RN to MD

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you have me.🙂I am working on my premeds,just started though.
 
Absolutely!!! I realized a month after graduation/first day in PICU that I NEEDED to pursue medicine. Fast-forward to today: I have seven years PICU/pedi transport exp, finished BS-Bio, waiting ANXIOUSLY for MCAT score release tonight! Can't wait to get into med school! You're not alone! 🙂
 
I am in a similar situation except that I am still in nursing school. I realized I chose the wrong profession nearly immediately after starting my accelerated BSN program. But I have come too far to change everything now. So my intentions are to graduate, get a job in an area that interests me and start going back to school on a part-time basis until I finish my med school pre-req's.

The only problem I can forsee right now is the fact that my nursing school grades are nothing spectacular. Hopefully I will do extremely well in the rest of my pre-req's and impress ADCOM's that way.
 
I completely agree with you all. I also completed an accelerated BSN program and from day 1, I knew that I wanted to be in medical school and not my combined BSN/MSN program. What made it worse what that I shared a dorm with all of the first year medical students and got to hear them all talking about their classes and such. I just started a Post-bacc program at Hunter college and I am hoping to get into medical school by the time I am 32 (currently 27).
Good luck to you all.



I am in a similar situation except that I am still in nursing school. I realized I chose the wrong profession nearly immediately after starting my accelerated BSN program. But I have come too far to change everything now. So my intentions are to graduate, get a job in an area that interests me and start going back to school on a part-time basis until I finish my med school pre-req's.

The only problem I can forsee right now is the fact that my nursing school grades are nothing spectacular. Hopefully I will do extremely well in the rest of my pre-req's and impress ADCOM's that way.
 
yeah, me too. I plan on finishing my BSN, working in the ICU for a year, and then going on to a post baccalaureate program. It's good to see some other nurses on here. I was beginning to think that I was the only one. I've been posting about this for a little while, getting advice from other SDN members, and have heard that it's good to have your intentions clear as to why you made the career switch... because apparently some people like to think that adcoms will ask you about this. My reasons are clear. I think that if more nurses--> MD's talked about their decisions to switch over, we'd be able to get the right answers to questions adcoms will more than likely ask us.
 
HI there. I was an emergency room nurse for three years while getting my Masters. Now I have been working as a Nurse Practitioner in an ortho office for almost 5 years. This is my first cycle making a run for MD and I interviewed at the school I really want last week.


I was lucky because my first degree was in biology, so when I decided last year to take a go at MD, I already had all the pre-reqs. I took the MCAT last January and submitted my ACAS in June.

I agree with the above posters that your PS has to be very good and must make a compelling statement about why you switched. IF you get interviewed, you will be asked why nursing isn't "good enough" for you, why now, why the long road to MD and you need to have heartfelt answers that you can communicate in a logical statement. Not easy. IF you would like to know how I went about this, feel free to PM me.

For me, NP was not to be a stepping stone, it was the goal. I had learned a lot about mid-levels and wanted the lifestyle of the NP (read get to see your own patients and still have time to have a family). I love my job. I love it a lot, but because of the way it exposed me to medicine, I have decided to press on for an MD.

We will see if it worked for me very soon since I applied EDP and Oct. 1 is fast appoaching. I do not advise non-trads to use the EDP program. Non-trads are usually best served by applying broadly, but being non-trad, many of us are tied to a certain area. I am lucky in that the school I REALLY REALLY TRULY want to attend is close by and so EDP was the best route for myself.

