RN to Dentist

[NathanDH]

Hello,
I wanted to introduce myself, as well as ask a couple of questions.
I am a RN with a BSN. I have been a nurse for 2 years now. Initially my plans after school were to pursue medicine. Life took over and I have been working since. However, this is a blessing because I have been able to experience many different aspects of medicine and realized that it is not something I am interested in.
I have had an interest in dentistry, but never pursued it. Now I have been able to shadow a dentist, as well as work with a few in the OR. I realize that dentistry better suits me, or maybe I better suit dentistry.
I am going to be starting pre-reqs in Fall '10. I never took introductory biology in school, just A+P I and II, Microbiology, Chem I and II. I am lacking Biochem, Physics, Organic Chem.
During my BSN I took many Nursing oriented sciences such as Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, however I don't consider these sciences since they were primarily related to nursing care in relation.

My questions are:
I plan on applying to Dental School in June '11. I will take Biology I and II, Organic Chem I and II, Physics I, and Calculus (and possibly some other classes, e.g. Cell+Molecular Bio, Histology, Biochem, and Sculpting) in Fall and Spring. I will be done with Physics II in the beginning of July. Would it be a poor decision to submit my application before finishing Physics II?

Also, my school offers a minor in Neuroscience. Would this be beneficial to pursue while taking the other pre-reqs?

Thank you,
Nathan

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[doc toothache]

If your chem I/II were taken within the nursing program, you may want to consider retaking them before you jump into organic.

 

[dRdNs]

hi nathanDH

i actually finished my bsn and worked as a nurse for a year or so and now i'm finishing up my first year in dent school 🙂 as a nurse, i too realized that medicine was not for me. im growing to like dentistry more and more and totally support your decision.

make sure your general chem I and II is up to date since some school's require a 5 year rule. nursing classes and predent sciences are basically different and the only area i feel nursing helped me in would be my patient communication skills and already having dealt with patients before.

As for applying next summer before finishing up physics is fine. I submitted my application before taking the whole physics sequence, biochem, and the DAT.

Also, taking any upper division bio is always a good idea.

Goodluck!

 

[NathanDH]

Thanks for the comments guys!
My Gen Chem I and II will fall within 5 years, so I am planning on not retaking those as of now. However, I am going to be reviewing my text and a Gen Chem AP book before jumping into OChem this fall.

It is encouraging to hear that I am not the only RN to do this, I have not really met any others. However I have spoken with quite a few MD's that were rather pushy toward the dentistry vs. medicine LOL.

 

[gators2014]

Hello Nathan! I am actually a BSN student trying to do the same thing as you. I go to UF currently, but what I am doing is completing my BSN then doing a post bac in biomed. Maybe you should consider a post bac because they create a course load based on what you need, and also help you with finding shadow experience, and so forth. Best of luck to you! I am curious to know how this works out for you because like I said I am doing the same thing!

 

[MTBer]

I recommend spending 3 days and watching the Gen Chem review in the Org Chem section of Khanacademy.org. Seriously I got a years worth of Gen chem done in 3-4 days, it helped tremendously and if you have already taken the courses you will find that alot of the material will come back to you even though it's been years.

 

[instagram]

Hello,
I wanted to introduce myself, as well as ask a couple of questions.
I am a RN with a BSN. I have been a nurse for 2 years now. Initially my plans after school were to pursue medicine. Life took over and I have been working since. However, this is a blessing because I have been able to experience many different aspects of medicine and realized that it is not something I am interested in.
I have had an interest in dentistry, but never pursued it. Now I have been able to shadow a dentist, as well as work with a few in the OR. I realize that dentistry better suits me, or maybe I better suit dentistry.
I am going to be starting pre-reqs in Fall '10. I never took introductory biology in school, just A+P I and II, Microbiology, Chem I and II. I am lacking Biochem, Physics, Organic Chem.
During my BSN I took many Nursing oriented sciences such as Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, however I don't consider these sciences since they were primarily related to nursing care in relation.

My questions are:
I plan on applying to Dental School in June '11. I will take Biology I and II, Organic Chem I and II, Physics I, and Calculus (and possibly some other classes, e.g. Cell+Molecular Bio, Histology, Biochem, and Sculpting) in Fall and Spring. I will be done with Physics II in the beginning of July. Would it be a poor decision to submit my application before finishing Physics II?

Also, my school offers a minor in Neuroscience. Would this be beneficial to pursue while taking the other pre-reqs?

Thank you,
Nathan

Nathan,

I know this has been years, but I have a quick question. I am a RN with a BSN like you, and I'm planning to go to dental school. Is there any specific RN job you recommend, or dental school would prefer more?

Thank you.

 

[PocketRocket]

What if your Gen chem is over 5 years but you aced the gen chem on the DAT?