I thought about this a lot when applying to medical school. Nurses really can make such fantastic physicians due to numerous reasons that I go into below:
Clinical Experience:
Nurses often provide direct patient care. This hands on experience is invaluable as a future medical student and physician. By being the person who administers the treatment plans created by physicians, nurses have a unique insight to how patient care is coordinated and completed. Monitoring patients conditions and performing various medical procedures. This practical knowledge builds a strong foundation for the clinical aspects of third year medical school rotations and working as a future physician.
My personal example: My first rotation of medical school was trauma surgery. My very first patient was an older adult who suffered a ground-level fall and the EMTs and ER nurses were unable to get IV access on the patient. Due to my experience as a registered nurse, I was experienced in ultrasound IV placement. As a medical student, I offered my skill and was able to get IV access for this patient and his care was not delayed. This was possible due to my previous job experience.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Nurses are accustomed to working as part of a large healthcare team, often collaborating with physicians, physical therapists, social workers, and pharmacists. Understanding how to navigate the hospital system and the inner workings of a healthcare teamwork structure is a large huddle in and of itself. Work experience as a nurse is a great way to prepare for calling consultations, organizing discharge, and confirming dosage as a future resident.
My personal example: Because I ended up completing medical school rotations at the same institution that I was a nurse, I collaborated with many of the existing healthcare team. When one of my patients on my emergency rotation needed their pacemaker interrogated, I knew exactly who to call to make that happen quickly and aid my team in providing quick and efficient patient care.
Task Management and Problem-Solving Skills
Nurses are constantly juggling patients and to-do lists. They are often thinking quickly and responding to rapid changes in their patients conditions. The critical thinking skills necessary to succeed as a nurse are transferable to the role of a physician.
Networking
Your network is your net worth. Nurses work alongside physicians – your job cannot put you closer to the perfect people who can help you get into medical school! By working alongside physicians, nurses are able to request letters of recommendation from leaders who know them well, they are able to seek research opportunities with these physicians, and they have access to shadowing physicians. This proximity of work truly gives nurses an upper hand to network and succeed as applicants.
