I'm in medical sales (anesthesia) and am looking to get more clinical. Would getting my RN degree help? ideas?
Asked by Nick S
Working with MD's and nurses in medical sales is a must. However, given that I have a marketing background and have been trained on our products clinically - I am looking to get more of a clinical edge. Would anyone suggest getting my an associated degree as an RN, Paramedic, etc? Looking for thoughts and help.

Best Answer:
I know that your goal is to have more of a "clinical edge" but I think that you have an edge already in your knowledge. From my experience, I have known people such as RNs, pharmacists, etc, that get into the sales part of medicine due to interest in changing their careers, burnout from their current jobs, etc. And of my pharm rep friends who have decided to do nursing or go to med school - it was for that reason, basically a job change for them to go to the clinical side of health rather than stay in sales. Unless you have an interest in nursing, I would not recommend that you take the time to go to school for that. Keep in mind that in nursing school you have to do clinical rotations and take the nursing exams - meaning you will invest a lot of time and it will definitely take you to a different place for while. You may even change careers, who knows. Perhaps consider getting your MBA (if you already have your undergraduate degree) if you are looking for career advancement. Best of luck.

It wouldn't hurt, but it's a lot of school for not a whole lot of benefit. Anesthesiologists are doctors, and nursing training and medical training are quite different. If you go through the training that we go through, you're going to practice medicine, not sell stuff. You might benefit from taking courses in physiology, anatomy and pharmacology. It could help to have an understanding of the underlying principles behind the drugs/equipment. We can tell when you know what you're talking about and when you're just repeating what you've been told to say. What do you sell?
Answered by Pangolin