Yes, nurses can become General Practitioners (GPs) by completing medical school and specialist training, a path taken by many, leveraging their nursing experience for versatile, adaptable healthcare practice, especially in rural areas where their broad skills shine, though it requires a significant career shift from nursing to medicine.
Since you're already a nurse, there's a good chance the medical school you'll apply to accepts your undergraduate degree. Better yet, some medical schools, like the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, accept applicants from non-medical-related fields like the arts.
Nurses are an important part of delivering care in general practice. An increasing shift of care from hospitals to general practice provides nurses with a really exciting career choice.
Can a nurse become a doctor? An RN can absolutely become a doctor. They can become an MD or DO by earning a Bachelor's and applying to medical school just like any other student. Or, an RN could become a doctor of nursing (DNP), which is an educational degree and does not grant any clinical authority.
It has been possible for nurses to become partners in a general practice since 1997 by taking advantage of the PMS contract. However, it was the 2004 GMS contract that 'opened the gates' for non GPs to become partners in practices.
This role was created in response to a nationwide shortage of doctors. Much like doctors, nurse practitioners can examine patients and diagnose and treat illnesses. They interpret lab results and X-rays, prescribe medications, and provide health teaching and counseling to support the overall wellness of their patients.
Earnings for GP partners vary per practice. Profitability, and therefore partner earnings often depends on the make up of the local population and its needs, as well as how active and astute the partners are at developing their "business". On average, a GP partner takes home approximately £110,000.
Easiest Doctor to Become: Family Doctor
The simple answer is that it takes the least amount of time. After your four years at medical school, (or a 3-year medical school) you can do a three-year family medicine residency, pass your board exams, and that's it, you're a doctor!
Training: To become a GP in Australia, doctors must complete a medical degree (typically 4-6 years) followed by an internship and residency (about 2-3 years), and medical specialisation (3-5 years).
Research with patients and patient outcomes has shown that nurses with a BSN have better patient outcomes on average. So, in a competitive healthcare market that must maximize patient outcomes, BSN has become the preferred degree for most hiring efforts.
Being a GPN is a challenging role because it is complex compared to many other nursing roles based in hospitals and other institutional settings. The role exists within an often hidden and mysterious general practice hierarchy with plenty of titles to confuse patients and sometimes the GPNs themselves.
Nursing levels start with certified nursing assistants and progress to licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and non-clinical specialties. Each rank has its own education standards.
How to become a doctor. To pursue a career in medicine you need to finish year 12 and graduate from a bachelor's degree. You then need to complete a four-year postgraduate medical program. To be fully registered, you must also complete an intern year.
The best career change for nurses is one that allows them to use the skills they acquired as nurses, whether that means advancing their career in nursing and leadership or moving to another healthcare field, such as mental health therapy, physical or occupational therapy, or social work.
Can You Skip a Master's and Go Straight to a PhD? In some cases, it is possible to skip a master's degree and go straight to a PhD program. However, many PhD programs require a master's or equivalent academic experience before admission. Some programs may allow you to earn a master's degree as part of the PhD process.
Physicians must carefully consider factors like stress levels, burnout rates and work hours before making a decision. For those prioritizing work-life balance, specialties like dermatology, ophthalmology, family medicine and psychiatry offer less stressful environments and lower rates of burnout.
A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a trained nursing specialist who assists with administering anesthesia to patients during surgery. Salary: Nurse anesthetists are the highest-paid nurses, with a median annual income of $195,610 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
The top 10 highest-paying professions in Australia for 2025
5 Cons
Install Complimentary Services. Utilising non-reimbursed space within your practice by renting it out to alternative healthcare services (such as Pharmacist, Physios, Opticians, Dentist or Chiropodist) can generate additional income as well improve services to the local community.