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There’s nothing wrong with being a dedicated or satisfied Nurse, but the truth is that many Nurses would like to advance their careers. Even if the path can be intense, wanting to become a doctor is an exciting and admirable goal.
Luckily, going from Nurse to Doctor is also entirely feasible. In fact, you’ll likely find that the process of applying for and attending medical school, as well as receiving the proper licenses and certifications, is very similar to what you’ve already been through.
To find out more, this article will cover everything you need to know about advancing your career from Nurse to Doctor.
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Though the difference between a Nurse and a Doctor may seem obvious, such as the fact that Doctors are paid more or require more schooling, there are some more nuanced differences you may not have considered.
It takes many years of education to become a Doctor because the job has more science-oriented tasks. For instance, a Doctor needs enough knowledge and specialization to confidently diagnose and treat illnesses. For example, a Doctor should be able to deduce what kind of tests or medications a patient needs to make progress in addressing their illness.
Therefore, a Doctor’s daily work is different from a Nurse's, which is typically more task-oriented and focuses on helping those same patients along with their recovery.
A simple difference like this can completely change how someone operates in the healthcare industry. If a Doctor is responsible for prescribing a medication, and a nurse simply administers it, that means the Doctor is far more liable and responsible for the patient’s health and wellbeing.
In turn, that also explains why Doctors have higher education requirements and average salaries when compared to Nurses.
There are many reasons why a Nurse might want to become a Doctor. To find out whether any of these reasons apply to you, here’s a comprehensive list:
Intellectual Curiosity. Some Nurses choose to become Doctors because they love working in the medical field and want to learn more or specialize in a specific topic they're interested in. Therefore, continuing with their education to become a Doctor will allow them to explore their intellectual curiosity.
Career Advancement. Many Nurses view becoming a Doctor as career advancement for good reasons. Doctors typically have more control over their jobs and receive higher pay, among other benefits.
Control. As a Doctor, you have the power and knowledge to control patient outcomes. This can be a huge relief when you know you want to help patients in the best way you possibly can.
Prestige. Becoming a Doctor requires extensive study and practice, which is why Doctors earn so much respect in society and the medical community. That prestige can be especially appealing for a burnt-out Nurse.
Financial Gain. It’s no secret that Doctors make more money than Nurses. In fact, the average Doctor makes 18X more per year than the average Nurse.
Change. If you’ve worked as a Nurse for a few years or more, you might simply feel like you need a career change. And, if you don’t want to leave the medical field, becoming a doctor can be a great change, as you’ll interact with patients differently and have different tasks within a hospital.
There are many benefits that come along with changing your career from a Nurse to a Doctor. To understand why transitioning your career in this way makes sense, here are some of the main pros to doing so:
Education made easy. As a Nurse applying to medical school, you’ll have the advantage of already taking similar classes or fulfilling prerequisites. This experience can make the topics covered in medical school far easier or even allow you to move through the processes faster.
Experience. Being a Nurse, you’ll already be familiar with how a hospital works, in addition to spending valuable time around patients. This familiarity can make the transition to becoming a Doctor much easier, as you’ll already know what to expect from the healthcare industry, as well as the patients you’re treating.
Access. With your experience, you’ll likely have an easier time convincing an admissions committee with your medical school application. That means you’ll have to worry less about losing your spot to a newer, less experienced applicant.
Unfortunately, there are also cons that come with being a Nurse before you become a Doctor. To understand what risks you’ll be taking if you decide to pursue your career change, here are some things to consider:
Lack of time. If you intend to continue working as a Nurse while you attend medical school, you may find yourself burnt out very quickly. Therefore, you need to ensure you give yourself enough time to tackle the responsibilities of medical school.
Being an outlier. Moving from one career to another makes you a non-traditional medical school applicant, as most applicants are young and new to the medical field. This can make you feel alone. Additionally, you may find it difficult to return to a classroom setting if it’s been many years since you last experienced one.
Judgment. Though not very common anymore, you may experience judgment from your colleagues and others when you decide to change careers.
They may feel as though the job isn’t right for you or that it would be difficult to mentally change your role in the healthcare system. However, it’s important to consider your own interests above anything else.
So you’ve gone over all the pros and cons, and you know you’re interested in becoming a Doctor. However, maybe you’re not sure where to start.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to get started on your path to becoming a Doctor. These include:
Achieve Medical School Admission Requirements
Before you apply for medical school, you’ll need to know if you meet all of the school’s admission requirements. First and foremost, you’ll usually need to ensure you have all the prerequisite courses needed, as well as take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and provide letters of recommendation.
We recommend looking into prerequisites as your first step, so you can take the additional courses you need to before you invest your time into an application. Luckily, as an RN, you may have fulfilled more of the prerequisites than other prospective applicants. Not to mention the advantage of having clinical skills.
Overall, if you’re interested in learning more about what you need to do before you apply to medical school, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) can provide you with a good outline of any and all requirements.
Gain Admission into Medical School
Once you’re sure you have all the requirements needed to apply for medical school, your next step will be to take the MCAT. The MCAT is composed of 230 questions related to your ability to succeed in medical school and your knowledge of healthcare. In total, you’ll be given a little over seven hours to complete the test.
