oooh I think I'm going to go to Med School ! whee!

[Heddi]

Right now I'm in school to be an RN (registered nurse). It's a 2-year program and is the equivalent of an Associates Degree.

I had planned on going back to school in a few years to finish up and get my BSN (Bachelor of Science: Nursing) then go on to grad school after that for something more specialized (Midwifery? Anesthesiology?)

But as of late, I've been thinking that once I get my RN, going to back to school for pre-med, then onto the big bad world of Medical School.

the only thing that frightens me is the intense chemistry classes i'll invariably have to take (Organic! Bio-Chem! eee!) but that's my only trepedation about the whole thing.

The pressure to preform doesn't scare me---I love challenging myself, and have done exceedingly well in my classes so-far.

The intensity of the classes doesn't scare me either---During my year here taking pre-requisites for nursing, I've also taken higher-level classes and harder classes than necessary--that don't even bear on my entrance into the nursing program, and I took them solely because again, I like to challenge myself. I like going into a class and feeling that doom of "Oh my god how can I possibly learn this shit" and come out with a 3.9 or a 4.0

I feel like a total turd, though, for not finding this out earlier in life. I'm 27 now, and won't become an RN until I'm 29 or 30---add to that another 10+ years of school & internship & residency before I finally become a doctor----Had I gone to college immediately after high school (10 years ago), i'd be one year away from earing my MD....

While I'm in school, my husband is being very kind and understanding and is the only wage-earner in our household---which isn't that bad, really ($30k before taxes for 2 adults). But I'd feel like a leech if I were to just keep going to school and not working. That means no baby, no house, no second car or anything before I'm 41 years old....and even though he says "O God Yes be a Doctor!!!" I feel that I'm denying him basics of life (even though we really don't want a child, and even though we planned on moving to Europe once I got my RN...).....

I'd feel like also i'd be hogging the spot for that 11 years should HE want to go to school and change his career. He's not happy with his current degree at all.....

I just don't know what to do. And the funny thing is, he's totally encouraging me to do whatever I want. If I want a BSN and tha'ts it, fine. If I want to stay and RN forever, that's fine too. If I want to become an MD, that's even greater. There's no pressure from him to do or not do anything---only the assumed pressure from my silly brain...sigh...

Has anyone gone to Med School? Is anyone a Doctor? Tell me things....I want to know :)

[SoCalDem]

1. pm Ramsey

She can give you some tips :) Great challenge for you.. and I bet you won't have to wait that long for a family :):) Where there's a will, there's a way :)

[Heddi]

3. oh but see, we don't want a family

other than the one we already have (moms, dads, granmas, sisters, etc).........

And even though we've talked about not having kids, or at least not for a long time coming, it still strikes me as "ME BEING GREEDY" for choosing something that will DEFINTELY Stand in our way of not having kids.

I think I also feel guilt b/c I'm an only child and feel the pressure from my side of the family to 'go out and have babies' just for the sake of having a grand-child or great-grand child.....

[dofus]

7. It's NOT greedy not to want to have kids.

And don't use med school to rationalize your choice. The two things have nothing to do with each other. I personally know several women doctors who have kids. They're happy with being doctors and having kids. If you don't want kids, don't have them. You can do lots more good in the world if you do what you want to because you want to do it.

Speaking as someone with two kids, I know it's not for everyone.

[Lars39]

2. A friend of mine did this.

She became an RN first, saving money like crazy, then went on to med school. She's a doctor now; no regrets, and a darn good one, too. You've got a leg up on the doctor's in training: you already know how to relate to the patient.
And as far as the age thing goes.....you're going to hit that particular year anyway, might as well be doing something you love when you do. :)

ps. you can find chemistry tutors if you need them.

[Heddi]

4. yeah that's what I thought too

(re: Chem Tutors).

My physiology teacher is an MD and I was talking to her today about Med School and she says she knows an innordinate number of MD's who started out as RN's, worked as an RN for a while, then went back to school for medical.

It's an exciting concept. Definitely not a "definite" yet, but something I'm keeping in my little sack of future plans :)

[Lars39]

5. Best wishes on whatever you decide!!!!

That is an exciting possibility to have in your "little sack of future plans". :)

[drdon326]

10. I might know something...

i have some suggestions..

1st...i know alot of mds and sorry to say i dont know
any that were rns....

2nd, why not have the best of both worlds...finish rn and
become a NURSE ANESTHETIST !!
AND YOU CAN STILL HAVE KIDS !!
AND ITS OMLY 2 YEARS MORE AND NOT 10 YEARS
AND YOU CAN MOVE IF NECESSARY TO ANY STATE.
AND ITS A RISING PROFESSION.

