RN to MD

[iLovePancakes]

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Hey all!

Are there any RNs out here in SDN-land applying to med schools? If so, what do you think is the best/worst part of your application?

I am an RN and I'm hearing pretty pitiful things. Many people are deterring me from applying to med school and I would love to talk with people who can relate.

I just made a "social group" for this reason called "RN to MD" Hopefully, this group will be a place for all of us to talk, share, and help each other out.

 

[Morsetlis]

Professional pride and jealousy are everywhere. I mean, there's a PhD student who goes w/ me on my missionary trip that keeps hating on my pre-med process. "Oh, the real scientists."

I mean please I have more publications than she does -.-

==

As for your RN thing, remember to NOT bash nurses in your essays/interviews. Saying bad things about other people isn't looked upon highly.

 

[iLovePancakes]

@ Morsetlis: Thanks for your response. Yeah, you're so right. Your PhD person just wants to have one up on you. In my case I'm not sure if it is professional jealousy or people are just intimidated by my motivation. I tend to march to the beat of my own drum...and sometimes that doesn't sit well with people with overbearing ideas about what THEY think I should do with my life. Blehh. Anyway, I just want to continue to learn in this profession. I would never bash nurses. Afterall, I am one 😛

 

[morning]

You might want to try the Clinician forum on SDN, I did see some RN-to-MDs there. You're not alone!

 

[PrinceVersed]

Hey all!

Are there any RNs out here in SDN-land applying to med schools? If so, what do you think is the best/worst part of your application?

I am an RN and I'm hearing pretty pitiful things. Many people are deterring me from applying to med school and I would love to talk with people who can relate.

I am one of them. The best part of my application would have to be my clinical experience and fact that i really know what the health care field is like and I still want to be in it.

My worst part would have to be my grades. I made decent grades but I certainly never tried to make good grades. Had I known at the start that I was going to apply to med school I would have definitely put a bit more effort forward.

Thankfully, everyone I have talked to, nurses and doctors, have all been really supportive of me. I am applying this up coming cycle so hopefully I will be able to shed some light on the RN-MD path. Good luck with everything.

 

[Hoody]

Are there any RNs out here in SDN-land applying to med schools?

The best part of my application would have to be my clinical experience and fact that i really know what the health care field is like and I still want to be in it.

This.

My worst part would have to be my grades. I made decent grades but I certainly never tried to make good grades. Had I known at the start that I was going to apply to med school I would have definitely put a bit more effort forward.

and this. I have decent grades, still two pre reqs left to take. One thing I really dislike about having a BSN is that half of my classes for junior/senior year were clinical P/F classes, including one 12hour credit class the last semester of my senior year. None of these are included in your GPA for med school. 👎

Thankfully, everyone I have talked to, nurses and doctors, have all been really supportive of me. I am applying this up coming cycle so hopefully I will be able to shed some light on the RN-MD path. Good luck with everything.

I haven't told anyone. I don't want to have to answer to people if I fail....or create unnecessary drama in the workplace along the way. And as a non trad who graduated a few years ago, I come to SDN to find other pre meds.

 

[iLovePancakes]

I am one of them. The best part of my application would have to be my clinical experience and fact that i really know what the health care field is like and I still want to be in it.

My worst part would have to be my grades. I made decent grades but I certainly never tried to make good grades. Had I known at the start that I was going to apply to med school I would have definitely put a bit more effort forward.

Thankfully, everyone I have talked to, nurses and doctors, have all been really supportive of me. I am applying this up coming cycle so hopefully I will be able to shed some light on the RN-MD path. Good luck with everything.

Hey. Thanks so much for your response. Its good that atleast you have a good support system around you. Have you been working as an RN for a while? I would agree with you 100% that clinical experience is definitely the best part. I'm also applying this cycle and have just now started studying for the MCAT. I was sooo overwhelmed because most of the pre-reqs I took were 2+ years ago.

 

[Morsetlis]

I know that I scored a 28 on the practice MCAT of Kaplan's, then 36 on the real test, and now, after 2 years, I would score about a 28 again. It's all practice and memorization, and all best done 2-3 months before the actual test.

 

[Hoody]

I'm taking the kitty kat next spring (2011) so I haven't started studying hardcore. I definitely have a plan in place though. And I do this for fun... http://mcatquestionaday.com

Another great thing about RN to MD is that you have access to many docs. Doctors to shadow, Doctors to get LORs from, etc. 👍

 

[deleted307836]

I have a question for you current/former RNs....

