<p>When applying to college, I knew I wanted to follow the pre-medical track, but didn't know which major to choose. Everyone was telling me that it doesn't matter what major I chose, and that I would have to complete a number of course requirements regardless of the major; people were suggesting majors like Japanese Studies and Medieval History and just told me to choose that at which I am good. Since I am really interested in healthcare (medicine, public health, you name it) I applied to majors like "health science" and "health and society" at a couple of universities and chose to apply as a nursing major to NYU - out of the blue, really. Fast-forward to today - I am going to NYU for nursing. </p>
<p>I still want to do pre-med in college, but I like the idea of graduating with a BSN and feel as if nursing is my safety net. I like how versatile the nursing career is and have been told by several people that I would make a great nurse if I choose to become one. If I encounter obstacles that many pre-meds encounter and decide for some reason that being a physician is not for me, I can still be a nurse, just like a biology major can be a biology teacher. I don't have any kind of superiority complex and don't feel that nurses are in any way "less" than doctors. However, I have been getting some negative responses from those on the nursing track/in the nursing field, who always tell me (without my asking!) how different the roles of physicians and nurses are. I already know that their roles are different, I just think that an education in nursing will not only make me appreciate of nursing, but also prepare me better for medical school and my career thereafter (in terms of patient care, etc). And if nursing in different from medicine, than how different is Japanese from medicine? </p>
<p>I will have to seek mentorship/support from my nursing department at NYU as a pre-med student, and feel as if I am going to encounter hostility of some sort from them due to my goals. Is there tension between those in the field of nursing and in the field of medicine? Am I wrong in some way for choosing nursing while aiming for med school?</p>
<p>I have read that medical schools will be less likely to accept a nursing major, as it will add to the growing nursing crisis. This is only what I have heard, and I feel as though it is soundly based, but have no real experience with this situation.</p>
<p>There is certainly anecdotal evidence all over suggesting that medical schools are very hesitant to take nursing majors. This and probably a lot of other assorted "tension" is due to the shortage of nurses. I also believe that at many schools there is probably at least some organizational politics that get in the way. </p>
<p>Start as pre-med, and if it doesn't work for you, switch to nursing.</p>
<p>I've also heard the controversy. Probably your nursing advisors clearly won't want to invest a lot of time training a nurse that they know is likely to move on to medical school so you may face some hostility there. (It also takes a spot away from another nursing student who may stay in the field longer, so if the admission dept knows your ultimate goals they might not accept you to the program anyway.). </p>
<p>And, I've heard that nursing majors are slightly less likely to be accepted into medical school - however, it is not impossible and it may have more to do with their MCAT scores than anything else. </p>
<p>If you want to major in nursing, go for it. But take your premed classes just like you would with any other major - you might also run into some scheduling problems or end up having to take extra classes because some colleges have courses like "chemistry for nursing majors" and this wouldn't do for your premed chemistry requirement. A stubborn nursing dept. might make you take double chemistry rather than accepting the "chemistry for science majors" as the chemistry for nursing majors requirement. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>And as far as your nursing professors, maybe keep it on the down low (so to speak) about your intended future plans (you can alway indicate that you intend to seek a nurse practicioner certification - which is clearly along the same lines as a physician in that they are providers just like the MD only with less experience. Use your summers to get whatever volunteering and research opportunities that you can - this all could work toward whatever post grad degree you seek. You might find that you will be happier as an NP (predicable hours, decent money - just not the same as an MD, direct patient care as a provider ). Your nursing advisors (and professors) don't have to know all your hopes/dreams/plans. </p>
<p>Personally I think nurses make better physicans because the listen to their patients more and they are aware of the problamatic logistics behind some "ideal" treatment plans (MDs have a tendency to write orders and walk away without realizing that "Mr. X can't lay flat for that scan because of his back pain" or "Mrs. Y shouldn't be sent home with home care because she lives alone and has no one to help care for her". - I think nurses are more aware of the whole picture and that combination of medical training and people training could be awesome together if done properly). </p>
<p>you are in the same situation i found myself in last year. I originally started out as UVA nursing with the intentions of being pre-med. I figured it was just the major i decided to pursue, and like you, if there was a problem with med school I can be a nurse.</p>
<p>Here is the problem I encountered. After your first year, your required nursing classes become very overwhelming. You must take approximately 16 credit hours of nursing classes alone in addition to clinicals. Basically I found that unless I wanted to be at school every summer...the two would not work out together. It is often said you can major in whatever you want and still be "pre-med". This is true, but not always true. Just check how many credits you will be taking per semester by doing both...some are just insane!</p>
<p>People have done it before, but its extremely difficult and especially since premed classes require a lot of time and energy, I decided to transfer out of nursing and pursue a history major as premed...so far so good!</p>
<p>That's a good point - although on paper it looks "easy" , when are are doing nursing classes and clinicals you won't have time for anything else (especially since often clinicals don't stick to a set schedule - meaning that they will expect you to be at them whenever they assign them regardless of the fact that you may have classes on those other days, ect....). </p>
<p>You can still do it - but I think you should expect it to take you longer as an undergrad.</p>
<p>wow I had no idea about the reluctance to accept nursing students into med school
Thanks for all your responses. I will definitely not discuss career goals with the nursing people...maye just with some other advisor who's not from the department.
