Hello I have an RN question

[atonox146]

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I am new here, I just found this forum and it was exacly what I was looking for. My question comes out as I have been thinking that I want to be a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor since I can remember but a little bit earlier in my life I decided that school would be way to long and decided that I rather stick to something shorter, which brought me to making the worse decision in my life, which was to go to a technical school for Mechanical Engineering. As I spent more time there I realized my heart wasn't in it and I dropped out.
I am 20 yrs old and I want to go to choose an undergrad major. Now I was thinking that I might want to major in nursing (bachelors). Just in case that I don't want to keep going with school I can at least be in contact with patients and improving their lives. Now my question is that, if I do major in Nursing will it be hard for me to get into med school? I am almost 100% sure that I would continue into med school but I like to still have a back-up plan, I don't know what the future holds. Any opinions would be really appreciated, thanks.

 

[r0b0tafflicti0n]

Well, I wouldn't say it's a bad plan. . .although you won't meet all of the pre-reqs for med school with a nursing degree, and I'm not sure how much room for electives you'll have in a nursing program since they tend to be pretty structured. It probably depends on your school. But you can always do an extra year to get your physics/second semester of O-Chem in.

Major in whatever interests you!

 

[Truth_seeker]

I am new here, I just found this forum and it was exacly what I was looking for. My question comes out as I have been thinking that I want to be a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor since I can remember but a little bit earlier in my life I decided that school would be way to long and decided that I rather stick to something shorter, which brought me to making the worse decision in my life, which was to go to a technical school for Mechanical Engineering. As I spent more time there I realized my heart wasn't in it and I dropped out.
I am 20 yrs old and I want to go to choose an undergrad major. Now I was thinking that I might want to major in nursing (bachelors). Just in case that I don't want to keep going with school I can at least be in contact with patients and improving their lives. Now my question is that, if I do major in Nursing will it be hard for me to get into med school? I am almost 100% sure that I would continue into med school but I like to still have a back-up plan, I don't know what the future holds. Any opinions would be really appreciated, thanks.

After reading your thread, I see three career choices, mechanical engineering, nursing, and physician. Now, it's true, choose a major that you're most definitely interested in and will generate good grades. However, adcoms are gonna ask why the flip flopping. Before working with patients and deciding on your career, I think you need to be honest with yourself and get in the trenches. Go volunteer somewhere to see what being a nurse or physician is all about. You said in your post "in case you don't want to keep going with school..." Not really sure what you mean by that but this journey, and I'm sure everyone here can attest, is a very long road of schooling. Even when you're out practicing on your own, you still have CME to do to keep up your license. So schooling and learning will always be apart of your professional life. If being in medicine is truly what you want then you'll do anything to get there. It's an incredible field w/ so many opportunities but it will take lots of money, time, and resources to get where you want. Decide now before you enter into a professional program and figure out this is not what you thought it would be. Good luck.

 

[relentless11]

I don't see anything wrong with doing a nursing degree for your undergrad program. People have done all kinds of programs from biomedical engineering to comparative literature. Aslong as you complete your pre-reqs, you can apply to med school. What determines if you get in or not has to do with many things.

The only thing that might come up is the question: "why not be an RN?". That puts you in a bad position since you can't say "i want to help people" or "see patients" since you clearly do. Nor can you say "higher pay". I can guarantee you that there are many nursing majors and even RN's that have successfully applied to medical school, so you just have to come up with your own creative answer to that🙂. But yea, do what you enjoy, but be aware of the potential of questions like that in the future.

 

[hunter1077]

I think nursing would be a great choice. Most BS nursing programs require prereqs just like med school usually two years worth so you should be able to squeeze in your med school extra classes in those two years or spread out to three? Then finish up your RN.
College students seldom think about their plans not working out. And therefore, have NO backup. You have an excellent backup just in case you are not able to get into medical school. You have the ability to continue on to CRNA or NP school.
If an admis com. asked you why not nursing simply tell them that nursing (although rewarding and fullfilling) you found that the diagnostic and treatment regimen side of patient care was your true calling and tell them the truth you needed a good backup to medical school. Any good doctor is going to have a backup plan.

 

[psychRN]

Hi,
I am an RN. Always wanted to be a doc. Due to some unexpected situations in college (plus a lot of playing around) I went into nursing. I have loved nursing, it's been truly rewarding. Helped me to give my daughter a good life while I was a single parent. Never worried about a job. When I went into a part of nursing that was not for me, I just went into another field of nursing until I found my niche. I thought I would be a nurse forever, but after years of nursing (5) that desire that has been suppressed for some time began to emerge . When I was in 6th grade, I said that one day I would be a doctor. I really had no hope in that desire being that no one in my family had ever gone to college. Now that I have gone to college, am now married with great support, have confidence that I can do and be whatever I want, I am now going to shoot for med school. I love the one on one patient contact as a nurse. I love the effect that I have had in the lives of the families and children that I have encountered. Yet, I cannot help but feel powerless as far as alot of the decisions made in the course of treatment prescribed for families. I often am the one, though half-heartedly, having to explain and encourage pts in treatments that I feel sometimes will not work for them. I got to a point where I was saying, "now if I was their doctor.....blah, blah". Well, I am tired of hearing myself say that. So here goes. Nursing has shown me a perspective that is invaluable, especially in bedside manners. So go for it. If your heart is in it, I don't think that you can go wrong.

