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Ashly
Student
Fayetteville, Arkansas
1
Question
Asked
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Im not sure whether to become a nurse or a doctor, should get a RN first and then study to become a doctor? or can i do both at the same time?
I’m just graduating high school and i’m already set to go to a university and study for a major of biology this upcoming fall but i’m scare that i will waist my time because u genuinely have no idea what to do or how to do it.
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4 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4557
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Ashly,
Becoming a Nurse or a Doctor: Which Path to Choose?
Deciding between becoming a nurse or a doctor is a significant decision that requires careful consideration of various factors such as your interests, career goals, educational background, and personal preferences. Both nursing and medicine are noble professions in the healthcare field, each with its unique roles, responsibilities, and educational pathways.
Registered Nurse (RN) vs. Doctor (MD/DO):
Registered Nurse (RN):
Role: Registered nurses play a crucial role in providing direct patient care, collaborating with healthcare teams, administering medications, monitoring patients’ conditions, and educating patients and their families about health management.
Education: To become a registered nurse, you typically need to complete an accredited nursing program (Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing) and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure.
Career Path: RNs can specialize in various areas such as pediatrics, oncology, critical care, or labor and delivery. They can also advance their careers by pursuing advanced practice roles like Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Nurse Anesthetist.
Doctor (MD/DO):
Role: Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and medical conditions. They also provide preventive care, manage chronic diseases, perform surgeries, interpret diagnostic tests, and coordinate patient care.
Education: Becoming a doctor requires completing a Bachelor’s degree with pre-medical coursework, followed by attending medical school for four years to earn either an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. After medical school, doctors undergo residency training in their chosen specialty.
Pathways to Becoming a Doctor:
If you are considering becoming a doctor after obtaining your Bachelor’s degree in Biology, you have several options:
Traditional Path:
Complete your Bachelor’s degree in Biology.
Apply to medical school and complete the required pre-medical coursework.
Attend medical school for four years.
Complete residency training in your chosen specialty.
Accelerated Programs:
Some universities offer combined programs where you can earn both your RN license and work towards becoming a doctor simultaneously. These programs may vary in structure and duration but typically involve intensive coursework and clinical training.
Post-Baccalaureate Programs:
If you decide to pursue nursing first before transitioning to medical school, you can consider completing an accelerated nursing program after your Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Subsequently, you can apply to medical school with your nursing background.
Final Considerations:
Consider shadowing healthcare professionals in both nursing and medicine to gain firsthand experience of their roles.
Reflect on your long-term career goals and whether you are more inclined towards patient care (nursing) or diagnosis/treatment (medicine).
Seek guidance from academic advisors or career counselors to explore the best pathway based on your interests and strengths.
In conclusion, whether you choose to become a nurse first before pursuing medicine or opt for an accelerated program combining both paths simultaneously depends on your individual aspirations, timeline, and commitment to the respective educational requirements.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The AACN provides valuable insights into nursing education pathways, career opportunities for registered nurses, and resources for aspiring healthcare professionals.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): The AAMC offers comprehensive information on medical education requirements, application processes for medical schools, residency training programs, and data on physician workforce trends.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The NCSBN is a reliable source for information on nursing licensure examinations like the NCLEX-RN exam, regulatory standards for nursing practice across states, and updates on nursing education programs.
These sources were instrumental in providing accurate information on the educational pathways to becoming a nurse or doctor while ensuring the content is up-to-date and reliable for individuals considering careers in healthcare.
God Bless You,
JC.
Becoming a Nurse or a Doctor: Which Path to Choose?
Deciding between becoming a nurse or a doctor is a significant decision that requires careful consideration of various factors such as your interests, career goals, educational background, and personal preferences. Both nursing and medicine are noble professions in the healthcare field, each with its unique roles, responsibilities, and educational pathways.
Registered Nurse (RN) vs. Doctor (MD/DO):
Registered Nurse (RN):
Role: Registered nurses play a crucial role in providing direct patient care, collaborating with healthcare teams, administering medications, monitoring patients’ conditions, and educating patients and their families about health management.
Education: To become a registered nurse, you typically need to complete an accredited nursing program (Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing) and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure.
Career Path: RNs can specialize in various areas such as pediatrics, oncology, critical care, or labor and delivery. They can also advance their careers by pursuing advanced practice roles like Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Nurse Anesthetist.
Doctor (MD/DO):
Role: Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and medical conditions. They also provide preventive care, manage chronic diseases, perform surgeries, interpret diagnostic tests, and coordinate patient care.
Education: Becoming a doctor requires completing a Bachelor’s degree with pre-medical coursework, followed by attending medical school for four years to earn either an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. After medical school, doctors undergo residency training in their chosen specialty.
Pathways to Becoming a Doctor:
If you are considering becoming a doctor after obtaining your Bachelor’s degree in Biology, you have several options:
Traditional Path:
Complete your Bachelor’s degree in Biology.
Apply to medical school and complete the required pre-medical coursework.
Attend medical school for four years.
Complete residency training in your chosen specialty.
Accelerated Programs:
Some universities offer combined programs where you can earn both your RN license and work towards becoming a doctor simultaneously. These programs may vary in structure and duration but typically involve intensive coursework and clinical training.
