The Student Room Group

Nursing to Medicine

Hi all,
I would appreciate honest answers please.
I have wanted to be a doctor since childhood. I had extenuating circumstances at the time and this affected my A level results-ABCC. I have a certificate proving this from school.
I took time out and since did an access course (Nursing) and achieved all distinctions.
I am predicted a first.
Is it worth me applying for graduate entry? Or do I not stand a chance?
I have experience here and abroad.
I play an instrument to a high level.
It is a now or never moment for me as I will be over 40 when I am qualified.
Also I only got a C at GCSE Maths, should I retake this?
Thanks for the replies and please be honest.
Reply 1
Avatar for Democracy
Democracy
20
Original post by wannabemed
Hi all,
I would appreciate honest answers please.
I have wanted to be a doctor since childhood. I had extenuating circumstances at the time and this affected my A level results-ABCC. I have a certificate proving this from school.
I took time out and since did an access course (Nursing) and achieved all distinctions.
I am predicted a first.
Is it worth me applying for graduate entry? Or do I not stand a chance?
I have experience here and abroad.
I play an instrument to a high level.
It is a now or never moment for me as I will be over 40 when I am qualified.
Also I only got a C at GCSE Maths, should I retake this?
Thanks for the replies and please be honest.


So you're doing a nursing degree right now? And you're predicted a first? That's fine, the GCSE shouldn't matter either. How much have you looked into it? You might find this page useful:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Graduate_Entry_Medicine_-_a_guide

As you can see a great deal will depend on how you do in the UKCAT/GAMSAT. So if you want to apply, it might be worth starting to prepare for one or both of those tests during the summer. Don't worry about age either :smile:
Reply 2
Avatar for wannabemed
wannabemed
OP
4
hi, thanks for the reply x Yes i am currently on the course; I realised I was still capable of medicine at the end of access and my tutor agreed but I continued with nursing as I felt it was more realistic at the time given my commitments and also, the alternative was to spend two years a levels again and that would not have given me a qualification leading to a paid job.
I have slowly started to get things together for my application, I am developing a portfolio, references, certificates of excellence, transcripts of individual grades and conferences I have attended to show commitment.
I do not know whether to apply this year (end of 2nd) or wait until I have qualified. I feel like applying now will be at least good experience, and may help me develop interview technique for the next time round. If I do not get in I will develop my musical activities as I will have more time and retake chemistry A level to show further commitment, whilst hopefully working as a nurse for a year.
My collee tutor said he would be my referee.
What do you think?
Reply 3
Avatar for Democracy
Democracy
20
Original post by wannabemed
hi, thanks for the reply x Yes i am currently on the course; I realised I was still capable of medicine at the end of access and my tutor agreed but I continued with nursing as I felt it was more realistic at the time given my commitments and also, the alternative was to spend two years a levels again and that would not have given me a qualification leading to a paid job.
I have slowly started to get things together for my application, I am developing a portfolio, references, certificates of excellence, transcripts of individual grades and conferences I have attended to show commitment.
I do not know whether to apply this year (end of 2nd) or wait until I have qualified. I feel like applying now will be at least good experience, and may help me develop interview technique for the next time round. If I do not get in I will develop my musical activities as I will have more time and retake chemistry A level to show further commitment, whilst hopefully working as a nurse for a year.
My collee tutor said he would be my referee.
What do you think?


Well it sounds like you're on the right track in terms of academics :smile: What's your work experience/volunteering like? It's definitely worth applying this October (assuming it's your final year). If you're going to go for it, I'd say what you should concentrate on over the summer is figuring out which med schools you'd like to apply to, booking and preparing for the necessary entrance exam(s) and writing a decent personal statement.
Reply 4
Avatar for wannabemed
wannabemed
OP
4
Hi. I spent time in a hospital abroad and have worked in numerous care settings here in the UK. I have also assisted in theatre, recovery and shadowed doctors in ward environments, on top of spending two years working with doctors as a student nurse which I feel has given me adequate insight into the role.
Is it worth going to the open days they have at each uni, as they sometimes have getting into medicine talks. I was also wondering about something called GEMS and I have attended Medlink.
My personal statement is written, except for additions, and I feel quite strong. I am just a bit concerned they will not view a 1st in nursing as academic enough, though it is physically a draining degree like medicine.
Reply 5
Avatar for Democracy
Democracy
20
Original post by wannabemed
Hi. I spent time in a hospital abroad and have worked in numerous care settings here in the UK. I have also assisted in theatre, recovery and shadowed doctors in ward environments, on top of spending two years working with doctors as a student nurse which I feel has given me adequate insight into the role.
Is it worth going to the open days they have at each uni, as they sometimes have getting into medicine talks. I was also wondering about something called GEMS and I have attended Medlink.
My personal statement is written, except for additions, and I feel quite strong. I am just a bit concerned they will not view a 1st in nursing as academic enough, though it is physically a draining degree like medicine.


