Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 7/31/2009

Question
After being in college for about a year without a direction, I had the opportunity to shadow an anesthesiologist and decided that I wanted to choose that as my career. At first, I thought going to nursing school would be a good start. So, I have been working to get all of my nursing school pre-requisites. I have them all finished now and I got my acceptance letter today. However, a friend of mine who also was working towards getting into the same nursing program told me she was going to change her direction and go to medical school.
This made me wonder why exactly it was that I wanted to go to nursing school so badly if what I wanted to be in the long run was an anesthesiologist. From your perspective, do you think that nursing school could be an asset to me, or would it just hold me back? I see it that by becoming a nurse, I could fund going to medical school, but I would have less time for my studies. I could always continue (as a nurse) in anesthesiology to become a nurse anesthetist, but I would almost feel like I went the distance but never “made the mile”. Is it very often that someone who reaches the status of nurse anesthetist ever continues their education and becomes the anesthesiologist?
On the other hand, I could venture into student loans and start taking my pre-med classes. I would have less money, but it would seem to be a more direct path to my end goal with the benefit of the “core clerkships” that are part of the curriculum that would give me an idea of any other specialties that I might want to explore.
Any insights or advice you could provide from your perspective would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.  

Answer
It's pretty rare that a nurse anesthetist moves to med school and then to training for anesthesiologist.  If you feel that a nursing specialty would leave you wondering that you 'never made the mile', then you are probably better off setting your sights directly on medical school.  I don't think a nursing degree is a particular asset in applying for medical school admission.

I hope everyone applying to medical school in the United States today gives strong consideration to what is currently happening in the medical marketplace regarding third-party and government interference.  Checkout this website:  AAPSOnline.org

Good luck.