Remember that many other applicants will be taking the examination, so you should aim to earn as high of a score as you can. Anything above 472 will be considered passing, but you’ll want to have above a 510 to have a strong chance of being admitted. In general, we recommend studying and taking pretests beforehand, so you’re are prepared as possible.
Then, after you take the MCAT, you want to finalize your application and send it to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This is a centralized system that will allow you to easily submit several applications. That’s good because it’s always best to apply to multiple schools.
Finally, your last hurdle will be attending interviews and wowing admissions counselors. Again, we recommend you take as many interviews as you can, and practice and prep for those interviews before you attend them.
After your interview, you’ll then be notified if you’ve been admitted into the school.
Earn Your Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree
Your next step in going from a Nurse to a Doctor is to complete medical school. Initially, you’ll be required to complete two years of basic and relevant sciences. As a Nurse, you might find this period of schooling easier than some of your peers.
Next, your third and fourth years will focus on completing clinical rotations. This will allow you to learn from experienced physicians and become familiar with the practice you’ll be taking on in the future.
Additionally, you can expect to begin the first two portions of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) series while in medical school. Passing and earning strong scores on these two examinations is a crucial part of showing that you’re prepared for the next stage of your training.
Complete Your Residency and Other Requirements
Once you obtain your MD, you’ll be ready to create a ranked list of residency programs you want to apply for. Then, after you’re matched with a program, you can expect to spend at least three years, but potentially up to seven years training as a resident physician. In general, the amount of time spent training will vary based on specialty.
Afterward, you’ll need to pass the third and final step of the USMLE. Passing the final portion of the examination will essentially prove that you’ve completed your training.
Of course, depending on the specialty you’re pursuing, you might need to meet additional requirements. However, these requirements should be clear and achievable by the time you reach this point.
Become Licensed by Your State
Finally, in aiming to become a certified Doctor, you’ll need to receive licensing from your state. This can be achieved through taking and passing a board certification exam.
To ensure you’re prepared and meet all requirements, be sure to research your state before you take the exam. For example, some states may require that you complete a fellowship for certain specialties, so it’s important to know such information before you try to get your license.
Start Practicing as a New Doctor
After all of these trials and tribulations, you’ll finally be ready to start practicing as a licensed Doctor. While this series of tasks may seem a bit daunting, remember that your experience as a Nurse will help guide you through the process.
Is medical school easier as a Nurse?
Yes, medical school can be easier as a Nurse. Being a Nurse gives you an advantage in knowing the ins and outs of the healthcare industry, as well as some familiarity with topics covered in medical school.
However, it is important to note that medical school is considered substantially more difficult than nursing school. Your volume of study will be much greater, and you’ll be held to a more competitive standard. Though, being a Nurse will help give you an edge in this competitive environment.
How do Nurses balance their classes?
There are a few steps you can take to balance your classes as a Nurse. While it can be difficult to attend medical school and continue your work as a Nurse, here are some things you can do to make it easier:
Organize Your Space. Having an organized space for your schoolwork will allow you to get right down to studying and completing homework when you get home from your Nursing job.
Scheduling Tools. Write down your class and work schedules, as well as other important deadlines and dates. Doing so on a calendar or on your phone will help you keep track of what you need to do and when.
Prioritize. Being able to prioritize the parts of your schoolwork that are most important will help you succeed. For instance, if you know you have an important project or test due, be sure to dedicate most of your free time to that task.
Communicate With Your Boss. You’ll be far more successful when you talk to your boss and other nurses about your obligations, as they’ll be more understanding and helpful toward your endeavors.
Manage Your Stress. Being a Nurse and attending medical school at the same time is a recipe for stress, so it’s important that you find ways to mitigate that stress. Take time for your health and try to strike as much of a work-life balance as you can.
Focus on Your Goals. If you have the determination to become a Doctor, you’ll be far more likely to achieve that goal. Therefore, whenever you feel disheartened or exhausted, keep reminding yourself of your goal and how far you’ve come.
What is the average GPA of a medical student?
The average overall GPA of a medical student is 3.71. More specifically, the average science GPA for medical students is 3.64 science, while the average non-science GPA is 3.79.
If you’ve been a Nurse for a while and your GPA doesn’t meet these averages, it can be a good idea to take some prerequisite classes before you apply to medical school. That way, you can raise your GPA and make your overall application stronger.
Is there an age limit to enter medical school?
No, there is no age limit to enter medical school. You can enter medical school at any age, though it’s normal to feel out of place or disadvantaged as an older candidate. Maybe you feel self-conscious about retaking courses or starting your career too late.
However, mature students tend to be more responsible than their younger counterparts, meaning that starting medical school late can actually make it easier to succeed.
How long does it take to go from a Nurse to a Doctor?
On average, it takes a minimum of seven years to go from a Nurse to a Doctor. This includes two years of basic and relevant sciences, one to two years of clinical rotations, and three to seven years of residency training.
Unfortunately, being a Nurse will not reduce the amount of time you need to spend in medical school. Though, you may find that it’s easy to complete courses in a timely manner.
Going from a Nurse to a Doctor is an exciting and admirable goal, even if it takes a considerable amount of time and dedication. However, it’s more than possible, if not easier, to do so as a Nurse.
Overall, your success will hinge on entering and succeeding in medical school, as well as completing a residency and any other requirements you need to become a Doctor in your state. If you’re willing to go through these requirements, you can reap the benefits of advancing your career in the healthcare industry.