HOPE THAT HELPS.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Congratulations Heddi!!!

That is a FANTASTIC opportunity for you!! :toast:

[Mandate My Ass]

8. don't be frightened

your work here as an unpaid DU mod is undoubtedly a testament to your qualifications to become a physician and healer. Here you demonstrated that your personal likes and dislikes have absolutely no bearing on your duties to enforce rules designed to benefit a diverse society and "do no harm" as the Hippocratic oath demands.

Good Luck! :-)

[realFedUp]

9. Congrats!

best wishes.

[FloridaJudy]

11. Goody for You!

(Happy Nekkid Pagan Dance)

Don't be scared of Organic Chemistry: it's actually a lot of fun. It's what turned *me* off of Med School - I'd heard terrifying stories of horrors of "organic chem"! Supposedly, it was what washed anyone with an IQ of less than 500 out of Pre-Med...

I gave up and went to Nursing School, and found I love being a nurse!

Several years later I went back and took Organic Chemistry as a pre-requisite for a Masters in Nursing.

I not only aced it, but enjoyed it.

Don't choose between Nursing and Medical School by the difficulty of the curriculum. Instead, decide which is more important to your life. Do you want to provide basic care to patients, and put up with idiots putting you down because you're "only a nurse", and still have time for family, hobbies and social concerns? Go to nursing school.

On the other hand, if you're willing to sacrifice personal concerns to really, *really* make a difference, go to med school! I wish I'd done that.

[Seneca]

12. you are not a turd

It is never, and I cannot stress this enough - never too late - to change what you want to do with your life. It is the only one we have, and death is the only obstacle to accomplishing goals, not age. Well, there is money, but the point here is that whether you are in your 20's or 40's, or 70's - do something to be proud of!

You are on the way to achieving a major life goal - and in some ways, you will have advantages over the younger doctors - more maturity, experience (the nursing background is invaluable), and so forth.

:toast: Good luck! Do not dwell on your age or timeline!

[newyawker99]

13. Good luck to you Heddi!!

I know you can do it! :-)

[KCDem]

14. midwifery is something I've lately been interested in.

(since you mentioned it... not trying to sway you from plans to become an MD by any means!) I had my second child at home with a midwife and found it to be the most amazing experience. If you want to do patient care because you _really_ want to get to know patients, that would be a great direction to head.

Good luck!

[mcar]

15. Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner?

Have you thought about becoming one of these? Many of the doctors I know (I worked in a hospital) are now saying that if they had it to do over again, that's what they'd do. That way, they'd get the patient care they like, but not have to deal with as much paperwork, malpractice insurance, business concerns, etc.

Plus, it's a shorter educational block. A friend of mine is a PA for orthopedic surgeons and loves it. My gyn is an ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner) and she is wonderful. With your interest in midwifery, it might be a good compromise.

[FloridaJudy]

18. No paperwork???

Dream on!

Paperwork is the curse of the Health Care Provider at every level. Just filling out required forms takes up over half of my time for every patient visit. The kind of hoops they make us jump through to get reimbursed by MediCare and MediCaid are unbelievable! I recently received my instructions for billing MediCaid: they filled two 8"x11"x12" boxes. I can't figure out how the hell some folks manage to commit fraud; it's difficult enough to bill the government when you're completely honest (and believe me, the Feds audit frequently and strictly).

On the other hand, my personal MD does *everything* with her Palm Pilot. After she did my last exam, she punched her findings and recommendations into the thing in thirty seconds flat...Zap! My bill was sent to the front desk, my lab work had been ordered, the two referrals to specialists had been made, and my prescriptions were faxed to the pharmacy. When she asked "do you have any questions?", I didn't hesitate: "where did you get your software?"

Turns out she was one of the MDs who'd beta-tested the system. It took her practice over two years to work out the bugs.

I figure the Public Health System will finally switch to something sane like that in about ten years - just after I retire.

I *still* want one of those!

[Aristus]

16. Way to go, Heddi! That's so kewwwwwwwl!

I'm in the process of becoming a Medical Assistant. I need 4000 hours of medical care under my belt before I apply to You-Dub Med School's Physician's Assistant program. Medicine and Teaching are the family businesses, and I'm finally getting on board. My dad started out as an RN and is now a Surgical Tech.

Best of luck to you. I know you can do it!

[drdon326]

17. kick

.

[drdon326]

19. W h e r e ' s H e d d i ??

.

[Heddi]

20. sorry! I was in school all day!!!

