean we have to be everything they are 🙂

I was responding to the “why can’t I do this” part, because we don’t all get to be all the people we look up to.

Follow whoever you want

 

[MD4Me99]

I was responding to the “why can’t I do this” part, because we don’t all get to be all the people we look up to.

Follow whoever you want

Exactly my point! We can’t be ALL that they are but if we wanna go in the direction they are in then some inspiration doesn’t hurt. I don’t know her so I’m not in any competition with her that if she can do why can’t I. I’m just seeing it as an ability and questioning my own capability, that’s all 🙂

 

[Itisnottoolate]

I can tell you if you go NP you will always have the inner desire to be a doctor. I have been an NP for several years and now applying to med school. We definitely do not get the in depth training med students get. If you are like me and want to know why things are then go to med school. I have three children and am in my thirties. I do have a very supportive husband.

 

[Giovanotto]

Thanks for replying. Oh yes, I understand they’re both different curriculums and med school is a lot more in depth. She was talking about the hours spent studying, time away from kids, studying every day/night is basically the same for NP school too. I just couldn’t understand how. I know med school is taking a lot of info every single day but I couldn’t understand where she was coming from. She said I’ll be studying day and night either way lol

Let me clear things up for you: she's wrong. Very wrong.

 

[MD4Me99]

Let me clear things up for you: she's wrong. Very wrong.

Thanks 🙂