If you had had a crystal ball your freshman year of college and discovered that eventually you would end up in medicine... you would you still go through the BSN and your years on the floor? Do you think you needed those experiences to come to the realization that you'd like to pursue medicine?

I ask because technically, I'm in a position where I can take part in my university's BSN program, and the idea of working as an RN for a few years in the locale of my choice is very appealing. However, I'm also pretty sure that eventually I would like to pursue medicine. But to be honest, I'm not absolutely positive.

Any thoughts?

(I really don't care about opportunity costs and the possibility of going back for pre-reqs later.)

 

[Morsetlis]

It's great for clinical experience... not so much for GPA because nurse educators are cruel 🙁

Oh and if med school fails you can always go up to CRNA and make $140k/year. Take that, pediatricians!

 

[Hoody]

...discovered that eventually you would end up in medicine... you would you still go through the BSN and your years on the floor?

Nursing is medicine. Had I known that I wanted to be a doctor, I would not choose BSN. You deserve all the credit for the classes you take, even the classes that are not didatic but rather spent 8am-5pm at the hospital. Having most, or at least half, of your classes P/F sucks.

Do you think you needed those experiences to come to the realization that you'd like to pursue medicine?

In my case, yes. It was only through my experiences as a nurse that I realized I really want to be a doctor. Had I never been a nurse, I wouldn't be considering being a physician. I certainly never considered it before I was a nurse.

I ask because technically, I'm in a position where I can take part in my university's BSN program, and the idea of working as an RN for a few years in the locale of my choice is very appealing. However, I'm also pretty sure that eventually I would like to pursue medicine. But to be honest, I'm not absolutely positive.

BSN is a GREAT degree to have. It opens many doors and you can go to all sorts of different grad school programs with it (JD, MBA, MD, NP, etc, etc).

Its a double edge sword. Some days its really hard for me to work as a nurse, knowing that my heart lies elsewhere and being so close to where my heart is, but not actually being there, is hard. Generally, I'm not content and I find myself longing for challenges. Other days, I love nursing and I know that even if I don't get into med school, I will have a great career. In the end, the BSN route has both its pros and cons, like any major.

 

[iLovePancakes]

I know that I scored a 28 on the practice MCAT of Kaplan's, then 36 on the real test, and now, after 2 years, I would score about a 28 again. It's all practice and memorization, and all best done 2-3 months before the actual test.

Thanks!! you give me hope!

 

[iLovePancakes]

I have a question for you current/former RNs....

If you had had a crystal ball your freshman year of college and discovered that eventually you would end up in medicine... you would you still go through the BSN and your years on the floor? Do you think you needed those experiences to come to the realization that you'd like to pursue medicine?

I ask because technically, I'm in a position where I can take part in my university's BSN program, and the idea of working as an RN for a few years in the locale of my choice is very appealing. However, I'm also pretty sure that eventually I would like to pursue medicine. But to be honest, I'm not absolutely positive.

Any thoughts?

(I really don't care about opportunity costs and the possibility of going back for pre-reqs later.)

For me, I needed to have the RN experience in order to follow the MD route. If I hadn't attended nursing school I would have ended up with a boring career....like an accountant. 😛

The only thing I would say is if you are unsure about RN or MD you should shadow both nurses and doctors. You'll see a HUGE difference in allocation of care & management. That way you can decide which will be better suited to your lifestyle.

One thing I would like to point out is if you are already considering MD and will probably pursue it in the future you should consider taking a straightforward major like Biology, get a good GPA and apply right away. If you follow the BSN route you will have to go out of your way to take pre-med courses, not to mention the fact that you will occupy a seat in nursing school that could potentially go to a candidate who would stay and be a nurse for 30+ years.

 

[Hoody]

straightforward major like Biology

Major in whatever you want, just make sure you keep your GPA up.

If you follow the BSN route you will have to go out of your way to take pre-med courses

Depends where you go to school. My school required the Bios and general Chems for BSN. I only had to go out of my way to take physics and orgo.

not to mention the fact that you will occupy a seat in nursing school that could potentially go to a candidate who would stay and be a nurse for 30+ years.

Could be said for any profession. And with the amount of nurses that are being pumped out with ADs these days, the nursing shortage has decreased. In some parts of Colorado, there is no market for nurses....unless you are interested in working at a nursing home.