Good luck to all the RNs in here. James

PS Because I truly do like to help people (I know I know) my AMCAS looks like I had been planning this for years. I have volunteering/community service positions that i have held for over 7 years. Because I love the medical field I had already done research and published a few things. I was told this reflects very well on my app because it is not like I decided to apply last year and then ran out to volunteer so I had something for my AMCAS ECs. You have an advantage of knowing you will be applying, so do get involved in the community so you have some ECs that are long term and not all last minute. Best of luck.
 
hiya


Its so great seeing all of the other nurses on here... its seems like such a logical step for me... I am 25 I have a BS in Bio and another in Nursing... it was accelerated too... I currently work in the ER here but I have also done Oncology/ Hospice too.... I have been a nurse for three years!!.... I only received the question in my last int.... and it wasn't a hard question for me at all, I struggled with it before I got to the int...but once I actually got there it just came to me.... he asked... why have you decided to further you education now? you have so many years of education... why more?? , another one asked... do you know what you are getting yourself in to?? I smiled and said yes of course... answered in regards to years of schooling, liability other examples... I even said lack of sleep because I am often the one calling at 3 am for tylenol for a fever...he laughed...and then I said at least I would know those rules pertinent to sleeping... Tylenol.. pain meds...benadryl... and a diet order 🙂, he laughed alot...but that was his personality so I knew I could just be myself...I answered honestly... I had a huge answer prepared re: autonomy ....critical thinking.... but I was so relaxed that I just spoke from my heart... I did explain it briefly in my personal statement... and I used nursing in most of my secondaries.... for examples... maybe my situation is unique...but i think we all have personal stories which have led us down this road so just be open and honest about them...

I think if you seriously want this they will understand why you are switching...

I don't have the world's most perfect grades trust me (GPA/MCAT score).... but I do have a lot of service activity and a cool story to tell...so justbe your self... and make sure this is what you want to do...

By the way I was accepted to that school (already🙂.. I told you about above, its UNECOM... and I have a total of 14 interview... 5 DO/ 9 MD.... and if I get a MD acceptance I'll make a md app profile... because people need to really see that everyone doesn't have a 4.0 and a 40 MCAT score🙂

you can PM me with questions if you wanna... I am just applying now so I am soo not an expert..but I'll answer honestly🙂

Mel🙂
 
HI Mel,
Congrats on all of your interviews. !4 is an amazing number. I could not even imagine. I will also be applying to UNECOM in a couple years when I finished with these prereqs. I am from Mass, so I want to try to stay in the northeast so I am close to my support network 🙂
Could you give me an idea of you stats? I also have the BS in Bio and BS in nursing, but unfortunately due to my Undergrad's grading system, my GPA is kinda crappy 3.3, but my nursing GPA in 3.5. I am retaking my prereqs in hopes of proving my abilities to the ADCOMS.
Good luck with the rest of your interviews and congrats on your acceptance! It must be nice to know you can relax a little bit with already having one acceptance 🙂
You can PM me if you dont want to post this info. Thanks




hiya


Its so great seeing all of the other nurses on here... its seems like such a logical step for me... I am 25 I have a BS in Bio and another in Nursing... it was accelerated too... I currently work in the ER here but I have also done Oncology/ Hospice too.... I have been a nurse for three years!!.... I only received the question in my last int.... and it wasn't a hard question for me at all, I struggled with it before I got to the int...but once I actually got there it just came to me.... he asked... why have you decided to further you education now? you have so many years of education... why more?? , another one asked... do you know what you are getting yourself in to?? I smiled and said yes of course... answered in regards to years of schooling, liability other examples... I even said lack of sleep because I am often the one calling at 3 am for tylenol for a fever...he laughed...and then I said at least I would know those rules pertinent to sleeping... Tylenol.. pain meds...benadryl... and a diet order 🙂, he laughed alot...but that was his personality so I knew I could just be myself...I answered honestly... I had a huge answer prepared re: autonomy ....critical thinking.... but I was so relaxed that I just spoke from my heart... I did explain it briefly in my personal statement... and I used nursing in most of my secondaries.... for examples... maybe my situation is unique...but i think we all have personal stories which have led us down this road so just be open and honest about them...

I think if you seriously want this they will understand why you are switching...

I don't have the world's most perfect grades trust me (GPA/MCAT score).... but I do have a lot of service activity and a cool story to tell...so justbe your self... and make sure this is what you want to do...