 

[shenanigans]

I understand your position. I am in a my junior year of a BSN program @ Univ. of MD now and will be preparing to return to school after I graduate next year to finish up my pre-req's for med school. Here is a little background on me, I have been an EMT for the past 4 years, and a tech in the ED at the University hospital where I attend school in baltimore for the past year. Before I started nursing, I thought that nursing would have been a great opportunity to make some good money after graduation and always be guaranteed a job in a field that I have loved since I was a little kid, medicine.

However, when I started clinicals in nursing school, I found that I liked following the residents during their rounds more than listening to my clinical instructor. I realized that I liked the science of medicine so much more than nursing, that nursing school didn't go into enough detail for me and I wanted to learn more. So I decided that after graduation next year, I'll return to school to finish my O-Chem and physics and such. And, when I do apply, I would have already had the experience of performing patient care and prioritizing tasks and such under pressure. So, in summary, it is a good idea if you're willing to put forth the extra effort (i.e. adding an additional year of postbac studies onto your undergrad) because it gives you the chance to really decide if medicine is the right field for you. I know of 1-2 docs that i've seen that had gone all the way through med school and in their intern year decide that medicine wasn't right for them...

 

[burntcrispy]

I was a RN for 6 years before going to medical school. I'm graduating from medical school in a month and going off to internship.

I would only get the nursing degree if you decide that you do not want to go to medical school. If you go the nursing route it will take you about 2 more years because you will have to take the med school pre recs on top of the BSN stuff.

I went into nursing for the sole purpose of becoming a CRNA. After working as a nurse for only a few months I realized that CRNA was not for me. I wanted more autonomy and respect. So, I wasted all of that time in nursing school and working as a nurse.

You're only 20 years old. Don't waste any more time. The physician track is very time consuming (average of 4 years college + 4 years med school + 3-10 years residency). If you go full force premed (bio degree or whatever) you can get into med school earlier and get done with your training earlier.

I'm 32 years old and definately regret my time wasted.

Good luck.

 

[mshheaddoc]

My suggestion, really look into nursing and make sure you want that as a back up plan. I was in the same sitution a few years removed from college. I applied to nursing school for BSN but decided against it. In my heart as much as I wanted a back up plan, I decided to find another way. I knew I would not be happy in 2 years of nursing classes which had no interest to me. Although you get clinical aspect of nursing, its not medicine. I decided on a science major. But like you, I wanted a back up plan. So I found another field that I think would be a better fit with me, Medical Technology. I have every intention of applying to medical school while I am in that program (most likely - but hey things change on a daily basis) but I would like to work as from the clinical side of medicine, this is an important aspect. Something which you can get in nursing too.

I think the BS in Nursing is a great idea but don't just do it for a backup plan without truly researching it. I have seen many people go into nursing and only leave it shortly thereafter because really it wasn't what they wanted. Or worse off, stay in it because its their only option and meanwhile make everyone else MISERABLE around them. And if you have worked in a hospital or been around the nursing staff while volunteering, you'll understand what I mean. I think its a great idea if you truly have an interest. But if you want to use it as a backup plan I guess I'm just hesitant for the reasons of "what if you don't enjoy it". and maybe there were other options out there.

 

[ERPeds]

I love the one on one patient contact as a nurse. I love the effect that I have had in the lives of the families and children that I have encountered. Yet, I cannot help but feel powerless as far as alot of the decisions made in the course of treatment prescribed for families. I often am the one, though half-heartedly, having to explain and encourage pts in treatments that I feel sometimes will not work for them. I got to a point where I was saying, "now if I was their doctor.....blah, blah". Well, I am tired of hearing myself say that. So here goes. Nursing has shown me a perspective that is invaluable, especially in bedside manners. So go for it. If your heart is in it, I don't think that you can go wrong.

That's exactly what I've been feeling lately.

To the OP:

Nursing is good in terms of job stability and flexibility, but if your heart is set on medicine, I say go for it all the way. Depending on the program, a nursing degree may not prepare you for med school with the prereqs you need (ex: for me to be able to go, I have to go back for o-chem and physics). I would sit down and compare the prereqs and the nursing/medical models and really think about what you want to do. Think about where you want to be 20 years from now...

