Premed R.N. a bad idea?

[Technique]

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I've been reading around and getting mixed opinions on this so I want to start a post and see if I can get some conclusive input. Here is my situation in a nut shell.... I'm 24 L.A. resident and aspiring M.D. Currently I work full time in an out patient radiology center to support my family and education. What I want to do is get my R.N. from a 2 year college. Do a year of clinical and finish up my premeds. Transfer to UCLAs BSN program and get my degree. Then take the MCAT and apply to med school. I have to work and R.N.s make pretty good money. It would also give me the hands on exposure that I would think is helpful for med school. I know a lot is missing here as far things I do outside of school etc. But as far as this educational plan goes, am I on the right track or will I be putting a wall between me and med school by being a nurse.

Any and all help with this would be great!

 

[WatchingWaiting]

The short answer is yes-- nurses generally have a hard time convincing med schools that after already having been educated and trained in a health profession they should, instead of going nurse practitioner for more responsibility, take the medical school route.

 

[Noeljan]

Hey Technique
I just graduated in May with my BSN, never went to community college though, just straight to BSN. I can tell you that I have been told by several people involved with Admins that I will have no problem getting into school(given my MCAT performance is good) Granted I never agree with them, and panic every day that I will not get in but based on my grades, extra currics, etc they seem to think I will be fine. Don't get discouraged. I don't see why people with their BSN should be given any slack. You have to get an UG degree in most cases to get into medical school. The same could be said for any major. Oh why didn't you go into economics, oh why didn't you just go into Bio? Unless there was a specific pre-med degree I don't see how anyone's choice of UG program should be questioned as long as they finish their sciences at a 4 year. Just my opinion though.

 

[Technique]

Good to hear! Congratz on your BSN. Yeah it's scared me to start thinking about Radiation therapy. But I'm going to stick with it. I have been in the medical field for 4 years now and have been on my own for 6. I'm sure life experience counts for something. Good luck and I hope it works out for you 🙂

 

[Technique]

Just bumping for more input on this. Thanks!

 

[Mistress S]

Hey Technique, I posted a response to someone with a very similar question recently, and I know others have posted about this topic so you might try doing a search to get some more info. My sis just got her RN, and I think it would be very difficult to pursue premed studies AND nursing school simultaneously--nursing school is pretty demanding in terms of class loads and clinical requirements, and few of the classes you would take for your BSN would match up with the premed reqs (at least, from the nursing programs I am familiar with). If you have already finished most of your premed reqs, or would have enough time to finish them after nursing school, this might be a more realistic option; I would just discourage someone from thinking that they could easily handle nursing school and full-time premed studies (even part-time would be difficult).

Many med schools do seem to view RN's applying to med school with skepticism; which is not to say that RN's can't become MD's, as many do, just that they apparently have an added burden of proof at a lot of med schools to justify the career switch, since it is so much easier for an RN desiring more responsibility to become an NP. There are many other health-related jobs you could train for in 1-2 years (or less) that would pay decently and allow you plenty of clinical exposure (MA, EMT, etc), and that would not raise the eyebrows of adcoms since they are not considered "career" type jobs the way the RN is. It seems easier to me, if you are sure you want to become a physician, to look into one of these jobs rather than deal with the demands of nursing school and doubts from adcoms later. Just my opinion. 🙂