I've been a Registered Nurse for almost 2 years now and wanted to be a doctor. Will it take me long?
I would recommend reflecting on what you appreciate and desire from the MD/DO role. I work a lot with medical students and medical residents, and medical school can be tough, long, and emotionally/mentally challenging. Some residences require 60-70+ hour work weeks for 3 or more years AFTER medical school. You could ABSOLUTELY do this, but do you want to?
I appreciated the work/life balance of the NP role, and appreciated the ability to switch specialties if wanted (women’s health to palliative care, Primary care to urology, etc), where this is really difficult for our MD/DO counterparts to do related to board certifications/residency etc.
NPs make a fraction of our MD/DO counterparts, and we are still finding our way in the hierarchical medical system, but I feel the future is promising. We also pay a fraction when it comes to tuition.
All of that to say, learn about medical school, not just the amount of classes and credits needed, but the amount of times you would have to move//travel for clinicals, what are the requirements of the residencies of your preferred specialty, etc. Lots to consider!
Check the boxes. How to pay for it—do you have outstanding loans? You can’t work during med school.
Biochemistry—can you pass it or whatever bugaboo class there might be for you?
Residency—I am guessing you are working some 12 hour nights. Can 36 hour shifts work for you?
Your age—are you mid-20s? If you are you might be OK. Just remember…4 years of med school, 2-4 years residency/Fellow. What about marriage and children? Shortened money-making career. Will you have time to make enough money to raise kids, pay loans, save for retirement?
I checked the boxes at age 35. I stopped at residency. I knew how I felt with chronic sleep deprivation. It just wasn’t worth it.
May I suggest what worked for me? Midlevel. PA or NP school. One word of caution—Midlevels are handling more complex cases than ever. On the other hand, no call!
You may want to think about being a NP. It is WAY shorter and you have a choice of several areas of practice. If you are seeking a specialist type MD then med school is the only option. Your go 4 years to get MD and 4 years to get fellowship.
I have add several friends, whom have done this. They said medical school was a walk in the park compared to nursing school. The philosophy in med school, is you got in we will get you though. Unlike nursing it was to weed you out. The brotherhood in medical school is far better. Where nurse eat their young and throw each other under the bus. Go for it, your mental health, will be improved
