> The internet asserts that there are pathways from NP to MD, but I’m not close enough to the problem to make heads or tails of how realistic the path is.

The path (at least in the US, YMMV elsewhere) is "go to medical school".

I hope not. As with everything, YMMV. As an experienced paramedic, I have not any issue with experienced nurses going the route of NP.

But there are also zero-to-hero schools that will take you out of high school and have you as an NP in 5 years, able to prescribe medications (in many states, without any physician supervision).

There's a happy medium. I have the same feeling about zero-to-hero paramedic strip mall schools that will turn you out in under a year and 1,000 hours whereas others will require you to have 2,000+ patient contacts as an EMT before they'll even admit you to a 1,800 hour course.

It's really tiring how the medical profession can't do what engineering does with jr engineers and pay them a living wage as they gain experience and still do economically valuable work.