02 Sep Becoming a Doctor as a Nurse
Becoming a doctor as a nurse is an exciting prospect. It allows you to further advance in your specialty, earn more, and improve patient outcomes. You’ll need to undergo additional training and exams to do this. It will be an arduous process, since you’ll have to attain a medical degree, just like any other student.
Some nurses apply for medical school and are rejected. Nursing is usually the next best option. As a doctor, you’ll take the lead in performing more invasive procedures, prescribing medication, and looking at patients with a separate set of objectives, or even reducing compassion fatigue. You might choose to become a doctor after nursing to learn about the whys in a field you love, like psychiatry, gynaecology, or surgery.
This post outlines the steps to become a medical doctor from a nurse, the challenges you’ll need to overcome, how to decide whether this is the path for you, and why you might want to become an MD, one of the top 5 most in-demand healthcare professions.
The Jump from RN to MD
To become a doctor after nursing, you’ll need to complete a medical degree, take the licensure exam, and gain experience as a doctor. Don’t assume that nursing experience will be enough to gain you automatic admission to medical school. Nursing and medicine are vastly different professions. There may be less academic preparation for medical school, since some of the work knowledge and soft skills may overlap.
Pre Med Prep
You may need to take a prerequisite course that will provide you with an understanding of general chemistry (not chemistry for nurses), organic chemistry, biology, physics, and one year of calculus or statistics.
From there, you’ll need to take the MCAT. Most UK medical schools require candidates to take the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) or the BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test). These tests assess cognitive abilities, attitudes, and professional behaviours. Then, you should highlight the relevant clinical experience in your application, patient care experience, and understanding of patient care skills.
Moreover, you’ll need to craft a compelling personal statement, just as you did when applying to nursing school. You might also have to obtain strong references.
Lastly, you’ll need to apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Academic excellence and a high MCAT score will dictate whether you gain admission to your university of choice.
Medical School
After you’ve completed the MCAT and gained admission, it’s time to complete the long journey of finishing med school. This will take around 4 years. Then, you’ll need to complete residency at a hospital, for another 2 years. After that, you’ll go on to train in your specialty or as a GP. Lastly, you’ll gain full certification from the GMC (General Medicine Council).
Additionally, you’ll need to prepare for membership exams for your chosen medical speciality. This could include the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCPUK) or the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). These memberships are crucial for you to advance in your medical career.
Congratulations! You’re now a medical doctor and can work in the NHS. Be sure to continue professional development and keep researching your speciality.
If you’re looking for better-paid, more flexible, and professional development opportunities, contact Proximity Healthcare. We would love to help you in your career advancement.