Post-Baccalaureate Programs:
If you decide to pursue nursing first before transitioning to medical school, you can consider completing an accelerated nursing program after your Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Subsequently, you can apply to medical school with your nursing background.
Final Considerations:
Consider shadowing healthcare professionals in both nursing and medicine to gain firsthand experience of their roles.
Reflect on your long-term career goals and whether you are more inclined towards patient care (nursing) or diagnosis/treatment (medicine).
Seek guidance from academic advisors or career counselors to explore the best pathway based on your interests and strengths.
In conclusion, whether you choose to become a nurse first before pursuing medicine or opt for an accelerated program combining both paths simultaneously depends on your individual aspirations, timeline, and commitment to the respective educational requirements.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The AACN provides valuable insights into nursing education pathways, career opportunities for registered nurses, and resources for aspiring healthcare professionals.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): The AAMC offers comprehensive information on medical education requirements, application processes for medical schools, residency training programs, and data on physician workforce trends.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The NCSBN is a reliable source for information on nursing licensure examinations like the NCLEX-RN exam, regulatory standards for nursing practice across states, and updates on nursing education programs.
These sources were instrumental in providing accurate information on the educational pathways to becoming a nurse or doctor while ensuring the content is up-to-date and reliable for individuals considering careers in healthcare.
God Bless You,
JC.
Morelia Morel
Pre-medical Undergraduate student/CNA
4
Answers
Salem, Massachusetts
Updated
Morelia’s Answer
As a Junior pre-med student, I was in your same boat! not sure if I wanted to pursue a nursing career or go into medical school. So in order to decided I did a lot of research about both positions, their qualities of life, their schedules and aligned them with my current life goals for the future! I definitely encourage you to try and shadow a Doctor and an RN, to see which position you identify the most with. Another way is to email doctors around your are and ask if you could ask them a few questions about their position, background, etc. Aside from that remember you could always change your mind! I had so many friends that started the nursing route and eventually switch to Pre-med, and Vice-versa, so dont feel that by choosing one career you are stuck with it! Good luck
Adam Cloe
1
Answer
Updated
Adam’s Answer
It's great that you're thinking about your future, even if its scary. I would say that during your undergraduate studies, a lot of the "pre-med" classes such as biology and chemistry will likely be useful for both RN and MD training, so you will have some time to decide. I wouldn't necessarily plan on ultimately trying to pursue both paths---they have different training and careers available. Certainly, you can go through RN training and then decide to go to medical school (or the reverse, though I think that will confuse people), but ultimately you are probably better off ultimately choosing one or the other. To echo some of Kathie's points, my advice is to get as much experience talking to and shadowing people in both fields---I would even try to visit both kinds of professionals in different settings (being an RN or an MD in a surgery area is very different than in a primary care practice is very different than either job in an emergency department). Another suggestion I would make: look for volunteer opportunities! Many hospitals have programs where you can volunteer and while the work may not always be glamorous, it gives you experience and opportunities to talk to professionals but it is also something you can put on your CV, which is always helpful.
I would say any way you can get more exposure to the work and careers of RNs and MDs will help you. Both require a lot of training and have at least some people that go through all of the education and additional steps only to realize that they...don't necessarily enjoy the day-to-day work. I'm a pathologist (an MD subspecialty) and I love it, but I can definitely see how someone could could go through training and then realize they don't...actually enjoy their field.
I would say any way you can get more exposure to the work and careers of RNs and MDs will help you. Both require a lot of training and have at least some people that go through all of the education and additional steps only to realize that they...don't necessarily enjoy the day-to-day work. I'm a pathologist (an MD subspecialty) and I love it, but I can definitely see how someone could could go through training and then realize they don't...actually enjoy their field.
Kathleen Rezek
Laboratory and compliance
22
Answers
Stanwood, Michigan
Updated
Kathleen’s Answer
You are not alone in that dilemma!
The pathway to RN vs MD is quite different in the long term. Consider how much time you want to devote to studying for a career and then working in that career. Do you hope to have a family? You would complete the requirements more quickly and be able to begin working sooner as an RN. There's a need for RNs and many different opportunities within the field. This is also true for MDs. Both careers are rewarding and have unique frustrations. Perhaps make some inquiries into clinics that would allow you to shadow an RN and MD or at least interview them. As you enter college, you'll be focusing on the courses that would apply to either pathway at first. And you might discover an interest in another Healthcare field such as laboratory or radiology along the way. Best to you. Don't be in a hurry to make a decision...you have some time!
Best to you,
Kathie
The pathway to RN vs MD is quite different in the long term. Consider how much time you want to devote to studying for a career and then working in that career. Do you hope to have a family? You would complete the requirements more quickly and be able to begin working sooner as an RN. There's a need for RNs and many different opportunities within the field. This is also true for MDs. Both careers are rewarding and have unique frustrations. Perhaps make some inquiries into clinics that would allow you to shadow an RN and MD or at least interview them. As you enter college, you'll be focusing on the courses that would apply to either pathway at first. And you might discover an interest in another Healthcare field such as laboratory or radiology along the way. Best to you. Don't be in a hurry to make a decision...you have some time!
Best to you,
Kathie
Thank you, Kathleen for the advice.
Ashly