By the way I was accepted to that school (already🙂.. I told you about above, its UNECOM... and I have a total of 14 interview... 5 DO/ 9 MD.... and if I get a MD acceptance I'll make a md app profile... because people need to really see that everyone doesn't have a 4.0 and a 40 MCAT score🙂

you can PM me with questions if you wanna... I am just applying now so I am soo not an expert..but I'll answer honestly🙂

Mel🙂
 
I'm a kid nurse compared to most of you probably, i graduated an accelerated program and now work i've been working in an ED for a year. To be honest, i always had medicine in the back of my mind, but being only 19 (im 22, almost 23) i knew that i might not have the commitment needed to pursue medicine. now almost 4 years later, medical school has been a constant nag in the back of my mind almost everyday. I believe nursing has allowed me to see if i really can dedicate myself to patient care as a career. I don't feel i used nursing as a "stepping stone" in anyway, it was a great path for me to self-explore and im thankful for the opportunity to have such an amazing job, but working at a teaching hospital just makes me want more, more knowledge, more autonomy, more responsibility. Have any of u nurses looked into post-bac programs? and if so, do they seem to welcome nurses? I really think it is ridiculous how polar the fields of nursing and medicine are... i mean, at the end of the day, don't we do our jobs for almost the same warm fuzzy reasons? I love the doc's i work with, i can call them by their first name, and they are totally candid with me about what they are thinking and let me have my input into how i want to manage my patient as well before writing the orders. I hope to be an MD that also works as a great team leader, allowing sensible input and really taking a team approach to patient care. After all, i don't want calls at 3am for an order for butt balm 😛
 
I have also been an Icu Rn for close to 4 years. Although i love nursing, i want to be more knowledgable and autonomous in my practise as a doctor. Finishing my prereqs this semester, looking forward to start studying for mcat next semester and getting married soon. All the best to all RN,s switching to Md.😉
 
I am a new grad in the ICU looking towards AA or CRNA school, but I would love to go to medical school. But I had the privilege to work 6 12-hour shifts in a 7 day span (72 hours) and I wondered how anyone could do 80 hours weeks for 3-4 years of residency.




So are those 80 hours / week during residency all on the floor or does that include call time as well? If not, then it might be a possibility.




I have to take the MCAT for AA school anyway...



For those RN's that are now physicians, does the focus shift dramatically from patient care to patient treatment [I have no context to answer the question, only conjecture]? If so, that would definitely be a plus. Personally, total patient care really doesn't excite me much and I would rather focus on developing a treatment and doing procedures as opposed to to administering medication, monitor vital signs...
 
I am a 2nd year med student who worked in a variety of nursing positions for several years. There is also another NP in my class. Don't worry, you are not alone.
 
I am a third year nursing student who found himself gluing his eyes to the pathophysiology portions of the text and quickly skimming the somewhat repeptitive nursing interventions (deep breath and cough, ambulate, psychosocial aspects, monitor VS, observe aseptic technique, et al). It is now that I realize that MD is the terminal career for me. You can talk to me about neuropathies, autoimmunes, Tx's, DDx's, scanning and testing, streptococcal taxonomy, and I do not get bored.

For me, knowing is not enough. That is why being a nurse clinician is a hollow choice for my personality type. We can educate on diabetes to patients 'till we are blue in the face, but it is still the doctor who treats for it. I cannot stand that I learned so much only to be disappointed that I cannot apply this knowledge further, especially when I know what the correct Tx/course of action is.

I am too deep in debt now to quit nursing and quite frankly, I need this opportunity to bolster my previous GPA. I will be taking my Bio and English requirements this summer and save Physics and Chem for later. I want to keep that knowledge new so I have the best shot at the PS section of the MCAT.

