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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to go from nurse to Dr?

51 replies

Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 10:53

I've been a qualified nurse for a year and a half, so not very long at all. Ever since starting my nursing degree I'd have thoughts about being a Dr but didn't have the required A-levels (science) or think I was smart enough (I had really low self esteem).
I'm now seriously contemplating a career in medicine and completely motivated for the studying etc, but reading so many threads recently about the pressure of junior drs puts me off.
As a nurse i am put under immense pressure and I think Dr's absolutely get the worst of this, and have a lot more pressure than what I currently do.
I can't really talk to my nursing colleagues about this, as one I mentioned it to gave me a hard time about it saying I want to be better than nurses etc, which is absolutely not true.
By the time I finish my a-levels and medical school (if i would even get in), i would have been qualified 7/8 years. I absolutely think i can do this, i got a 2:1 in my nursing degree but was 4 marks off a 1st (frustrating i know). I didn't do as well in my a-levels but I'm confident i could get good grades in biology and chemistry.
If you were in my position would you choose a career in medicine or progress through nursing?
Any advice welcome! Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 10:55

Sorry it's long! But i forgot to mention I do love nursing, i love caring for my patients, but I much prefer the medical side to nursing.
I would love to be the person diagnosing, treating, doing procedures/operations ect

OP posts:
Sidge · 18/09/2019 10:58

I’d focus on gaining more experience and moving into a different nursing role to enable you to do more “medical” roles.

You’re quite blinkered if you think you need to be a doctor to “be the person diagnosing, treating, doing procedures/operations ect”. I’m a registered nurse and do all of those things.

dollydaydream114 · 18/09/2019 10:58

My friend is a nurse and felt similarly to you - so she's currently training to qualify as a nurse practitioner, which will mean she can assess patients, request/interpret diagnostic/lab tests, give diagnoses, prescribe medication etc. So essentially she'll get to do a lot of the things doctors do. (She doesn't have science A-levels and didn't want to start again completely.)

However, if you feel confident you can progress through medical school, there's no reason you shouldn't apply.

Sunshinelollipops1 · 18/09/2019 11:00

Would you need to redo alevels? With your nursing degree could you not do a graduate medical degree (usually 4 years).

Hederex · 18/09/2019 11:00

I think go for it. If it's what you want, and you went straight into your nursing degree from school, it's not too late, but if you leave it much longer it will be.
Other options as I'm sure you know are nurse specialist, ANP etc but it doesn't sound like that's what you want.

BoreOfWhabylon · 18/09/2019 11:01

I'm in the twilight of my nursing career, and pretty senior now, but if I had my time again I would definitely pursue a career plan similar to yours.

Go for it!

onanothertrain · 18/09/2019 11:02

You can do everything you want to do as a nurse and still be involved in patient care. You can also study as a nurse. I think you might find medicine isn't what you expect it to be.

Original poster
Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 11:02

@Sunshinelollipops1 unfortunately yes, I would need to do biology and chemistry.
I have three a-levels but only one is briefly related to medicine - psychology.

I understand there's loads of avenues to explore with nursing, but I do want to be a Dr

OP posts:
Original poster
Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 11:03

@Hederex I'm only 23 so I don't think it's too late yet!

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 18/09/2019 11:04

You’re quite blinkered if you think you need to be a doctor to “be the person diagnosing, treating, doing procedures/operations ect”. I’m a registered nurse and do all of those things

What operations do you perform @Sidge

SpoonBlender · 18/09/2019 11:07

Do the a-levels (or some appropriate equivalent, I don't know about this stuff sorry!) and then decide. In the meantime, look around more at the opportunities in nursing - saves going back to school for five years!

PatriciaBateman · 18/09/2019 11:11

Double check the "graduate entry" routes, as I know people who have done Medicine with no A levels at all, just off the back of a degree (not even necessarily healthcare related).

The graduate entry routes are more competitive, but there are some universities who will automatically consider you for a normal 5-year place if you don't get the graduate spot - eg. King's College.

