If I were to become an OB/GYN or a Pediatrician, would obtaining a nursing degree be appropriate? Will I have to obtain a Chemistry or Biology degree instead?

Hello Evelyn! To become an OB/GYN or a Pediatrician you will have to obtain a bachelor's degree, and then apply to and become accepted into Medical school. After completing medical school, which is usually about 4 years long, you will need to complete a residency program in either Pediatrics or OB/GYN. Their is no specific degree that is required for admission into medical school. Meaning you can major in ANY field of your choice. Medical schools usually require specific courses, known as pre-requisites, for admission including 1 year (aka 2 semesters) of biology with lab, 1 year (aka 2 semesters) of general chemistry with lab, 1 semester of biochemistry, 1 year (aka 2 semesters) of physics, and 1 year of English. Many students choose to major in Biology or Chemistry because these pre-requisite courses are typically built into the curriculum for these majors. However, you can major in anything you want and still apply to medical school as long as you satisfy these pre-requisite requirements and do well academically in these courses. For example, I had a very good friend in college who was a philosophy major in undergrad, who by her junior year decided she wanted to go to medical school. She added a "Pre-Med concentration" onto her current track, graduated with a 3.9 GPA and was accepted into her medical school of choice directly after graduation. I have another friend who was a dance major and biology and chemistry minor who was accepted into medical school as well. The important thing to keep in mind when choosing an undergraduate major is that the medical school application process is competitive. Keep your GPA high in whatever you choose to major, and make sure your application stands out. Volunteering, shadowing physicians, working in a health care setting, engaging in leadership roles in your community will all be excellent additions to your application.

Good luck!!

You can get a nursing degree first, but it's not as common. It can be difficult for a nurse to transition from a nursing mindset to a physician mindset. Nursing is much more focused on bedside manner & the nursing assessment & process. That can be difficult to transition to less time with patients and diagnostics. But you would already have a solid medical terminology background. These days you can continue your nursing degree and get a DNP & do many similar things to MD's, but you still would always be under an MD's supervision & license.