I plan to work ICU from 3-5 years after graduation. I will not wait my 1-2 years of Med/Surg that canadian hospitals love to torture you with before going the ICU route. Gotta love the recruiters from Pitt (PCMH) in North Carolina. He was so convincing that I would get to work anywhere I want (which is ICU) that I will take up the hospital's offer of a free weekend trip to see if this Magnet hospital promises what it delivers.


I will be honest here. I want a state school because I do not want to payback $150k+ well into my 70s. If all goes according to plan, I will be an MD (or die trying) at 40 years, and that is just when my internship would start. Add 3 years IM residency and 3 years Pulmonology/Intensivist (double boarded, woohoo!)fellowship and I will be the ripe age of 46 when I can start independently billing. I will have about 15-16 years left to practice and no desire to be a big name researcher. I am fine with not having Hopkins or UCSF on my resume to get alma-mater guided fellowships.

Sorry if I ranted, but man, this is all that has been on my mind since I realized I want to become a doctor.
 
I am not an RN, but I just wanted to let you know that I have several classmates who are. Many of them have actually managed to continue working while in medical school - a feat which I (and most of my classmates) consider to be rather amazing. Although NOBODY sails through medical school (regardless of background, it's going to be demanding and challenging), my RN classmates certainly have an advantage when it comes to clinical skills. They are highly respected and extremely valuable members of my class.
I wish you all the best of luck. This is an incredibly tough path to choose, but, if after your own personal experiences in patient care/beaurocracy you still want to go this route, I would trust your judgment one thousand times more than any of these fresh-from-undergrad premed types. Kudos.
 
i'm a fresh grad working in the icu... i realized that i would like to pursue medicine... anybody else in the same boat??


😀 I am in a very similar boat! I am a nurse, but I only have an Associates, and I want nothing more than to be a doctor. Wow. So very nontraditional... I am married with 4 kids, and am beginning the prerequisites. Also, receiving conflicting information on how to pursue....😱😕:scared:😀 But it's all good, I'll get there one way or another.
 
I am a new grad in the ICU looking towards AA or CRNA school, but I would love to go to medical school. But I had the privilege to work 6 12-hour shifts in a 7 day span (72 hours) and I wondered how anyone could do 80 hours weeks for 3-4 years of residency.




So are those 80 hours / week during residency all on the floor or does that include call time as well? If not, then it might be a possibility.




I have to take the MCAT for AA school anyway...



For those RN's that are now physicians, does the focus shift dramatically from patient care to patient treatment [I have no context to answer the question, only conjecture]? If so, that would definitely be a plus. Personally, total patient care really doesn't excite me much and I would rather focus on developing a treatment and doing procedures as opposed to to administering medication, monitor vital signs...

I've heard that they have a new law that limits the amount of time a resident can work, to put less stress and strain on the residents, not sure what they are, will go back and ask the resident I work with again, but I think he said they can't do the "80 hours a week" anymore.
 
I'm another one to add to the list. Got my AA then BSN then did pre-reqs while working in an ICU. Been working in an ICU for over 4 years now. I applied this year (for class of 2012). So far I have been accepted to one school and waiting to hear from some others. It can be done. I feel it is a great way to enter medicine, there were so many benifits.
 
We should have a sticky, or possibly sub-forum, for nurses who have been accepted into medical school. I, for one, think it would be one of the most inspiring forums to read.

I want to know many things. I see a pattern of ICU nurses going this route. I would love to know the mindset of these peoples. How did you manage your time? Did you take night courses or during the day? How accommodating was your hospital for shifts?

There are so many questions other nurses would have. I think that it would be a place where nurses can have their questions answered. I typed the following into Google and spent at least a week with my eyes glued to the screen: "nurse turned doctor", "nurse to MD", "nurses in medical school", "doctors who become nurses" and more I cannot remember.

Would it not be nice if we had a single forum that answers these inquiries?
 
There are so many questions other nurses would have. I think that it would be a place where nurses can have their questions answered. I typed the following into Google and spent at least a week with my eyes glued to the screen: "nurse turned doctor", "nurse to MD", "nurses in medical school", "doctors who become nurses" and more I cannot remember.