Had Phlebotomy and Physiology today (phew!). As it was the first day of Phlebotomy class, i got to learn how to tie-off an arm using a tourniquet, altho we didn't do any poking or prodding (yet)...boo :( Although I've never stuck anyone with a needle before, so I say "boo" when in all acutality the thought of having to stick something in someone's vein JUST RIGHT scares the living pants off of me, but I'm sure I'll do fine.

I really apreciate everyone's comments in the thread. It's given me alot to think about re: future options.

I mean, I've not even STARTED actual nursing classes, and already I'm thinking about med school? Shoot---i'm not even an RN and I'm thinking about the BSN?? Oh what can I say---I like to have a bit of a plan for the future---gives me something to day-dream about when I'm learing about Sodium/Potassium Pumps and the Action Potention :snooze: :)

I'm copying and pasting this thread for future reference---Like, 6 months ago I was *SO* into midwifery, and that was the end-all be-all of my (soon to be) nursing existence.

well, needless to say that idea was soon replaced with the idear of being a Nurse Anesthesiologist (I saw their average salaries and let me say "whoah!" ha ha ha).

Then as of late, that idea has been replaced with med school....I think the thing is that my brain constanly needs newer and higher challenges to think and dream about.

I'm sure in 6 months, I'll be thinking of being a brain surgeon, or nuclear engineer ha ha ha.

I should say that whatever I decide to do with my career, it will DEFINTELY be health related, and It will DEFINITELY be my goal to BETTER our current health system (or lack thereof). I want to work in ER's. I want to serve underserved people.

I lived most of my adult life without Health Insurance. Shit--I don't even have insurance now except for the "injury" policy required by the school for my phleb. classes that basically forces me to pay 99% of all expenses accrued....but that's another story.

I know what it's like to not even CONSIDER preventative medicine because YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO PREVENT IT. I know what it's like to have to get as ill as possible and hope that
1) it goes away
2) it can be treated OTC
3) It only affects you on your day off
4) the hospital isn't too quick to send your past-due balances to collections.

I hate having to have lived (and still live) like that, and it saddens me even MORE that millions of americans are worse off than I am. I mean, I *DO* have a meager savings that could get us by should I get sick.

Most people don't.

We do have CC"s that could be used to cover expenses should they need to be

Most people don't.

And seeing sick family members in the hospital---it was never the Doctors that got accolades from the sick and family---it was the nurses. The nurses were there 23 1/2 hours a day, and the Dr's came in for 2 minutes and knew NOTHING about the patient except for what was on the chart (and I am *NOT* knocking doctors in any way, cuz y'all got brains bigger than I could ever hope to have!).

I've also received WONDERFUL medical care both in in and outpatient setting. From both doctors AND nurses. It really DOES make a difference when you're treated by someone who really does give a shit about you, and when you're treated by someone who's just counting down the minutes til the end of their shif.

I want to be the one that really cares, and really makes a difference.

Sorry for my sloppiness---having 16 different people tourniquet my arm today has left me a bit....numb :)

Again, thanks so much for all y'all's advice and PM's. They're very inspiring and just give me MORE options for that oh-so-wide future :)

PS--when I become a nurse, all DU'ers get 10% off treatments ha ha ha

[FloridaJudy]

21. [[[[Hug]]]]

Whatever you decide to do, hang in there!!

You sound like the sort of person we *really* need in health care; this country's medical system is FUBAR, which would probably be no surprise to most of us DU's. The sad thing is that we *should* be the leader in patient care, not just in technology. Don't get me started.

I'm an old, really tired, leftist nurse who's fought for decent, affordable, medical care for all Americans for decades. I'd like to retire soon. Even more, I'd like to know that there's a new generation I can pass the torch to, saying "Go get the bastids, and fight for your patients, kids!"

I suspect you're fired with the same passion as Elizabeth Blackwell, Margaret Sanger and me.

You go, grrlll!

[carpetbagger]

22. I went to med school. what do you want to know?

It's expensive, your classmates will be jerks, the hours are horrendous, and most physicians' jobs resemble working in a supermarket checkout line more than the academic experience that drew them to med school in the first place.

That having been said, it's got good job security, the pay's great, the job has at least as many intangible rewards as nursing, and the quality of doctors is variable enough that a good one would be worth it.

I've known RN's and other professionals who have gone to medical school. Most of them are as happy with the job as the next doc. However, if I were in your position, I'd think long and hard about advance practice nursing. The pay in some areas is comparable with that of a physician, and you'll never get those 7-9 years back. The patient contact is at least as satisfying.

As to organic chemistry, the trick is to just do it. It's not about understanding it, it's not about remembering it longer than the MCATs, it's simply about memorizing reams of useless information because everyone else is, and those everybody elses are competing with you for a limited number of positions.