 

[mzblue]

it's not just colorado. The better part of the upper east coast has had a nursing glut since early 2008.some of us had to below the mason dickson line to get a job. Moving south wasn't my idea but oh well,..And now,there are no jobs here too. My heart goes to new grads here who can't find jobs as well as those who are actively completing their pre-reqs for nursing school.

 

[Morsetlis]

Well, most new grads get a nursing home job first and eventually move on to bigger hospitals, with recommendations and connections.

 

[Hoody]

Well, most new grads get a nursing home job first and eventually move on to bigger hospitals, with recommendations and connections.

completely false.

 

[Morsetlis]

completely false.

Mkay but that's what my parents did. And I'd reckon they make more $$$ than you.

A new grad might be paid $30 an hour. Somebody established at a Kaiser gets paid $50 an hour. How is a hospital going to hire you with no experience? You gotta start somewhere, and a nursing home/SNF is the easiest place to start.

 

[Hoody]

Mkay but that's what my parents did.

cool. thats two people. not applicable to the whole

And I'd reckon they make more $$$ than you.

uhhh...this has to do with what?

A new grad might be paid $30 an hour. Somebody established at a Kaiser gets paid $50 an hour.

again...????

How is a hospital going to hire you with no experience? You gotta start somewhere, and a nursing home/SNF is the easiest place to start.

Nursing home experience =/= hospital experience. You get hospital experience during your clinical rotations. I spent hundreds and hundreds of hours my last semester shadowing an RN working medical/surgical. Most often where you do your clinical internship is where you get a job, or at least offered. And like you said, you have to start somewhere. Generally medical/surgical is that place. Some hospitals have new grad programs, others simply have week long periods of orientation.

I wouldn't classify working in a nursing home as "easy". It may be different, but definitely not easy. LOL at a pre med telling a nurse what nursing is like though .

 

[Morsetlis]

Ok Ms. Nurse with your gigantic sample size of 1.

You won't change my mind 😛

 

[Hoody]

Ok Ms. Nurse with your gigantic sample size of 1.

Where exactly in my post did I note a sample size?

You won't change my mind 😛

of course not. Mr. Pre med knows all! 😉

 

[Morsetlis]

😎

 

[The right Path]

Hey all!

Are there any RNs out here in SDN-land applying to med schools? If so, what do you think is the best/worst part of your application?

I am an RN and I'm hearing pretty pitiful things. Many people are deterring me from applying to med school and I would love to talk with people who can relate.

I just made a "social group" for this reason called "RN to MD" Hopefully, this group will be a place for all of us to talk, share, and help each other out.

Heya,

Good luck on your journey. I've barely started mine. I joined this forum this December and it's been a great place for information. I've got my steps and timeline mapped out, so I'm excited. I'm going to start post-bac work in Fall 2011. (I'm saving up for tuition and refreshing the gen chem that I took almost 10 years ago). I'm totally optimistic about med school acceptance.

I don't think that being an RN is a drawback at all. As a nursing student I've had the opportunity to learn about and be a part of various types of healthcare environments from outpt. clinics, to home hospice, to school nursing, psych, maternal fetal, peds and of course acute inpatient care. I've consulted with and worked alongside various members of the healthcare team. And then there are my own experiences spanning almost 6 years caring for people. I think that goes a long way toward demonstrating that I understand what medicine is, what current issues are, and that I like it- as opposed to the worn out nebulous "gee I think the human body is fascinating and I want to help people".

And no, of course that's not to say that I expect med schools to fight over me, but I can easily articulate my motivation and interest.

I'm really looking forward to taking orgo and bio and biochem; I'm trying to psych myself into believing I'll enjoy physics! I'm nervous because it has been such a long time since I've been a student. I've always loved the social aspect of school and I'm looking forward to hosting study groups and baking snacks at my house.

I'm trying to talk some of my colleagues into joining this adventure with me. By now, probably everyone at work knows of my intentions. Everyone is really encouraging and when I tell people that I'm interested in forensic pathology, generally they think that is pretty cool, too. I had the opportunity to "shadow" 2 forensic autopsies and I'm hooked! No one has said anything negative (to me anyway) and so far nothing behind my back- I'm sure it would get back to me. I don't see my desire to go to med school as wanting to "be better than a nurse" or any of that nonsense. I still love what I do, and have enormous confidence in the value of my knowledge, skill, and compassion.

 

[OCizzle]

Mkay but that's what my parents did. And I'd reckon they make more $$$ than you.