Would it not be nice if we had a single forum that answers these inquiries?

I think that would be a great idea:idea:

Kris
 
I completely agree with you all. I also completed an accelerated BSN program and from day 1, I knew that I wanted to be in medical school and not my combined BSN/MSN program. What made it worse what that I shared a dorm with all of the first year medical students and got to hear them all talking about their classes and such. I just started a Post-bacc program at Hunter college and I am hoping to get into medical school by the time I am 32 (currently 27).
Good luck to you all.

Ugh, that would kill me. I am not a nurse but I work in a hospital and I always get jealous when I see the med students walking around. I want to be them so bad, but we just gotta be patient. (It also sucks when you meet a 3rd or 4th year that is younger than you.😡)
 
I'm another one to add to the list. Got my AA then BSN then did pre-reqs while working in an ICU. Been working in an ICU for over 4 years now. I applied this year (for class of 2012). So far I have been accepted to one school and waiting to hear from some others. It can be done. I feel it is a great way to enter medicine, there were so many benifits.

When you got your BSN, did you do it online or did you do it on campus? I'm starting an ADN program this January, and then I plan on doing the BSN online while gaining some experience. I"ve still got Organic Chemistry I/II and Physics I/II to do which I will attempt while working on my nursing classes. Once I am finished with my BSN which will take about a year and a half, I plan to do an on campus post bacc (informal) taking Biochemistry/ Genetics/Physiology/Cell Biology over a year.

Kris
 
(It also sucks when you meet a 3rd or 4th year that is younger than you.😡)
You know what else sucks... When you have a child in the hospital and you know more about what's wrong with them than the med student rounding on him... It was a moment of pure jelousy!
 
I've heard that they have a new law that limits the amount of time a resident can work, to put less stress and strain on the residents, not sure what they are, will go back and ask the resident I work with again, but I think he said they can't do the "80 hours a week" anymore.

Just a note on this. The new law says they can't work you any MORE than 80 hours a week but the word on the street is that many times programs ignore the law or play fast and loose with the regulations in terms of how they calculate "hours."
 
PRESENTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

I have been a CNA, LVN, now RN, BSN.
glad i have others out there that can relate with me. i have worked in the icu now for 2years and i am taking my pre-reqs so i can apply next smmer. to all of you out there good luck and keep your eyes focus on the price.
 
I never realized starting my BN program that it would be my ticket into the US, providing me PR status to get some sweet deals at a state school. Even if that does not pan out and I have to pay 2x-3x for a private college, so be it. It's a gong show trying to get into Canadian medical schools if you are not a straight A shooter from age 18. The forgiving exception is the University of Manitoba, but I will have two degrees from them and that is more than enough.

I am also crossing my fingers that having a solid nursing career will help alleviate bank's perceived risk of lending me $100k+ for medical school. This is where being a nurse definitely helps.

Also, the opportunities for specialist fellowships (I am personally looking at Pulm/Intensivist) in the US is incomparable to anywhere else. The amount of money Americans pour into their health care facilities, equipment, educational upgrading, and research makes me want to come down there even more.
 
Plenty of people do it and continue to do it. I in fact got my BSN and after a year of telemetry and step down went on to medical school. I'm in my final year and met a lot of attending docs along the way that had careers as nurses in the past. I even work as an RN to make extra money during my time off. It's doable but you have to have the will and the numbers. Really work on that MCAT and make sure you had/have the grades during school. My BSN program wouldn't allow me to take the prerequisites to for med school so I had to go back to finish those and had to do well.

Keep it up!
 
I started premed and finished my BS in Exercise Physiology in 2002. I began an ADN program in Jan and will finish in May. I've been working as a LPN on a tele/step down unit for three months. I plan on moving to the ICU when I finish the RN portion, and work on the premed reqs.

It's great to see you guys!

