In the field of healthcare, both nurses and physicians have different, yet important roles to fill. All of which revolve around treating patients, saving their lives, and ensuring their well-being both in and out of the hospital. Nevertheless, while both of these professionals play pivotal parts in the healthcare system, physicians tend to be looked upon in higher regard than their nurse counterparts. This is, in part, because becoming a physician often carries a heavier financial burden, as well as several more years of study before being able to practice, compared to nurses. 

These investments, in both time and money, give doctors higher prestige in the workplace and often leads to leadership positions within some institutions right off the bat. In this sense, it’s quite obvious as to why anyone would want to shoot for the stars and become a doctor. Not only is the salary better, but the profession also carries a higher degree of respect in the field. Nonetheless, there are circumstances along the way that may influence the plans of an aspiring doctor and lead to the next-best-thing, nursing school. However, if you’re a nurse that originally wanted to be a doctor, it doesn’t mean you can’t change your path. 

Making the switch to another career is never easy, especially when the career you’re aspiring for is to become a doctor. In this article, we will briefly go over everything you need to know in order to transition from nurse to doctor. 

Medical School

The very first step for becoming a doctor is completing medical school. For this reason, a nurse should check if they have any courses from their nursing studies that are acceptable for their entrance to medical school. This is, in part, where your years of experience as a nurse will work against you. While some courses like anatomy don’t change over time, others like pharmacology or physiology do, and you might need to retake them in order to be accepted into medical school.

In order to apply to medical school, a nurse must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which must be completed within 3 years of applying to any medical school. The MCAT is a standardized computer test focused on textbook learning, rather than real-world applications of knowledge, which is where most nurses might encounter troubles, considering that most haven’t touched a textbook in years. While undergrads have access to many tools to assist them in this regard, such as student review courses, nurses will need to find time out of their busy schedules in order to accommodate study habits in preparation for the MCAT.

Once the test has been taken, the score will be sent to the medical schools that the nurse has applied to. Their scores will be reviewed alongside their background information such as undergraduate grades, the school from which they graduated, and their coursework, among others. Once accepted, the fun begins.

Medical school consists of 4 years, which is split into 2 years of lessons in a classroom setting, and 2 years in a clinical setting.

Residency and Fellowships

Once the nurse is accepted into medical school, they must complete their studies over 4 years, after which they must complete another 3 years of residency in order to become a physician. This is where studies might end for some, and where the real work begins for many. However, if you’re aiming to become a specialized doctor, you will need to go into a fellowship in order to gain more knowledge. This will prepare you for your advanced degrees.

Fellowships can usually last for five years or longer, depending on the specialization that you pursue. Cardiothoracic surgeons and neurosurgeons, for example, might require up to 10 years of study, the medical school included, in order to become one.

Advanced Nursing Degrees

While some nurses might opt to become physicians, others might want to continue as a nurse, but further their studies to aspire for better positions. In order to achieve this, a nurse must first obtain their transcripts to verify if any of their courses are valid, and which ones must be repeated. Those with a bachelor’s degree have an advantage here, as most of these programs prepare the professional for a master’s or doctorate programs. 

Once all the information has been gathered, and the nurse has obtained access to an advanced program, they must continue to study to obtain their master’s degree. Those who are RN’s might have an advantage, as there are some courses that offer an accelerated path for registered nurses. After the master’s program has been completed, a nurse can continue studying for another 4 to 6 years in order to obtain their doctorate. This often includes programs in research methods, statistical and data analysis, and other subjects related to the nursing trade.