RN to MD

[pasadama007]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Are there any nurses out there that have decided to go to med school or already in med school? I will really love to link up with u guys. I'm a third year nursing student who has a strong desire to go to med school.

 

[oldpro]

Are there any nurses out there that have decided to go to med school or already in med school? I will really love to link up with u guys. I'm a third year nursing student who has a strong desire to go to med school.

I'm an RN thats in Medschool in the caribbean. You can PM me if you would like.

 

[burntcrispy]

I worked as a RN for 6 years, just graduated from allopathic (MD) school in Tx. You can PM me if you want some info.

 

[billydoc]

Hey guys!
Count me in this club too. RN x almost 16 yrs 😱 . I also did 2 semesters at ROSS in the Carib back in 2004. Unfortunetely I had to interupt my studies.
I don't have ROSS acceptance anymore, but could go to St. Matthews this fall, or do the whole shabang MCAT and admission process for U.S. Quite frankly, at 36 I feel that time is of the essence, and might just go Carib. Lots of very bright (that's a lot brighter than me) kids go IMG, and still do alright.
What do you say guys?

 

[Dr.2be]

Hey,
I'm also a nursing student with the desire for MD. I have one more year to go. I'm applying this summer for the entering medical class of 2007. I just had a question fro teh nurse that went from RN to med. In interviews how did u answer the question "why med and not nursing?"
Just curious what youranswers were even if you did not get trhat question what were your motives?
Thanks

 

[oldpro]

Hey guys!
Count me in this club too. RN x almost 16 yrs 😱 . I also did 2 semesters at ROSS in the Carib back in 2004. Unfortunetely I had to interupt my studies.
I don't have ROSS acceptance anymore, but could go to St. Matthews this fall, or do the whole shabang MCAT and admission process for U.S. Quite frankly, at 36 I feel that time is of the essence, and might just go Carib. Lots of very bright (that's a lot brighter than me) kids go IMG, and still do alright.
What do you say guys?

Funny cause at 40 I was there so I went and I'm in the Caribbean too.
18 years as an RN, Small world.

 

[oldpro]

Hey,
I'm also a nursing student with the desire for MD. I have one more year to go. I'm applying this summer for the entering medical class of 2007. I just had a question fro teh nurse that went from RN to med. In interviews how did u answer the question "why med and not nursing?"
Just curious what youranswers were even if you did not get trhat question what were your motives?
Thanks

If it is me then, I had 18 years of RN so I said I wanted to take care of the Patient from a different perspective, I wanted independent paractice as an FP in the Rural setting ( which I will do ). I think you have to just ponder a while on why you want to be a Doc and focus on that. Nurses do take care of the whole Patient but in a different way than a Doc. I wanted to be able to prescribe the course of treatment and be the Team leader of the health care team.

 

[deleted59964]

Are there any nurses out there that have decided to go to med school or already in med school? I will really love to link up with u guys. I'm a third year nursing student who has a strong desire to go to med school.

RN for 10 years now in med school. Feel free to PM me too 🙂

 

[billydoc]

If it is me then, I had 18 years of RN so I said I wanted to take care of the Patient from a different perspective, I wanted independent paractice as an FP in the Rural setting ( which I will do ). I think you have to just ponder a while on why you want to be a Doc and focus on that. Nurses do take care of the whole Patient but in a different way than a Doc. I wanted to be able to prescribe the course of treatment and be the Team leader of the health care team.

Hey oldpro!
Are you at ROSS or some other Carib school? Also, have you tried getting in the States, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[oldpro]

Hey oldpro!
Are you at ROSS or some other Carib school? Also, have you tried getting in the States, if you don't mind my asking?

No I don't Mind, I'm at St James, I didn't try the states since college was over 10 years before this and going here I don't have to redo anything. It's all up to me to work hard. I'm doing okay so far, I'm in MD2.

 

[billydoc]

No I don't Mind, I'm at St James, I didn't try the states since college was over 10 years before this and going here I don't have to redo anything. It's all up to me to work hard. I'm doing okay so far, I'm in MD2.