CrazyPremed
 
I am also crossing my fingers that having a solid nursing career will help alleviate bank's perceived risk of lending me $100k+ for medical school. This is where being a nurse definitely helps.

Are you planning on going with private loans, or federally-funded ones? If the latter, you won't need to go through a bank.

Most places are only too happy to lend a ton of money to future physicians.
 
Hi everyone....
I started my career as a nurses aide...then became a LPN....then an Associates RN...then a BS in management....then completed my pre-reqs for med school...Now I am 36 and have 3 kids...married for 15 years and I am starting Med school this August. Don't let age or other's opinions stop you from doing whatever you dream to be! All my experiences from hands on care of the patient to my current role as Hospital case manager will add to the compassionate and knowledgeable Doctor I will become.
Good luck to everyone....
🙂
 
I'm currently in my last semester of RN school and want to be an MD. I hope to begin a postbacc program in the spring as I'm working as an RN. I believe that RNs make great MD's!!!
 
Hi everyone, Just joined this site. I have been toying with the idea of med school for quite some time and just decided to go for it. I am a little nervous because I am 32, with 2 kids, and I am currently a nurse (oncology.) Been a nurse for 5 years, and now want to tackle med school. I really have a long road because I only have an ADN. Glad to see other nurses. Any one nervous about the age thing ?
 
I'm not a nurse but I wanted to contribute my mom's story which I think might be of inspiration to some other nurse. My mom dropped out of college at 18 after getting pregnant with me. She moved back home, shotgun wedding to my dad, then finished a one-year LPN program at the community college to support us. She worked night shifts in a nursing home for ten years until my brother and I were well into school. After divorcing my dad, as a single mom at 28 she went back to start working on a bachelor's degree with the goal of going to med school. My grandmother helped out a lot. At 31 she finished a degree in bio (still working nights as a nurse) and started med school at age 33. Flash forward ten years and she is a happy and successful family practice physician. Add to it the fact that she remarried while in school and had my youngest brother during MS-II and my baby sister during her chief resident year. If she can do all that, I don't think there's any excuse to let age, family/children, money or the fact that you are a nurse hold you back. I am proud of RN-to-MD's! (although in her case it was LPN-to-DO)
 
Hi All,:hello:
Im new to this forum & i don't know where to leave my questions. So i apologise & kindly answer my questions.
I'm a Registered nurse, compelted my BSN in India. Got 6 years of ICU experience. I'm currently working at one of the hospital in Kansas state(USA). working in NICU as a RN. I would like to become a Pediatrician MD.

I recently planned to do MSN;but my long term goal is become a doctor. So i would like to do my MD & my husband is also encouraging me now. Since we came to US just before 6-8 months, i don't have much idea to enter into the medical college.

If anybody could help me with this, it'll be great help for my future.
1.As a BSN, am i eligible for MD?
2.can you tell me how many years should i spend to complete my MD?
3.Is there any school, college or universites that you recommend to me?
4.HOw much will it cost approximately?
5.What are the pre-required courses should i complete?
6.Is that possible to do my MD while i'm working part time as RN?(to pay for tuition)
7. Any university at kansas or Missouri that offer BSN to MD programme?

Thanks in advance
Jasmine
 
I am in a similar situation except that I am still in nursing school. I realized I chose the wrong profession nearly immediately after starting my accelerated BSN program. But I have come too far to change everything now. So my intentions are to graduate, get a job in an area that interests me and start going back to school on a part-time basis until I finish my med school pre-req's.

The only problem I can forsee right now is the fact that my nursing school grades are nothing spectacular. Hopefully I will do extremely well in the rest of my pre-req's and impress ADCOM's that way.

Wow, I am in the same situation! During my first semester of an ADn program, I realized that a career in medicine was what I wanted. My last semester (1st of the program) my grades were decent.. 2 As and 2 Bs.. but this semester I am not off to a good start. We are on a grading scale of an 80% being a C and min for passing.. I'm hoping to get my bachelors after associates while working and bring up my GPA.. but I only have a yr left so might as well finish and make some moneeeyyy! Glad to know I'm not alone!!
 