A first is a first! Sounds like you've got everything covered tbh. Onto the entrance examinations and writing the PS then you're good to go :smile:

I don't know what GEMS is but open days can be useful, so yeah, go if you like/have the time. Any further questions feel free to ask here or PM me :yy:
Reply 6
Avatar for wannabemed
wannabemed
OP
4
Cheers, very kind of you to reply. Where are you studying?
Reply 7
Avatar for JoshL123
JoshL123
2
Original post by wannabemed
Hi all,
I would appreciate honest answers please.
I have wanted to be a doctor since childhood. I had extenuating circumstances at the time and this affected my A level results-ABCC. I have a certificate proving this from school.
I took time out and since did an access course (Nursing) and achieved all distinctions.
I am predicted a first.
Is it worth me applying for graduate entry? Or do I not stand a chance?
I have experience here and abroad.
I play an instrument to a high level.
It is a now or never moment for me as I will be over 40 when I am qualified.
Also I only got a C at GCSE Maths, should I retake this?
Thanks for the replies and please be honest.


Don't let anything come in the way for your passion. Go for it and apply!
Reply 8
Avatar for yothi5
yothi5
14
You might as well apply and see what happens. If you don't get accepted then you will have nursing to fall back on.
Reply 9
Avatar for polldoll
polldoll
5
It's def possible, I managed it! You sound completely on track, no reason why you can't apply to start medicine as so as you have finished your nursing degree! Post reg experience doesn't really make a difference to your application! It only comes in useful if you need to work as a nurse to pay for a medicine degree in what case you need 6 months post reg experience to get on the nurse bank and most agencies. Also look at your funding for degree. You prob won't be eligible for the nhs funding in your final 2 years as you will have used up your nhs funding during nursing degree.

It's the financial side that dictated so much of when and where I could apply following my nursing degree. When contacting your funding body, get as much in writing as possible as they tend to change their story every time you talk to them! Any other nurse to doctor questions feel free to pm me!
Px


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
Reply 10
Avatar for Melo -
Melo -
2
I always thought people who have done nursing --> medicine weren't looked too well upon. Even more so if you haven't yet practised as a nurse. The plus side of nurses --> doctors is the experience they have, but if you are going straight from a nursing degree to a medical one you have no benefits that way. It's like they've trained someone to be a nurse, government money wasted, just so that you can use it as a platform into medicine.
Original post by Melo -
...but if you are going straight from a nursing degree to a medical one you have no benefits that way.


Far from it.. they've just spent the best part of three years working on the wards, pretty much doing the job of a nurse. That's far better experience than most other medicine-applicants have.
Original post by wannabemed
Hi all,
I would appreciate honest answers please.
I have wanted to be a doctor since childhood. I had extenuating circumstances at the time and this affected my A level results-ABCC. I have a certificate proving this from school.
I took time out and since did an access course (Nursing) and achieved all distinctions.
I am predicted a first.
Is it worth me applying for graduate entry? Or do I not stand a chance?
I have experience here and abroad.
I play an instrument to a high level.
It is a now or never moment for me as I will be over 40 when I am qualified.
Also I only got a C at GCSE Maths, should I retake this?
Thanks for the replies and please be honest.


Honest answer?
Become a nurse, find an area you like and train as a nurse specialist.
Reply 13
Avatar for wannabemed
wannabemed
OP
4
Thank you all for your honest replies; I will take them on board. You have been very helpful so thanks again x
Original post by wannabemed
Hi. I spent time in a hospital abroad and have worked in numerous care settings here in the UK. I have also assisted in theatre, recovery and shadowed doctors in ward environments, on top of spending two years working with doctors as a student nurse which I feel has given me adequate insight into the role.
Is it worth going to the open days they have at each uni, as they sometimes have getting into medicine talks. I was also wondering about something called GEMS and I have attended Medlink.
My personal statement is written, except for additions, and I feel quite strong. I am just a bit concerned they will not view a 1st in nursing as academic enough, though it is physically a draining degree like medicine.


I am doing nursing, while we obviously don't learn as much as medical students, I have shared some of the same anatomy and physiology lectures as med students. I think if you really want to go for I'd say get into an area of nursing your intertested in and become a specialist, the government have spent a lot of money training you up and to just change to be trained as a doctor, might be seen as indecisive.
Reply 15
Avatar for Melo -
Melo -
2
Original post by theatrical
Far from it.. they've just spent the best part of three years working on the wards, pretty much doing the job of a nurse. That's far better experience than most other medicine-applicants have.


That's hardly comparable to someone who's been a nurse for 10-15 years and then chooses to study Medicine, like most who choose this route do, because most people who choose to study Nursing do it because they want to be a nurse, not to act as a degree to then bounce onto Medicine with.

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you