Nurse Seeking Advice

[kml1281]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am new to the site and this is my first post. I have a long and difficult story but I will try to keep it brief. I just turned 26 in Dec. and have been working in the ICU as a nurse for 2.5 years. It has always been my life goal to become a doctor but for some reason I keep putting it off. I cant really explain why but I struggle making that final decision to just go for it. I have taken the prerequisites necessary and have a 4.0 GPA but have not taken the MCAT. I have this complex that I cant do well on that test. To make matters harder on myself (ha ha) I started CRNA school in the Fall and just completed my first semester. My grades were good (3.8) but I find it hard to find the passion I have for medicine. My parents think I am crazy to give up CRNA because of the good money and short time committment. I guess I was just hoping for some advice or hoping that someone is going through similar circumstances. I realize exactly what it will take to do this but I am scared to give up something safe for an unknown I guess. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[spicedmanna]

The fear of failing is often worse than actually failing. Fear paralyzes. It was meant to give you pause, but not to stop you from reaching your dreams. It's okay to be afraid and to also go forward with your dream. The way I figure it, we have only this one chance at life... I'd rather fail trying to achieve my dream, in the service of my heart, than to settle for what I think is safe. Isn't your greater aliveness worth facing and moving through your fears? If not, then what is?

If you are standing on the edge of a great expansion, there is usually somebody warning you not to jump, telling you that you'd be crazy to jump. I say forget them. You know what's best for you and you know your own heart. Don't let the fear of others add to your own. Kindly thank them for their feedback and move on.

Good luck with your choice. You seem very astute.

 

[Blade28]

Hang on...your undergrad GPA is 4.0 but you're still worried about the test?

By "prerequisites necessary," you're including organic chemistry, biochem, physics, etc.?

I would at least try a diagnostic MCAT...you may surprise yourself!

 

[FinchHead]

Whats the worst that could happen? Just take the test. If you screw up horribly, just continue with the CRNA stuff, and retake the test after you study more. Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[chopstick1]

I am an RN and had that same thought...CRNA or MD/DO? at least take the mcat then go from there. you may even have to take it twice, so don't let that be your sole decision maker. by the time you complete the mcat, PS, applications, sending off secondaries...etc. it'll be a year later and you'll almost be done with CRNA so stay, finish. you may even stay with anesthesia just to learn more about the science and reap the rewards of good pay and time off. you have plenty of time so if medicine is for you, you can always go in once you're ready. plus you'll have to explain about dropping out of a masters level program if you went now. good luck! feel free to PM 🙂

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I think most of us non-trads at one point had a gut check where we said, "Do we really want to do this?" before jumping from our secure careers and lifestyles and heading out into the pre-med universe. We understand where you're coming from, and we also know that you have to find your own motivation to take the next step.

I wasn't ready until I was 28. I left an engineering job that paid very well to try to get into medical school; no promises -- just a chance at a dream. I had no school debt and now I'm looking at financing four years of medical school. It was scary to leave that secure environment. I also know that I really want to do this, and the opportunity cost and commitment are acceptable to me.

The MCAT is intimidating but, really, it's just a test. There are a number of resources that can help you prepare (Kaplan, TPR, EK, etc.). Put in the preparation effort and your MCAT score will be fine.

 

[kml1281]

To answer your first question I have taken organic, physics, gentetics, histology, biochem, cell phys, etc. In response to Chopstick1, my biggest dilema is whether to finish my masters program or not. I realize that it cant hurt but i would be 80 grand in debt before even starting toward a medical degree. I dont know if I have the time to commit to both and excel like I would like. It would be difficult to study for the MCAT and maitain my grades in school I think. However, you are right by saying that it cant hurt to just take the test and see where I stand. I just dont want to be 45 and regret not doing this even though I know that CRNA is a great career choice. So you really think that it would be a negative in the eyes of the admissions board to quit my program? Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

However, you are right by saying that it cant hurt to just take the test and see where I stand.

