Is this a good idea? Pls give me some feedback.

[noodlebrain]

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I am a recent highschool graduate. I have dreamt my whole life that when I grow up, I will pursue a fulfilling career in medicine. As a result, I made a conscious decision to do my bachelor's degreee in nursing, where the art of healing is vital. However, at the end of the day..whether it be in 5 years from now or 10, I know whole-heartedly that I can become a physician.

Seeing as though many of you are experienced with university life, I would like your two cents. I have reflected upon these questions a lot, but I want some opinions. Are there any drawbacks in pursuing a degree in nursing prior to medical school? Should I be concerned that medical schools will look negatively upon my decision? Are medical schools looking for students with a lot of experience in research?

Please and thank you

[kryptik]

i dont see how pursuing a nursing career will hamper you chances of getting into a medical school, if anything it should enhance it, there are a lot of nurses pursuing an md career. good luck

[jameslynton]

Originally Posted by noodlebrain

I am a recent highschool graduate. I have dreamt my whole life that when I grow up, I will pursue a fulfilling career in medicine. As a result, I made a conscious decision to do my bachelor's degreee in nursing, where the art of healing is vital. However, at the end of the day..whether it be in 5 years from now or 10, I know whole-heartedly that I can become a physician.

Seeing as though many of you are experienced with university life, I would like your two cents. I have reflected upon these questions a lot, but I want some opinions. Are there any drawbacks in pursuing a degree in nursing prior to medical school? Should I be concerned that medical schools will look negatively upon my decision? Are medical schools looking for students with a lot of experience in research?

Please and thank you

Nursing vs MD - they are two different skill sets. Please remember that! Many nurses (RN) take some of the pre-req's for medical school and then go after getting several years earnings saved. My suggestion is take the pre-reqs as part of your RN degree - it will make the path a bit easier later. Medical schools take nurses into the MD programs. You want to make the jump before age 26 - cause after that age you are less attractive to US medical schools.

[Tipton]

Maybe do some volunteer work with both disciplines in your first year of undergrad: see where your skills and interest lie.

[noodlebrain]

Thank you all for your insight. Can you please tell me some of the general pre-reqs that medical schools require in the US & Carribean (see, I live in Canada, where the pre-reqs vary from university to university). I am thinking of studying abroad in terms of medical school seeing as though there are very limited spots in Canada.

[Chopdoc]

If you study abroad the chances of practicing in Canada are very low.

Anyway, I went to nursing school before med school. IMHO, though they often work in the same places, with some of the same goals, they are VERY different fields.

It's a personal decision for you. It can help because you will have familiarity with clinical situations and some taks. I don't see how it can hurt. Except.....if anybody knows you were a nurse when you hit clinicals there may be occasions where you are put on the spot more than others. It happened to me. Nothing too terrible...but you will know how to do things that others don't know yet (little stuff with needles and things), but you will need to know and do these things in a completely new context and with a MUCH higher level of knowledge. So be ready to be put on the spot. If you were good at nursing it shouldn't phase you.....but it can add pressure.

But as I said, they are VERY different fields. Nurses are not "healers" as you said....they help people on the path to health. They do not diagnose (nursing diagnosis is **), they do not treat (except under orders), and they certainly do not study medicine in any capacity whatsoever.

I am telling you this from personal experience.

If you want to be a nurse, go to nursing school. If you want to use a nursing education to get into med school, then do so.

I can say that regardless of how the above might sound, it has given me a great deal more respect for nurses than I witness among some of my peers.