P.S. As a final disclaimer, I work for the federal government. The pay is perhaps not as good, but the job duties are a lot more maneagable, I don't have to play insurance games, I don't have to worry, in general, about whether people can pay or not, and the people I work with are not out to cut my throat. I would never go willingly back into the private sector again. So I've found a niche, but I still feel like I lost seven years of my life.

[pmbryant]

23. Wow!!

That is an increbibly cool idea, Heddi. It is also good that you will have some time to think about it and get significant experience in the medical field before you have to make a decision about this.

I wouldn't worry a bit that you didn't discover this course when you were younger. It clearly wasn't right for you back then! ;-) Then again, if my experience is any indication, 10 years from now, you may find yourself with completely different career aims and goals than you do now.

I can't offer any specific advice, unfortunately, because, while I spent many years in grad school pursuing a doctorate, I have no experience with med school. But this is definitely an exciting option to consider while you work towards your nursing degree, and it is way too cool that your partner is so supportive of you in this and everything else!

Best of luck to you and your husband, Heddi.

:thumbsup: :hi:

--Peter

[Snow]

24. I've taught med school until recently since 1991, now teach residents,

so even though you've got a lot of really good information in the thread so far, maybe I can add a bit. Used to be med school was the first two years consisted of a long line of talking heads giving you stuff to memorize and cough back up on exams, then the final two years where you rotate through services and finally get to see patients. No more. In most places you see patients with a preceptor by the second week of med school. You get taught how to talk with patients, how to do an effective interview, some real social skills. That used to get left till residency and was pretty haphazard then. There's still the talking heads, but there're also small groups, discussion and demonstrations, most places use simulated patients (trained people) for training students to interview. Where I was we even trained students with real tough interviews - delivering bad news, working with addicts, interviewing through a translator. The memorization and labs are still there, but it's developed a lot more. Incidentally, we had three professional musicians enter med school over the years, and they each did very well -outstanding students and now top-notch physicians.

Let's see, what else. Don't be intimidated by thinking the whole class is extraordinarily brilliant - they aren't. Most likely they'll be about half women. My experience was that around 10-20% of the med students were nurses or similar type people - EMT's, PA's, PT's. And the age thing is no deal at all, especially at your age. There'll be plenty of people your age, plenty of people older. We had one applicant around 1995 or so, who was 48. She wanted to be a rural primary care doc. The admissions committee asked her, "Do you realize you'll be 52 by the time you graduate from med school in 4 years?" She replied "I was planning on being 52 in 4 years anyway." They let her in (and she did well, and is happily practicing primary care medicine in a small town.). The studies are a lot - a ton - really, really a lot - of memorization - followed by multiple choice tests. Most schools have now incorporated OSCE exams - let's see - Objective Structered Clinical Exam - where you're asked to demonstrate a skill with one of those simulated patients I mentioned earlier. Actually, you usually spend a Saturday morning demonstrating a whole bunch of skills on a whole series of simulated patients.

I think that's about all that occurs to me right now. You'll be fine - it'll be tough, so make sure you don't drop your exercise routine (or start one if you don't have one). I recommend something like Taekwondo that involves hitting people..(just joking.)

[midnight armadillo]

25. What my doctor told me

My doc was an English major in college, and said that he learned more about being a good doctor from that than 4 years of med school. They teach you all the bio you need to know in med school anyway, so as long as you take the classes you need for the MCAT study what you like. Literature, philosophy, theatre, art history: all excellent choices.

Incidentally, med schools LOVE physics majors when they apply for med school...

But I'd feel like a leech if I were to just keep going to school and not working. That means no baby, no house, no second car or anything before I'm 41 years old....and even though he says "O God Yes be a Doctor!!!" I feel that I'm denying him basics of life

A friend of mine got out of the Navy, got married, and promptly went to grad school at the same time as me for our PhDs. When we started we had a salary of $18k, and 5 years later he's got 3 kids. His wife didn't work much. How he did this, I have no idea :-)

[Snow]

26. Oh, yes, get a broad education, by all means....

I kept telling the admissions committee, "Don't let in anybody who admits to having been a pre-med major!" That's probably why I never was appointed to the admissions committee. But seriously, take, I don't know, 16th century French literature. Don't get sucked into this thing of "you have to have all these science classes". Horse-pucks! We teach all that stuff in med school, usually not in as much detail or as well as the undergrad schools, so why bother? Take stuff you enjoy, get a good prep course for the MCAT's and you'll be okay. The MCAT's by the way, are another scam run by the same lovely people who bring you the SAT's and the GRE's - and have about as much to do with medicine as the other exams.