Just be warned, my first practice MCAT -- without preparation -- was something like a 16. After studying I brought that up to a 33 on the real exam. Just don't get demoralized if you take a practice test cold and your score is poor. It says nothing about your ability to do well on the exam; it just reflects that you haven't studied for it.

 

[njbmd]

Take practice MCAT tests for practice and plan on taking the actual test only once. The MCAT is not a test to "plan on" taking more than once.

 

[kml1281]

How did you go about studying?

 

[princekc]

Take practice MCAT tests for practice and plan on taking the actual test only once. The MCAT is not a test to "plan on" taking more than once.

I strongly agreed!

 

[princekc]

I am new to the site and this is my first post. I have a long and difficult story but I will try to keep it brief. I just turned 26 in Dec. and have been working in the ICU as a nurse for 2.5 years.

2.5 yrs as a ICU nurse is a valuable experience that would make your application stands out.

I have taken the prerequisites necessary and have a 4.0 GPA but have not taken the MCAT.

hold up!!!. Is this GPA base on twelve credit hours which is consider full time?

I find it hard to find the passion I have for medicine.
Lack of passion for medicine and you want to be a doctor?

My parents think I am crazy to give up CRNA because of the good money and short time committment.
Do you still live with your parents? it appears they influence your decision making process,probably that's why you are confused. Maybe it about time that you make your own decision irrespective what your parents thinks..

I guess I was just hoping for some advice or hoping that someone is going through similar circumstances. I realize exactly what it will take to do this but I am scared to give up something safe for an unknown I guess. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Maybe you would be better off by just becoming a nurse or maybe you should work for another 2.5 yrs as a ICU nurse by then you might have build up more maturity, confident and experience...maybe at that time you would be sure about attending med sch instead of "scare to give up something safe for an unknown"

 

[princekc]

I am new to the site and this is my first post. I have a long and difficult story but I will try to keep it brief. I just turned 26 in Dec. and have been working in the ICU as a nurse for 2.5 years. It has always been my life goal to become a doctor but for some reason I keep putting it off. I cant really explain why but I struggle making that final decision to just go for it. I have taken the prerequisites necessary and have a 4.0 GPA but have not taken the MCAT. I have this complex that I cant do well on that test. To make matters harder on myself (ha ha) I started CRNA school in the Fall and just completed my first semester. My grades were good (3.8) but I find it hard to find the passion I have for medicine. My parents think I am crazy to give up CRNA because of the good money and short time committment. I guess I was just hoping for some advice or hoping that someone is going through similar circumstances. I realize exactly what it will take to do this but I am scared to give up something safe for an unknown I guess. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

2.5 yrs as a ICU nurse are valuable experience that would makes your application stands out.

hold up!!!. Is this GPA base on twelve credit hours which is consider full time?

Lack of passion for medicine and you want to be a doctor?


Do you still live with your parents? it appears they want you to be a nurse, they want you to be a CRNA so you can make more money, and you want to be a doctor but scare to give up what you already have... Maybe it about time that you make your own decision irrespective what your parents thinks..


Maybe you would be better off by just becoming a nurse or maybe you should work for another 2.5 yrs as a ICU nurse by then you might have build up more maturity, confident and experience...maybe at that time you would be sure about attending med sch instead of "scare to give up something safe for an unknown"

 

[chopstick1]

i would be 80 grand in debt before even starting toward a medical degree.

the avg CRNA salary is 110,000 or more. play your cards right and you can pay a good bit of it off before starting
It would be difficult to study for the MCAT and maitain my grades in school [/QUOTE]
that's very true, I know your 1st yr is heavy on the books and 2nd is a ton of rotations. plus having to do your research paper...etc. but there is some good news, a part of your basic sciences is part of the mcat like phy/org. and the reading for the GRE is similiar (shorter) than mcat
I just dont want to be 45 and regret not doing this even though I know that CRNA is a great career choice. [/QUOTE]
that's true, the older you are, the harder it is to do. CRNA is a great choice...do it for while and see if you still have the desire to go to med school. if you do, go for it! if not, then CRNA is a good fit. you still have time on your side