What major I should choose if I'm interested in nurse anesthetist and pharmacy ? Should I get BSN first then decide my way from there? If I want to attend pharmacy school after BSN, then I only have to take some more classes, is that correct ?

One of the really nice things about the two fields you have interest in is that they're similar. And with college, while it may help to be able to dive into your preferred subject, you have a year or two to decide on a major. Then, after that, you're not necessarily stuck.

So one option for you would be to pick schools with good general medicine/bio programs and start taking general premed courses which may influence your decision to start into a pharmacy program or continue on a medical track.

There are many ways to approach the Medical field. There are so many colleges offering classes now and this will depend on what you want to spend, how much time and classes you want to put in in order to meet your goals of either nursing or pharmacy. Yes, you do need more classes after BSN. Bachelors or Nursing is a great degree to have. I hope this has helped you some. If you can tell me more about what your goals are and how much college and time you want to invest in your future that would help graciously. Thank you for the question.

I would start with the BSN. It is much easier to access courses in this area and there are so many options to choose in nursing like being a surgical nurse in case you dislike being a nurse anesthetist. If you really dislike nursing then you can always apply to pharmacy but pharmacy involves much more in depth knowledge of chemistry, human physiology, and biochemistry courses as you really need awareness on preparation of drugs, impact of drugs on the body, and study of how drugs are prescribed by doctors . It's not just taking a few more courses. It's a second degree with a very different focus compared to nursing.

If you decide to do pre-pharmacy courses then your options would include doing a degree in science (chemistry, biochemistry), medicine, and one year fast track nursing program if pharmacy did not work out. I feel this is a riskier option unless you are passionate about becoming a phd scientist or have your heart really set on only being a pharmacist.

I highly suggest shadowing a nurse and a pharmacist if possible to sort out this decision . Hope this advice helps!

Hello Krystal:
Look at the requirements for both fields and take classes that they have in common. Both will have a major focus on biochemistry and physiology.

Shadowing professionals in both fields is always a great idea. Also consider the future need for each of your chosen careers and the ability to explore different areas within the fields.

Going straight through school a BSN degree will take about 4 years and may require additional training to do anesthesia. Nursing degrees can be obtained using various methods: full-time, part-time or on-line enrollment. A pharmacy degree will take 6 years. It will require full-time enrollment in a college or university. The classes build upon each other and must be taken in sequence. If a class is not taken or failed it may affect your ability to take classes the next semester.

Definitely, use a career counseled to determine your strengths, weakness, passions and motivation for doing each. Also consider physician assistant/extender as a career. It could be the best of both careers in less time.

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to.</span>

This professional recommends the following next steps:

• <span style="background-color: transparent;">Chat with your Guidance Counselor</span>
• <span style="background-color: transparent;">Create a Collegeboard.org account</span>
• <span style="background-color: transparent;">Start using CollegeBoard as a resource to look up schools.</span>