.Hello everyone! I’m new to this site and am happy to have found it. I’m 28 with BSN-RN, 2.5 yrs experience in NICU, AICU, ER, and Med Surge. I’ve taken all premed prereqs and will be taking the MCAT in April for the 1st time, then applying this year. I wish everyone the best and hope you achieve your goals..
 
Hi All,:hello:
Im new to this forum & i don't know where to leave my questions. So i apologise & kindly answer my questions.
I'm a Registered nurse, compelted my BSN in India. Got 6 years of ICU experience. I'm currently working at one of the hospital in Kansas state(USA). working in NICU as a RN. I would like to become a Pediatrician MD.

I recently planned to do MSN;but my long term goal is become a doctor. So i would like to do my MD & my husband is also encouraging me now. Since we came to US just before 6-8 months, i don't have much idea to enter into the medical college.

If anybody could help me with this, it'll be great help for my future.
1.As a BSN, am i eligible for MD?
2.can you tell me how many years should i spend to complete my MD?
3.Is there any school, college or universites that you recommend to me?
4.HOw much will it cost approximately?
5.What are the pre-required courses should i complete?
6.Is that possible to do my MD while i'm working part time as RN?(to pay for tuition)
7. Any university at kansas or Missouri that offer BSN to MD programme?

Thanks in advance
Jasmine

Hi Jasmine,
You may find visiting the AAMC website very helpful in answering all of your questions. http://www.aamc.org
1&5..You should be eligible for application to Medical School when you complete the pre-med prerequisites,take the MCAT, file AMCAS and any other necessary requirements deemed by the AAMC. Most nursing schools do not include these prereqs in their programs, so these may be in addition to your Bachelor’s degree.
2.. http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/decision.htm # yrs will depend on: how long it takes for you to take your prereqs, take MCAT, file AMCAS and get accepted. Once accepted, 4 yrs to get MD, then 2-3+ to specialize.
3&4&7..http://www.aamc.org will give you a list of medical schools, average cost, and typical post-bac programs. University of Kansas School of Medicine: http://www.kumc.edu/som/prospectivestudents.html You may start by visiting your nearest College/University and speaking with a pre-med advisor for further guidance.
6..It is highly discouraged by medical schools and students to attempt to work while in med school due to the volumes of information required for studying. Many take out extra in loans for living expenses.
I hope this helps. Take care and I wish you the best!
 
So i have been a nurse for 2yrs now and i'm 25yrs old. I had realized i had wanted to become a doctor about a yr ago. I want to start the application process to the post bacc schools. I'm thinking about NYU as i did my undergrad there. Anyways, as a nurse at nyu we didn't have to do biology or any major science courses. YOu know just mostly the nursing stuff. I am a little apprehensive about taking the pre med courses. I'm thinking of starting with biology. I have never taken biology in school so I am a little worried.

How hard is biology? i know that's a difficult question. I looked through the biology book and the concepts were not mind blowing. But it def looked like it would require a lot of work (which is fine) from ppls biology classes is it mostly want the teacher focuses on or is it a lot of the book or both?

I guess my second issue is related to those ppl who have never really taken a lot of hard sciences courses how did they do? I'm a little worried about taking these courses not because i don't think i can do well it's just i have never taken them before in high school or college so i have no backround. Has there been anyone out there with a similar situation? Having not a whole bunch of backround in the pre med sciences How did u guys handle it? How did guys find it getting through all the pre med classes material? (physics, chem, organic chem, cal) any suggestions? anyone that had similar situations and got through it?

i am determined to do it, but i'm just worried about failing as i have always achieved academically my goals..
Anyways sorry for the long post.
Anyone got any feed back?
 