Ok Ms. Nurse with your gigantic sample size of 1.

You won't change my mind 😛

I can see why your Ph.D friend hates you.

 

[FlowLimited]

I can see why your Ph.D friend hates you.

Zing!

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Mkay but that's what my parents did. And I'd reckon they make more $$$ than you.

A new grad might be paid $30 an hour. Somebody established at a Kaiser gets paid $50 an hour. How is a hospital going to hire you with no experience? You gotta start somewhere, and a nursing home/SNF is the easiest place to start.

you're an idiot

 

[zebalong]

I'm an ER nurse going to med this fall. I am almost finished with this application season (closed all apps except for 4 waitlists, was LUCKY to have an acceptance right on oct. 15th), I'd have to say that the strongest parts of your apps can be leadership in healthcare (charge positions, project management?) with letters of rec. stating so from both md's that have worked with you and nursing management. It also doesn't hurt to do well on the MCAT to show that you can hang with sci. majors.

Apply broadly.. some schools will totally dig your prior career and some schools will chalk it up as a mediocre ec... neither one is right or wrong it really depends on the schools emphasis for building its class.

Start doing some leadership and some volunteering not using your nursing background- that took me a long way and i think if you do so have a decent gpa and mcat you should be def. on the right path. Best of luck to you!

To clarify earlier posts that have NOTHING to do with this thread, as a new grad i got a kaiser perm. job right out of nursing school in the ED. Starting salary is around 50, with experience im ~70/hr. The above posts are totally wrong.

 

[iLovePancakes]

Major in whatever you want, just make sure you keep your GPA up.

Depends where you go to school. My school required the Bios and general Chems for BSN. I only had to go out of my way to take physics and orgo.

Could be said for any profession. And with the amount of nurses that are being pumped out with ADs these days, the nursing shortage has decreased. In some parts of Colorado, there is no market for nurses....unless you are interested in working at a nursing home.

Right. Major in whatever you want. I said Biology cuz thats one of the majors that encompasses all the classes you would need for med school admission as well as the MCAT. Taking another major and prolonging your undergraduate career as well as the application process would be a waste of time for you.

Taking physics and orgo is still going out of your way. Thats 8 classes extra to the nursing load (physics 1 and 2 lecture & lab, and same for orgo). So yeah, I would say thats a huge weight on your shoulders when you are doing 15+ nursing credits and having 12 hour hospital rotations plus having to worry about physics/orgo lecture AND lab. Thats a complete year because most schools offer the first part of sequence classes ONLY in the fall.

Nursing shortage has decreased but has not gone away. It is projected to increase in 2010 again. This time even more severe than what we experienced last time. I was talking to a pre-med advisor at my alma mater and he was saying how getting into nursing school at my undergraduate college is just as hard to get into as a medical school. There simply aren't enough resources/monies to train enough medical personnel.

 

[iLovePancakes]

Heya,

Good luck on your journey. I've barely started mine. I joined this forum this December and it's been a great place for information. I've got my steps and timeline mapped out, so I'm excited. I'm going to start post-bac work in Fall 2011. (I'm saving up for tuition and refreshing the gen chem that I took almost 10 years ago). I'm totally optimistic about med school acceptance.

I don't think that being an RN is a drawback at all. As a nursing student I've had the opportunity to learn about and be a part of various types of healthcare environments from outpt. clinics, to home hospice, to school nursing, psych, maternal fetal, peds and of course acute inpatient care. I've consulted with and worked alongside various members of the healthcare team. And then there are my own experiences spanning almost 6 years caring for people. I think that goes a long way toward demonstrating that I understand what medicine is, what current issues are, and that I like it- as opposed to the worn out nebulous "gee I think the human body is fascinating and I want to help people".

And no, of course that's not to say that I expect med schools to fight over me, but I can easily articulate my motivation and interest.

I'm really looking forward to taking orgo and bio and biochem; I'm trying to psych myself into believing I'll enjoy physics! I'm nervous because it has been such a long time since I've been a student. I've always loved the social aspect of school and I'm looking forward to hosting study groups and baking snacks at my house.

I'm trying to talk some of my colleagues into joining this adventure with me. By now, probably everyone at work knows of my intentions. Everyone is really encouraging and when I tell people that I'm interested in forensic pathology, generally they think that is pretty cool, too. I had the opportunity to "shadow" 2 forensic autopsies and I'm hooked! No one has said anything negative (to me anyway) and so far nothing behind my back- I'm sure it would get back to me. I don't see my desire to go to med school as wanting to "be better than a nurse" or any of that nonsense. I still love what I do, and have enormous confidence in the value of my knowledge, skill, and compassion.