 

[chrisjohn]

Get a B.S., biology or chemistry, if you can be totally sure that you're committed enough to get a GPA >3.7. Bust out a 35 MCAT and get ready to decide between a few schools.

If not, I think getting an RN would rock, that is of course if you dig patients. Personally I do, and would have been happier being a RN during the years I spent trying matriculate, not to mention would have been tremendously fiscally better off. Something to think about. Research assistants make 25-31K around these parts, with some notable exceptions for those whoring themselves out literally or figuratively. Tough to find a RN position at a hospital that is <40K. The nurses in our Hem Onc clinic start out at 65K.

RNs are where the rubber meets the road as far as patient care. MS hopefuls blather on in their personal statements about wanting to “make a difference.” A good RN makes a difference every day.

 

[Josh L.Ac.]

I am in a similar yet almost opposite situation. I got my bachelor's in biology with pre-med emphasis then went off to acupuncture school [3.5 year master's degree] with the intention of going to DO school afterwards. Well I had the misfortune of meeting the absolute perfect girl and siring an offspring so my plans had to change.




While I was in China doing an internship at a hospital there, I was put in a clinical group with one of my fellow classmates that was also a FNP. I saw how he was able to seamlessly go from modality to modality [and paradigm to paradigm] so I talked to him about his training. He talked me into going to be a FNP.


First step was getting a BSN (since all of the master's entry programs are on the coasts and I need to get back to my ailing familiy) so I found an accelerated program in Kansas City. I sent off all my paperwork and to my horror, I was told I had about 20 credits of prerequisites that I needed to complete. I had a BS in biology with a minor in chem and I still had prereqs?


Yup, apparently they want a nursing student to have more humanties than science [?] so I had to suffer through an entry level sociology class, and this summer I get to dive into more theology and ethics classes [BSN starts in August].


My point? If you do the BSN, you'll have to go back and take more classes for medical school. In addition, some of the classes you take for pre-nursing might not be high enough level to satisfy the medical school requirements.


On the other hand, there are some sweet deals that can be worked out with nursing schools which will help defray the costs - my accelerated BSN is going to be paid for in exchange for working in a HCA hospital for two years (while they also pay for NP school if I choose that route). If you can find a program like this, you can make money while deciding which route you really want to take - FNP vs MD/DO vs PA.


The downside is that you'll be older when you graduate medical school (if you take that route). But hey, they say 40 is the new 30.

 

[atonox146]

Yeah, during the past days I've been thinking more, and I think I should just go for all or nothing. Meaning I will go for a Biology degree. I keep thinking that if I do become I nurse I will be wishing that I should have become a doctor. The only thing that I keep thinking about is what will I say to the adcom about the flip flop between Mech Eng. and Medicine...

 

[burntcrispy]

Yeah, during the past days I've been thinking more, and I think I should just go for all or nothing. Meaning I will go for a Biology degree. I keep thinking that if I do become I nurse I will be wishing that I should have become a doctor. The only thing that I keep thinking about is what will I say to the adcom about the flip flop between Mech Eng. and Medicine...

On the average, adcoms at medical schools LOVE Eng. students. There are more than a few people in my class with Eng degrees. Even without the degree and having switched, you still have some of those "difficult classes" that show that you've got the stuff to survive medical school. Don't worry about it at all. On the interview you can just say something about how you went into Eng. because you liked solving problems. Then you decided you liked biological sciences and found that as a physician you could solve problems every day and make a difference in people's lives or some BS like that. They really eat that stuff up.

Good luck, you'll do great.

 

[Josh L.Ac.]

Yeah, during the past days I've been thinking more, and I think I should just go for all or nothing. Meaning I will go for a Biology degree. I keep thinking that if I do become I nurse I will be wishing that I should have become a doctor. The only thing that I keep thinking about is what will I say to the adcom about the flip flop between Mech Eng. and Medicine...

As my biochem teacher from my undergrad said [who dropped out of medical school to become a very successful biochemist]:

"Show me person in their early 20s that graduates in 4 years, never changes their major, and goes straight to grad school and I'll show a student that is taking orders from their parents."


Well it went something like that.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Get an ADN first at a 2-year college. You skip a lot of the stupid gen ed crap that is in the BSN program. Some of the ADN credits will also transfer to a 4-year university.

Enroll in a 4-year university while working PT or PRN as a RN. Complete a degree in whatever you want while taking the premed courses.

Apply to medical school. If you are admitted, hooray! If not, which is what happens to more than half of applicants, you will have a steady job with a nice paycheck. Trust me, this makes all the difference in the world.

If you don't get in and want to stick with nursing, you can do a BSN completion program, then move on to a MSN, DNP, CRNA, whatever.

