Can You Become A Nurse With A Health Science Degree?

If you have a health science degree are interested in pursuing a career in nursing the good news is that it is possible to become a nurse with a health science degree. Although a nursing degree is the most direct path to a career in nursing having a health science degree can be advantageous in many ways.

Advantages of Having a Health Science Degree

Having a health science degree can provide a solid foundation in anatomy physiology pharmacology other related topics which can be beneficial when studying nursing. These courses may also count as prerequisites for nursing programs which can make the transition to a nursing program easier if you have already completed them.

Additionally having a health science degree can prepare individuals for careers in healthcare beyond nursing such as healthcare administration or health education. With a diverse range of career options individuals can use their health science degree to explore different healthcare fields before committing to nursing.

Paths to Becoming a Nurse with a Health Science Degree

There are a few different paths to becoming a nurse with a health science degree:

Accelerated Nursing Programs

Accelerated nursing programs are designed for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field but wish to pursue a career in nursing. These programs typically take one year to 18 months to complete provide training in the knowledge skills necessary to become a registered nurse (RN).

Accelerated nursing programs may require prerequisite coursework such as anatomy physiology statistics which individuals with a health science degree may have already completed. This can shorten the time required to complete the nursing degree.

Bridge Programs

Bridge programs are designed for RNs who have completed an associate degree in nursing (ADN) but wish to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). With a health science degree individuals may be able to skip some of the general education requirements complete a bridge program in a shorter amount of time.

Direct-Entry Master’s Programs

Direct-entry master’s programs are designed for individuals who have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree wish to become a nurse practitioner (NP) clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or nurse anesthetist. These programs typically take two to three years to complete provide both RN advanced practice nursing training.

With a health science degree individuals may have already completed some of the prerequisite coursework for the master’s program which can shorten the time required to complete the degree.

Conclusion

While having a nursing degree is the most direct path to a career in nursing having a health science degree can provide a solid foundation may even provide a faster path to becoming a nurse. With various paths to becoming a nurse available individuals can use their health science degree as a steppingstone towards a rewarding career in nursing.