Hey!

Thanks for your response. I agree with you that it depends on the med school. Some might view the career change as a negative thing but not all of them. No one can deny its great experience which makes you a well-rounded, versatile candidate. Post-bac sounds like a good plan. It will refresh all the stuff you'll need for the MCAT. That'll be a great help. I'm trying to study for the MCAT now and its difficult because I took most of my pre-reqs 2+ years ago 😱

I actually really liked Biochem. It was a difficult class but it was wayyy more interesting and fun than Physics. Good luck to you in your studies!

You are lucky that you have a great support system. I have people that are behind me in this too....just not too many RNs.

 

[iLovePancakes]

I'm an ER nurse going to med this fall. I am almost finished with this application season (closed all apps except for 4 waitlists, was LUCKY to have an acceptance right on oct. 15th), I'd have to say that the strongest parts of your apps can be leadership in healthcare (charge positions, project management?) with letters of rec. stating so from both md's that have worked with you and nursing management. It also doesn't hurt to do well on the MCAT to show that you can hang with sci. majors.

Apply broadly.. some schools will totally dig your prior career and some schools will chalk it up as a mediocre ec... neither one is right or wrong it really depends on the schools emphasis for building its class.

Start doing some leadership and some volunteering not using your nursing background- that took me a long way and i think if you do so have a decent gpa and mcat you should be def. on the right path. Best of luck to you!

To clarify earlier posts that have NOTHING to do with this thread, as a new grad i got a kaiser perm. job right out of nursing school in the ED. Starting salary is around 50, with experience im ~70/hr. The above posts are totally wrong.

Hey! Thanks for your response. That was a great help. I will definitely take your advice in applying to a wide range of schools. You mentioned the volunteer experience not using a nursing background--what kind of activities would you suggest?

I agree with you about the nursing jobs. More than 80% of my peers who passed the NCLEX got jobs at major hospitals. Granted we have 3 of them in the area.

 

[zebalong]

Hey! Thanks for your response. That was a great help. I will definitely take your advice in applying to a wide range of schools. You mentioned the volunteer experience not using a nursing background--what kind of activities would you suggest?

I agree with you about the nursing jobs. More than 80% of my peers who passed the NCLEX got jobs at major hospitals. Granted we have 3 of them in the area.

I did hospice fundraising... think of anything fun that you can do. I think it gets you out of the mode of just working as a nurse and doing pre-med courses while at the same time of having the benefit that it shows you have other interests outside of just getting into medical school and being a nurse. But you can do anything... tutor underprivileged kids, help collect for food banks, help put on sporting events for certain causes... the list goes on and on. Not only should it be something that gives back to the community but it should also be something that YOU will have fun with.

 

[morning]

Mkay but that's what my parents did. And I'd reckon they make more $$$ than you.

A new grad might be paid $30 an hour. Somebody established at a Kaiser gets paid $50 an hour. How is a hospital going to hire you with no experience? You gotta start somewhere, and a nursing home/SNF is the easiest place to start.

In my area nursing homes are generally not staffed with RNs. They take LPNs and CNAs for the most part. RNs often start in med/surg, not LTC, but you can start anywhere if they'll train you.

I believe that new grads where you live start off with $30, because you live in one of the most expensive areas of the country. Most new grads will NOT be making $30 or more.

 

[dexorbit]

hey guys! I certainly love this thread. well, I've joined this forum a year ago. Im a constant lurker but a seldom poster.. lOL!

Im aslo an RN in a community hospital. Med-surg floor... and yeah. I also worked in a SNF before I finally landed a job in a hospital. And honestly, finding a job now is not easy even for nurses most especially new grads... But its all worth it. working in the SNF was tough! but it gave me the experience I needed.

Anyway, Ill be taking my pre-reqs this fall 2010. (still a long way to go... )

Best of luck to you all especially those who will be taking the MCAT soon.... God Bless! 🙂

 

[Morsetlis]

In my area nursing homes are generally not staffed with RNs. They take LPNs and CNAs for the most part. RNs often start in med/surg, not LTC, but you can start anywhere if they'll train you.

I believe that new grads where you live start off with $30, because you live in one of the most expensive areas of the country. Most new grads will NOT be making $30 or more.

Helpful to know! Thanks.