So why not do the BSN to begin with? Because getting the ADN will allow you to work as a RN sooner, allow you to pursue a different and more interesting major, and still allow you to complete the BSN later if you decide to.

I cannot stress this enough. If I had college to do all over again, I would have done the above. It is imperative that you establish a good foundation for yourself in case you are not admitted. I would have nailed the ADN, then worked PRN while completing a double major in Philosophy and Chinese Language plus the premed requirements.

 

[Empress]

Bumping this because this is my exact plan. If I was 20 years old with no kids, I probably wouldn't go this route. But I'm a lot older and now have my heart set on med school and my brain set on steady paycheck. I think it's a good balance.

Get an ADN first at a 2-year college. You skip a lot of the stupid gen ed crap that is in the BSN program. Some of the ADN credits will also transfer to a 4-year university.

Enroll in a 4-year university while working PT or PRN as a RN. Complete a degree in whatever you want while taking the premed courses.

Apply to medical school. If you are admitted, hooray! If not, which is what happens to more than half of applicants, you will have a steady job with a nice paycheck. Trust me, this makes all the difference in the world.

If you don't get in and want to stick with nursing, you can do a BSN completion program, then move on to a MSN, DNP, CRNA, whatever.

So why not do the BSN to begin with? Because getting the ADN will allow you to work as a RN sooner, allow you to pursue a different and more interesting major, and still allow you to complete the BSN later if you decide to.

I cannot stress this enough. If I had college to do all over again, I would have done the above. It is imperative that you establish a good foundation for yourself in case you are not admitted. I would have nailed the ADN, then worked PRN while completing a double major in Philosophy and Chinese Language plus the premed requirements.

 

[Obedeli]

I am new here, I just found this forum and it was exacly what I was looking for. My question comes out as I have been thinking that I want to be a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor since I can remember but a little bit earlier in my life I decided that school would be way to long and decided that I rather stick to something shorter, which brought me to making the worse decision in my life, which was to go to a technical school for Mechanical Engineering. As I spent more time there I realized my heart wasn't in it and I dropped out.
I am 20 yrs old and I want to go to choose an undergrad major. Now I was thinking that I might want to major in nursing (bachelors). Just in case that I don't want to keep going with school I can at least be in contact with patients and improving their lives. Now my question is that, if I do major in Nursing will it be hard for me to get into med school? I am almost 100% sure that I would continue into med school but I like to still have a back-up plan, I don't know what the future holds. Any opinions would be really appreciated, thanks.

Bad, bad, bad plan. True, every medical school class as a few RN to MDs in it, just as there is history to MD, physics to MD, Marine to MD in every class. No advantage whatsoever. Nursing is a profession in its own right, it is not a stepping stone.

I gotta stop posting on these boards.

 

[oldpro]

I think nursing would be a great choice. Most BS nursing programs require prereqs just like med school usually two years worth so you should be able to squeeze in your med school extra classes in those two years or spread out to three? Then finish up your RN.
.

I really have to dissagree, being an RN for 18yrs knowing what Nursing school is like, no the prereqs are not the same and I had to take more for Medschool.

There is no time to take other classes while in Nursing school, and RN's take the NCLEX, like MD's take the USLME, and until you practice out of Nursing school and pass the NCLEX you are not an RN. So it is a longer path to Medschool, thats why few do it. There are other things too that RN's know about with our colleagues and the "traitor attitude".

I strongly ask anyone to look into this before doing it.

 

[Empress]

There are other things too that RN's know about with our colleagues and the "traitor attitude".

Those who do have a "traitor attitude" need to get over it. It doesn't speak well of them and the profession.

 

[oldpro]

Those who do have a "traitor attitude" need to get over it. It doesn't speak well of them and the profession.

I agree if it didn't seem so, I think it's wrong to be like that but some Nurses have been the "them and us" attitude, "Doctors do not know how to care for patients" And "Nurses are the real ones saving lives" kinda of crap I've heard from some colleagues all my life. It is one of the reasons I'm in Medschool and not NP. Really just tired of Nurses and the BS that goes on.

There were very good colleagues above this and I admire and respect them and hope to see them again when I'm a MD.

 

[Empress]

I agree if it didn't seem so, I think it's wrong to be like that but some Nurses have been the "them and us" attitude, "Doctors do not know how to care for patients" And "Nurses are the real ones saving lives" kinda of crap I've heard from some colleagues all my life. It is one of the reasons I'm in Medschool and not NP. Really just tired of Nurses and the BS that goes on.

I am not looking forward to it either. I truly believe one of the reasons our healthcare system is having as many problems as it does is the lack of teamwork and respect certain people in the different disciplines show to each other. Grow up or get out.

 

[zenman]

I have always wanted to become a doctor since I can remember .

Have you thought about why you want to be a doctor?