<p>I'm currently a first-year student at Dartmouth College.
I am very interested in pursuing a career as a Nurse Practitioner. I love medicine, and I feel my personality is perfect for nursing (more so than being an MD) because I am a huge people-person, I love to take care of others, and I am interested in the concept of holistic health and prevention. I want to spend time with patients and know their families. Unlike a regular RN, a Nurse Practitioner has autonomy and can diagnose, prescribe, etc--which I also like.</p>
<p>First question: What is the best way to go about becoming a NP? I'm not in school for my BSN right now, so I'll graduate with a BA...and then what? It's tough to find info online because it's expected that nurses go from BSN-->RN. How do I become an NP in a way that makes sense? Are there good accelerated programs?</p>
<p>Second question: IS there a way that makes sense? Am I better off completing pre-med requirements at Dartmouth (I still have time) and going to medical school instead? It's a more prestigious path, doctors still have more autonomy, and it seems to make more sense in terms of schooling.</p>
<p><a href=“more%20so%20than%20being%20an%20MD”>quote</a> because I am a huge people-person, I love to take care of others, and I am interested in the concept of holistic health and prevention. I want to spend time with patients and know their families.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You can do all of that as an MD. Become a Family Medicine physician (which we desperately need), and you can open your own office, take care of entire families, and take as long as you want with each of your patients. </p>
<p>I would personally stay away from NP programs. If you really don’t want to become an MD and would prefer to be a midlevel provider, go to a good PA school and do that instead.</p>
<p>I think you need to be working on a BSN now. </p>
<p>I think it will be much harder and take a lot longer if you just proceed with your Liberal Arts degree …and then later become a RN…and then later become a NP.</p>
<p>Why not just pursue a BSN now? Is that impossible at Dartmouth? If so, then at a minimum, take all the bio, chem, OChem, etc, classes now that a RN needs to take. </p>
<p>I know someone who got their degree first and wants to become a NP. But, she has to first go back and become a RN…seems like a waste of time to go forward with the liberal arts degree if you already know that NOW.</p>
<p>**edited to add…why not become a Physician’s Asst? ** You then don’t need to become a RN first. The careers are rather similar. You examine, diagnose, and prescribe. However, you may have to tweak your plans as an undergrad to include bio, chem, ochem, etc. to fulfill the pre-reqs for PA school.</p>