I thought Biology was the easiest course of the required ones. From easiest to hardest I would rate them biology< chemistry< Physics< Orgo

Dont worry about having a background. These are introductory courses so it will be new to everyone in the class.

You are going to have to put in a good deal of work but it is not that bad. Plus, people who go back to school generally have more motivation than the normal students.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the reply.

I guess you are right. There are some non traditional post bacc's who have just taken arts classes and want to go back and do well with a lot of hard work. i guess i just have to mentally prepare myself for a great deal of work.

Anyone else have any suggestions or stories or whatever they want to share?
Thanks so much🙂
 
Anyways, as a nurse at nyu we didn't have to do biology or any major science courses.
...
I have never taken biology in school so I am a little worried.

You never had to take Bio for your nursing degree? 😕
 
You never had to take Bio for your nursing degree? 😕

I was wondering the same thing! I thought nursing students were required to take Bio, at least one semester of Chem, A & P and Micro. Busterman, would you please explain/elaborate??

As for my advice:
1. Don't go into any of these courses thinking you will fail.
2. Take advantage of every opportunity available to you (i.e. tutoring, study groups, study guides, professor's office hours, etc.) and you'll be fine!!

Good luck.
 
So i have been a nurse for 2yrs now and i'm 25yrs old. I had realized i had wanted to become a doctor about a yr ago. I want to start the application process to the post bacc schools. I'm thinking about NYU as i did my undergrad there. Anyways, as a nurse at nyu we didn't have to do biology or any major science courses. YOu know just mostly the nursing stuff. I am a little apprehensive about taking the pre med courses. I'm thinking of starting with biology. I have never taken biology in school so I am a little worried.

How hard is biology? i know that's a difficult question. I looked through the biology book and the concepts were not mind blowing. But it def looked like it would require a lot of work (which is fine) from ppls biology classes is it mostly want the teacher focuses on or is it a lot of the book or both?

I guess my second issue is related to those ppl who have never really taken a lot of hard sciences courses how did they do? I'm a little worried about taking these courses not because i don't think i can do well it's just i have never taken them before in high school or college so i have no backround. Has there been anyone out there with a similar situation? Having not a whole bunch of backround in the pre med sciences How did u guys handle it? How did guys find it getting through all the pre med classes material? (physics, chem, organic chem, cal) any suggestions? anyone that had similar situations and got through it?

i am determined to do it, but i'm just worried about failing as i have always achieved academically my goals..
Anyways sorry for the long post.
Anyone got any feed back?

Hey good luck!
Just wondering...what do your colleagues say when you tell them you want to be a doctor? How do you think nurses will treat you once you're a doctor and they know your history in nursing.
I think you should do what's best for you, so it doesn't really matter, but I was just wondering if people in your field offer you encouragement or if they cynical?
 
Good luck nurses! You have in your hands a double-edged sword. On the one side, there is the great experience and perspective you bring to the table. On the other side, you will be required to satisfactorily explain why you are better served by choosing medicine and, perhaps more importantly, why medicine is better served having you as an MD rather than a nurse.
 
You never had to take Bio for your nursing degree? 😕

Well, it would depend on the nursing school, but usually the prereq is a year of A&P and microbiology. Fundamentals of biology are required.
 
I don't know of any BSN or ADN program in the country that does not require at least A&P. That would be scary if nursing programs were pushing graduates through without any type of biology class.

My science pre-req's for my nursing program included A&P I & II, microbiology, chemistry for the "health sciences" (blow off class that was), and organic & biochemistry for the health sciences.
 
Good luck nurses! You have in your hands a double-edged sword. On the one side, there is the great experience and perspective you bring to the table. On the other side, you will be required to satisfactorily explain why you are better served by choosing medicine and, perhaps more importantly, why medicine is better served having you as an MD rather than a nurse.

So dramatic lol. It's an easy answer for anyone. Autonomy, control over patient care, desire to be fully-educated and to utilize that knowledge on a regular basis...
 
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