Thanks oldpro. I know, basically if you rock USMLE you'd get pretty much anything within reasonable limits. Are there lots of nurses at St.James. I figured there got to be a few in each school. I've met quite a few NPs, who I thought were happy (because they were doing the things that Drs do). But many said it's not the same thing at all. And i realized it's better to be in debt than regret for the rest of your life ...coulda, shoulda.
Best of Luck to you 😀

 

[internetwop]

been an RN for little over 10 yrs. took the MCAT before & did terrible & now taking Kaplan prep course to take test in august. so i'm hoping it will all work out in the end. it's alot of work going through this process, especially work full-time hrs in a demanding job & tryin to study for the MCAT 😱 good luck to all my fellow RN peeps 😀

 

[chopstick1]

I am also RN to DO program. I was in the military, then RN for 8 yrs, after mcat x 3, now starting med school in a month!! it's been a long road and I am finally getting a shot. feel free to PM me. good luck to fellow RN's!~

 

[oldpro]

Thanks oldpro. I know, basically if you rock USMLE you'd get pretty much anything within reasonable limits. Are there lots of nurses at St.James. I figured there got to be a few in each school. I've met quite a few NPs, who I thought were happy (because they were doing the things that Drs do). But many said it's not the same thing at all. And i realized it's better to be in debt than regret for the rest of your life ...coulda, shoulda.
Best of Luck to you 😀

One other here, most are EMT's.

Yea I decided that even though my divorce stopped me years ago then I remarried, I would go ahead and try to get in one last time and came here.

I really do not regret it at all. I know the $$$ loans but I know I will get them paid off for Rural FP at least most of it so .................Gotta study LOL

 

[pasadama007]

RN for 10 years now in med school. Feel free to PM me too 🙂

So glad to hear from all that has taken the RN -MD route. Just want to know how your nursing knowledge and skills helped in Med school . moreover, since you have had a lot of nursing experience how was your med school interview like. Did your nursing background make you more attractive to the interview panel or were they hard on asking u why MD instead of nursing because of the nursing shortage.

 

[pasadama007]

I worked as a RN for 6 years, just graduated from allopathic (MD) school in Tx. You can PM me if you want some info.

Hey, I'm glad to here from you. So did u take a post-bac class to complete the med requirements. How was your GPA after nursing school. I have heard people saying a good bet into med school is an undergrad GPA of 3.5 and above and a good MCAT. Considering the fact that I am in Hopkins school of nursing it is kind of hard getting a cumulative GPA of 3.5 & above. however my grades are all A's and B's .I'm thinking to take a year off and work as an RN and then finish my med prereqs.How were you successful? I am in my early 20's and might enter med school in my mid t0 late 20's . I am wondering how med school will affect me starting a family. How about u?

 

[oldpro]

So glad to hear from all that has taken the RN -MD route. Just want to know how your nursing knowledge and skills helped in Med school . moreover, since you have had a lot of nursing experience how was your med school interview like. Did your nursing background make you more attractive to the interview panel or were they hard on asking u why MD instead of nursing because of the nursing shortage.

In may case yes it has helped, I can understand things clearer since I have worked with real patients for so long, (18yrs) and had some of this before in nursing school. I think clinicals is where RN's can really rock though.

As far as interview, pretty much treated the same as well as MD1 here, now they have gotten to know me and since I passed the 1st semester they like me more.

 

[moonbunnie]

Hey there, Im an RN student who now wants to do MD, too. I guess its what I always wanted, but was scared after a crappy few semesters at community college that I wouldnt get accepted to MD, and that it would take too long. But, now I realize that I dont want to look back at my life and regret not even trying to go for what I wanted. So, Im now 25 and graduating with my BSN this december. Im planning to work full time while doing post bacc pre reqs for 2 years, then applying when I am 28 to start when Im 29. My boyfriend and I also plan to get married and start a family between the age of 28 and 30, so I am going to have a busy few years. Sorry to ramble, but I guess that what I think is that you can try to convince yourself you will be happy with something else (RN, CRNA, NP, etc.), but you most likely will not. At least thats how I feel, so I am at least going to attempt to follow my dreams 🙂

