How Can an RN Become a Doctor?
After completing a bachelor's degree in nursing and passing a licensing exam, registered nurses are qualified to practice in hospitals, family clinics, community health programs and long-term care facilities. Registered nurses who decide to become doctors may enter medical school right after receiving an undergraduate degree. Alternatively, a nurse may practice for several years before beginning training as a physician.
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Career Features
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A nursing career is very different from being a doctor, involving different responsibilities and interactions with patients. Nurses offer direct care to patients and address day-to-day treatment needs. Doctors consult with patients, providing a diagnosis and plan of treatment, but do not spend as much time directly caring for the patient.
When considering a transition from being a nurse to a physician, it is important to understand the differences between the positions. If you enjoy bedside care, becoming a physician may not be a strong choice because your additional responsibilities will cause you to spend less time with each patient.
Medical School Application
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To become a physician, nurses--like everyone else--need to apply to medical school. Undergraduate nursing curricula usually include the necessary prerequisite courses to apply for medical school. Check with an admissions counselor to determine if your undergraduate classes will suffice. Study for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to receive scores high enough to qualify you for medical admission.
Nurses tend to be strong applicants to medical school because they have experience caring for patients. Clinical experience shows medical schools that an applicant is serious and understands the challenges encountered in a health care setting.
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Internship and Licensing
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After completing a four-year accredited medical program, a one-year internship is required before becoming a licensed doctor. In this year, interns practice in a hospital to gain experience treating a variety of illnesses and conditions. Interns also continue their medical education by attending conferences and hospital lectures. The internship provides doctors with the practical skills to be effective physicians. Following the medical internship, graduates take an exam to become fully licensed physicians. Many then complete a residency program in their specific area of interest.
Benefits
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One of the most obvious benefits of transitioning from being an RN to a doctor is salary. According to Indeed, the average registered nurse makes $73,000 annually, while the average physician makes $100,000. However, nurses applying to medical school should consider the additional cost of tuition when making decisions based on salary.
Another benefit to becoming a doctor is that physicians have more authority in the health care field. In general, nurses carry out doctor's orders, so becoming a physician confers more authority as well as greater responsibility.
Considerations
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Registered nurses seeking the authority or salary of a doctor may also consider becoming a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners diagnose patients and prescribe medicine, fulfilling many of the responsibilities of doctors. They tend to emphasize illness prevention and wellness education more than doctors. This career also comes with a salary increase compared to registered nursing, with nurse practitioners in 2009 making an average of $89,000 annually, according to indeed.com.
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References
- Photo Credit Doctor image by Monika 3 Steps Ahead from Fotolia.com