I checked NYU's credit things and I would have to take 16 credits/term worth of nursing credits starting junior year. Freshman and sophomore year curriculums are pretty much open, though.</p>
<p>As a former instructor in a BSN program, I have had students come to me and discuss their plans to go on to med school. Is there resentment about nursing students going to med school? I would have to say yes, but it is not an overwhelming resentment. Nursing education is very intense, time-consuming, etc. It's hard from an instructors point of view to have invested so much time and effort into training new nurses, to see someone plan on not working as a nurse but just using this education as a stepping stone. The nursing shortage is near a crisis and we need every nurse we can get.<br>
Having said that, I did work with the students to get in their pre-med prereqs. Just so you know, organic chem sequence is not part of nursing curriculum so you will have to fit in a whole year of orgo somewhere (on top of all your other courses).<br>
Most nurses that I have known that have gone on to med school (including nurses I have taught) have worked a few years as a nurse while they went back to school and took the rest of their prereqs (calculus, pre-med bio, orgo etc..) The nursing curriculum is very structured and it is difficult to get many of the premed classes in while you are a BSN student. Most colleges do offer nursing bio, chem, math etc and those class times are structured around the other nursing classes and pre-reqs. You may find it difficult to fit other chem, bio sequences.<br>
Think carefully of what you really want to do in life. If you feel nursing is right for you, then go for it. It is a great profession with many, many careern options. Becoming an NP is definitely something to consider (need to earn a Masters though). If premed is what you want, then focus on that instead. If you look upon your nursing major as something to do while waiting to do what is your heart's desire (become a doctor) then rethink. It may be hard to do well in your classes if your heart is just not in it.</p>
<p>You've gotten some very good advice here. Just from my personal experience in the dark ages (graduated with BSN in '78), it would be hard to get in premed prereqs while doing nursing school. A few from my nursing class did end up going to med school--none had trouble getting in--but all worked as a nurse for a couple years while picking up those classes.</p>
<p>Hi worth2try. Have you considered becoming a nurse practitioner rather than a dr. as mentioned in previous posts? You really might want to consider that. Our former neighbor is now in her master's program for that after working several years as a nurse in a hospital setting. </p>
<p>My husband and I both see a NP as our primary health care provider. She is WONDERFUL. She started a group practice in our suburban town, which now has two NPs, DOs, and MDs. She is very popular as a health care provider here and doesn't take new patients any more. She's made a great life for herself (has three children) Just something for you to think about.</p>
<p>Another friend of ours is a physician's asst. (PA) and also has a good career.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for all your responses. I think I did not realize just just how pre-professional the nursing track is (how could I not?). I guess I just want it both ways - being able to get a job after graduation and being able to be unsure of my future plans.
I also come from a culture/country in which people, especially women, get married in their early or mid-twenties. To work as a nurse before going to med school and then going to med school and going through with everything just seems like waaaaaaaaaay too much time spent before I start my career.
I'll see how everything with nursing goes, and will keep the nursing practitioner advice in mind.
A couple of questions about that -
How much legal responsibility do they usually carry for their decisions?
How different is their work schedule from that of doctors and regular nurses?</p>
<p>Worthatry- good luck with school. The nice thing about a BSN is that you usually have a year or two to get in most of your prereqs before starting the intense nursing curriculum. That will buy you some time as you figure out what you want to do. If you decide to go pre-med or do something else, you will have the opportunity to do so.<br>
NP is a definite career opportunity. It does require a Masters degree and sometime in the next 10 yrs, there is talk about making a doctorate as the basic level of educ for NP practice. Those with a Masters will be "grandfathered" in and will not have to go back to school for that extra degree. There are all kinds of NP specialities- adult, pediatric, womens health, acute/critical care, psych. In addition, you can get your Masters and become a nurse anethestist, midwife, or nurse educator. With a BSN degree you can opt to get an MBA, law degree, masters/doctorate in any specialty like public heath, etc.. Believe me, the options are numerous.
To answer some of your specific questions - work hours are better than an MD's. You may work in a practice that takes call, but I know few of us that do. Having to do weekend hospital rounds or running a saturday morning clinic is not unheard of but that will depend upon what kind of job you get. NP's work in hospitals, offices, clinics, schools, etc.. Malpractice insurance is a must (NP's can be sued for malpractice), but most employers will pay this for you. NP insurance premiums are way less than an MD's. Feel free to PM me if you have some specific questions about nursing, school, or being an NP.</p>