Physician Leadership Journal
RN to MD Transition: The Road Less Traveled
This article explores how a nursing background can serve as a non-traditional path to becoming a physician, highlighting shared traits between nurses and doctors.
January/February 2026 Vol. 13, No. 1 pp. 56–59 DOI: 10.55834/plj.3726278453
Abstract
Most medical students choose a traditional path to becoming a physician. But, other routes offer advantages to the medical profession. This article explores a non-traditional route that includes a background in nursing as the launch pad to a medical career. The authors examine the nurse–physician relationship and explore why there is more in common between the two professions than what divides them.