Unfortunately, you need to check each university's eligibility criteria individually as they are all different, but certainly some do accept a 2:1 degree on its own (particularly Nursing!).

swingofthings · 18/09/2019 11:15

I agree look at the graduate level entry. Competition is fierce, and the GAMAT is very tough but it certainly a quicker way to get in. Some schools are more open to graduates and some welcome them.

Original poster
Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 11:16

@PatriciaBateman thank you, i have looked into these and the closest university to me does offer GEP, and having a nursing degree helps, however they still want biology and chemistry a-levels!
I have a young child so for practical reasons e.g. childcare, we couldn't move away so I'm very limited on univeristy choices (actually only 1 university). If i didn't get into this one, I would have to consider travelling.
I'll have a search for some other close uni's though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 11:19

I've actually just double checked the entry requirements of my preferred uni and it says:
You should hold, or expect to hold, a first or upper second class science degree and be able to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of biology and chemistry equivalent to A-level. This may be achieved through having studied these subjects to A-level or through relevant degree modules.

We've had biological modules through nursing, less so chemistry, but this gives me hope!

OP posts:
Original poster
Greywalls12 · 18/09/2019 11:20

Nursing surely counts as a science degree?

OP posts:
Dan68 · 18/09/2019 11:39

It depends on your degree classification-my nursing degree is a Bachelor of Science degree but universities do vary .

I agree with other posters about looking into the advanced nurse practitioner route-there are many many qualified nurses performing minor operations, prescribing, diagnosing etc.

SpoonBlender · 18/09/2019 11:40

Graduate entry is a very good point that I'd missed! Ignore my suggestion about doing the A-levels first.

Instead, ring up the admissions of places you may want to go to and chat about it. Those entrance requirements you noted are for people following the usual path in, and you're well into being a special case. Talk to them directly.

Spongeface · 18/09/2019 11:45

Hey op, my friend did this - 5 years later she is a doctor! She's so glad she made the leap and she's a wonderful person. Good luck if you do it-can be done.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 18/09/2019 11:46

Why not look into it if it is what you want to do? There is nothing stopping you!

Your original question was about the pressure on junior drs. This would be the only thing putting me off it does sound awfully brutal.

DorisDances · 18/09/2019 11:49

Definitely try and get to meet or at least speak to the course admissions at your chosen university. They will be able to give you a realistic assessment or what, if any, extra you need to do before applying. Good luck!

PuzzledObserver · 18/09/2019 11:55

A few more things to consider - do you know what type of medicine you would want to specialise in - emergency medicine/paediatrics/GP/surgery etc? Perhaps try and find out what the prospects are like in different areas as compared to being a specialist nurse in those areas.

independentfriend · 18/09/2019 12:02

Look carefully at finances - can you afford to be a full time student for the next five-six years with limited earning capacity, or may be ok for you if you can do the odd shift as a nurse whilst studying?

mcmooberry · 18/09/2019 12:08

Definitely go for it is my advice! Your working life is long, don't be put off by 5-6 years of studying.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 18/09/2019 12:36

It’s something you would really need to think very carefully about. A career in medicine requires a lot of sacrifices, and with a young family you may not be able or willing to make those sacrifices. I’m not saying this to put you off, but you need to go into it with your eyes open.

The issue that is most apparent to me at the moment is that you’re only able to apply to one university. Graduate entry medicine is extremely competitive, lots of excellent candidates get rejected because there simply aren’t enough spaces. Then if you get a place, you need to think about how you will manage placements. Check on the website of the university which hospitals students are sent to, because they can sometimes be spread over a large area. Then once you graduate and are applying for foundation training and specialty training, if you are restricted to one geographic area you might not be able to get into your specialty of choice. Also during training, junior doctors move between hospitals once or twice a year (depending on the specialty) and often you can be sent miles away. A lot of junior doctors (ie up to consultant level) have to move frequently, or accept a very long commute. This could be very tricky if you have school age children at that point.

I would try and talk to some of the junior doctors at your hospital, and gather as much information as possible so you can make an informed choice.