 

[burntcrispy]

Hey there, Im an RN student who now wants to do MD, too. I guess its what I always wanted, but was scared after a crappy few semesters at community college that I wouldnt get accepted to MD, and that it would take too long. But, now I realize that I dont want to look back at my life and regret not even trying to go for what I wanted. So, Im now 25 and graduating with my BSN this december. Im planning to work full time while doing post bacc pre reqs for 2 years, then applying when I am 28 to start when Im 29. My boyfriend and I also plan to get married and start a family between the age of 28 and 30, so I am going to have a busy few years. Sorry to ramble, but I guess that what I think is that you can try to convince yourself you will be happy with something else (RN, CRNA, NP, etc.), but you most likely will not. At least thats how I feel, so I am at least going to attempt to follow my dreams 🙂

Pretty much exactly what I did (minus the kids). Now I'm 32 and starting internship in 8 days. Just study hard during the post bac and do as well as you can on the MCAT. It will be expensive (the Kaplain was about $1300 for MCAT) but well worth it. You want to do everything you can to go to a school in the US. I think you get a decent education in the carribian but you will have a much, much harder time getting residencies than the other US applicants. And if you should want to do any of the nice lifestyle jobs (Rads, optho, anesthesia, derm, ER) you're pretty much out of the game coming from a carribian school. Not entirely impossible but very improbable.

There were 3 nurses in my medschool class. Most classes have at least 1. It wasn't any easier to get into medschool being a nurse and it may have hurt if anything. Being a nurse doesn't help at all for the first 2 years of medical school. Nursing school (including NP, PA, etc) doesn't really teach you anything related to the science of medicine. The nursing knowledge is very superficial and there is nothing superficially taught in medical school. When we're on the rotations with PAs or NPs we can't really talk to them about anything related to phys/pharm etc because they don't have enough knowledge to understand what we're talking about. You just don't realize how much physicians know until you go through it. It's been wonderful.

Being a nurse did help a little during 3rd year because its all rotations and you're familiar with the hospital and how things work. That advantage quickly goes away as the other students become more familiar with the hospital setting. Nursing also helps with minor procedures like IVs, NG tubes, etc. While my counterparts are struggling trying to start IVs I was putting them in with my left hand (I'm right handed) because of the sheer boredom of doing thousands of them. Very minor advantage in the scheme of things though.

My best advice: Study as hard as you can, keep your grades and head up and you'll do fine.

Good luck.

 

[chopstick1]

Hey, I'm glad to here from you. So did u take a post-bac class to complete the med requirements. How was your GPA after nursing school. I have heard people saying a good bet into med school is an undergrad GPA of 3.5 and above and a good MCAT. Considering the fact that I am in Hopkins school of nursing it is kind of hard getting a cumulative GPA of 3.5 & above. however my grades are all A's and B's .I'm thinking to take a year off and work as an RN and then finish my med prereqs.How were you successful? I am in my early 20's and might enter med school in my mid t0 late 20's . I am wondering how med school will affect me starting a family. How about u?

I did the exact same thing. finished my BSN, 1 yr to get every inital behind my name (ER and ICU), then pre med reqs. it was very successful. the hardest part was not wanting to work OT and study!! going from student status then getting a check can become very addictive. esp if you worked weekend nights. it was hard keeping awake flipping back and forth for classes. also if you take on additional tasks, the job can suck you in. 8 yrs later, I am now about to start med school...so it can be done! I have the same thoughts about family (I am 33), it'll happen, when it happens. but at least the dream of med school is now a reality! feel free to PM me if you need any help.

burntkrispy thread is true. nursing only prepares you so much, mainly in rotations, pt care, understanding on the macro level but as for the hard core sciences on the micro level...you'll get a wake up call just taking the pre reqs for the mcat!! nothing in my BSN (except for english) prepared me for the mcat. it's all cell bio,phy, org, inorganic, biochem. get good grades, max the mcat, you'll do fine! go for it, good luck 👍

 

[oldpro]

Pretty much exactly what I did (minus the kids). Now I'm 32 and starting internship in 8 days. Just study hard during the post bac and do as well as you can on the MCAT. It will be expensive (the Kaplain was about $1300 for MCAT) but well worth it. You want to do everything you can to go to a school in the US. I think you get a decent education in the carribian but you will have a much, much harder time getting residencies than the other US applicants. And if you should want to do any of the nice lifestyle jobs (Rads, optho, anesthesia, derm, ER) you're pretty much out of the game coming from a carribian school. Not entirely impossible but very improbable.

There were 3 nurses in my medschool class. Most classes have at least 1. It wasn't any easier to get into medschool being a nurse and it may have hurt if anything. Being a nurse doesn't help at all for the first 2 years of medical school. Nursing school (including NP, PA, etc) doesn't really teach you anything related to the science of medicine. The nursing knowledge is very superficial and there is nothing superficially taught in medical school. When we're on the rotations with PAs or NPs we can't really talk to them about anything related to phys/pharm etc because they don't have enough knowledge to understand what we're talking about. You just don't realize how much physicians know until you go through it. It's been wonderful.

Being a nurse did help a little during 3rd year because its all rotations and you're familiar with the hospital and how things work. That advantage quickly goes away as the other students become more familiar with the hospital setting. Nursing also helps with minor procedures like IVs, NG tubes, etc. While my counterparts are struggling trying to start IVs I was putting them in with my left hand (I'm right handed) because of the sheer boredom of doing thousands of them. Very minor advantage in the scheme of things though.

My best advice: Study as hard as you can, keep your grades and head up and you'll do fine.

Good luck.

I dissagree with the caribbean and residencies from my own personal experiences in the south, but the main thing I think is what kind of nursing you practiced and how long. I think a longer time like 6 to 10 years gives you a lot of skills you will no have to develop while in clinicals, just simple PT contact is a lot when it is done as an authority role. Also high tech nursing includes a lot of advanced topics Although not as in depth as medschool.

I do agree it is a much higher level in medschool.

 

[Sinnman]

Count me in too.

I was a nurse for a number of years. I thought I could be happy being an NP or CRNA but quickly realized that I would never be happy settling for the ‘easier’ course. Plus, I really enjoyed learning all the hows and whys you will never fully grasp as a nurse or NP.

Medical school has been great. Sure it's a lot of work, but when you're fulfilling a dream it's more like a passion than a burden. I'm also married and my marriage has actually been stronger.

As to the questions, I think nursing and advanced nursing classes help somewhat in the first two years. You probable know about 5% more as a nurse but the real advantage is that I could process the information better because I could apply it to patients I had seen as a nurse. That's about it. The level and scope of a physicians education is >>>>> than a nurse or NP.

BTW, I would also encourage nurses to look at osteopathic schools. They tend to welcome applicants with previous healthcare backgrounds and typically see it as an advantage.

Other than that, all I can say is do it!!!!! To all of you out there that are in a similar place to me 5 years ago who want to go to medical school or trying to justify going to NP or CRNA school, just go for it. Nothing will make you more miserable than not doing what you really want to do. There is not obstacle that cannot be overcome, grades, MCAT, admissions, $$, or school itself. I only regret the years I wasted talking myself out of doing it earlier.

 

[psychRN]

Count me in too.

I was a nurse for a number of years. I thought I could be happy being an NP or CRNA but quickly realized that I would never be happy settling for the ‘easier’ course. Plus, I really enjoyed learning all the hows and whys you will never fully grasp as a nurse or NP.

Medical school has been great. Sure it's a lot of work, but when you're fulfilling a dream it's more like a passion than a burden. I'm also married and my marriage has actually been stronger.

As to the questions, I think nursing and advanced nursing classes help somewhat in the first two years. You probable know about 5% more as a nurse but the real advantage is that I could process the information better because I could apply it to patients I had seen as a nurse. That's about it. The level and scope of a physicians education is >>>>> than a nurse or NP.

BTW, I would also encourage nurses to look at osteopathic schools. They tend to welcome applicants with previous healthcare backgrounds and typically see it as an advantage.

Other than that, all I can say is do it!!!!! To all of you out there that are in a similar place to me 5 years ago who want to go to medical school or trying to justify going to NP or CRNA school, just go for it. Nothing will make you more miserable than not doing what you really want to do. There is not obstacle that cannot be overcome, grades, MCAT, admissions, $$, or school itself. I only regret the years I wasted talking myself out of doing it earlier.

I needed to hear this as I am weary at the beginning of my journey. I am getting my BSN now after being a nurse for 6 yrs. Next on the list is prereqs, yet my darling sis-in-law is already making 100K as a NP. Though I know that I am called to be a child psychiatrist, often, the road more traveled (psych NP) seems more easily obtainable. I lie awake saying years later I will regret wasting such precious time going the NP route when I end up coming back to my calling to be a physician. Thanks again for the encouragement. I will stay on course now.

 

[plrae12]

Hey, I'm glad to here from you. So did u take a post-bac class to complete the med requirements. How was your GPA after nursing school. I have heard people saying a good bet into med school is an undergrad GPA of 3.5 and above and a good MCAT. Considering the fact that I am in Hopkins school of nursing it is kind of hard getting a cumulative GPA of 3.5 & above. however my grades are all A's and B's .I'm thinking to take a year off and work as an RN and then finish my med prereqs.How were you successful? I am in my early 20's and might enter med school in my mid t0 late 20's . I am wondering how med school will affect me starting a family. How about u?

If you can go all the way, just go straight to med school. You're coming from a prestigious school so that's a big plus. On the other hand, experience is a good thing but it's difficult to study for the MCAT once you're working. I graduated from nursing school 2 years ago, took a full-time job for one year at an ICU then went back to finish my pre-reqs. I got A's and Bs but boy, that was difficult. My April MCAT also suffered. If you can go all the way I think it would be best.

 

[obrn]

I graduated with my BSN and have worked for 3 years before deciding to go back to school. I have a year or so of med school prereqs to do before I can apply, but hopefully I will be able to appy at this time next year. I am thrilled to go back to school, but I wouldn't trade the experiences I have gotten from the few years I have been practicing as a nurse. I have also heard very positive things from the premed advisor in regards to having 'clinical experience' to go on my application.

I am assuming that even after graduating that you would have a few additional classes to take before you could take the mcat/apply to med school and I would recommend working as an RN during that time for the experience.

 

[chopstick1]

I needed to hear this as I am weary at the beginning of my journey. I am getting my BSN now after being a nurse for 6 yrs. Next on the list is prereqs, yet my darling sis-in-law is already making 100K as a NP. Though I know that I am called to be a child psychiatrist, often, the road more traveled (psych NP) seems more easily obtainable. I lie awake saying years later I will regret wasting such precious time going the NP route when I end up coming back to my calling to be a physician. Thanks again for the encouragement. I will stay on course now.

good deal! don't worry about 100k with additional 2 yr degree as a NP. you'd be amazed on how much a ICU RN can make if you really apply yourself. you'll make much more once you become a physician but most of all you'll get the satisfaction of being where you want in your education and career. I am waiting for that day too. it's priceless.

 

[OBRN2MD]

good deal! don't worry about 100k with additional 2 yr degree as a NP. you'd be amazed on how much a ICU RN can make if you really apply yourself. you'll make much more once you become a physician but most of all you'll get the satisfaction of being where you want in your education and career. I am waiting for that day too. it's priceless.

Many hospitals in my area are union and it does not matter whether you are ICU or Med/Surg in terms of pay scale. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse and we all get paid the same. The wage scale is based on length of service. But, I agree, that it might surprise people how much nurses truly make. If I worked as many hours as most FP docs, I would out-earn them. Do what you love and don't let money be your guide.