The healthcare field is chock-full of rewarding career options, ranging from direct patient care roles to behind-the-scenes research and laboratory positions. For those who know they want to work in health and medicine, but are exploring all their options, a Health Science degree is a popular stepping stone. But what if you major in health science, only to find that your calling lies in nursing? Can you become a nurse with a Health Science degree?

While health science is a broad discipline that overlaps with nursing, the paths to practice differ between the two fields. Nursing, in particular, has very specific education, training, and licensing requirements. Those with a Health Science degree can become registered nurses (RNs), but “getting there” might be more tangential than the traditional route. Let us explain what we mean by that.

The typical path to becoming a registered nurse

To become a registered nurse today, candidates are expected to meet certain degree and credentialing requirements. Specifically, they must:

Complete a Nursing degree from an accredited nursing school.

This degree may be earned at the associate degree or bachelor’s degree level, depending on a person’s career goals and how much time they can invest in school. Most states require that this degree be earned from a state-approved or accredited nursing school. This will make a person eligible for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN).

Complete licensure via the NCLEX-RN exam.

All states require registered nurses to get licensed, and licensure is granted through successful completion of the NCLEX-RN exam. Various other requirements go into eligibility for licensure, too, including the passing of a criminal background check and completion of CPR and Basic Life Support certifications. If you’re considering becoming a registered nurse, be sure to check with your state’s board regarding your local requirements.

Learn more about the steps to becoming an RN here.

I have a Health Science degree — how do I become a nurse now?

So, what if you are actively pursuing, or have completed, a health science program? The good news is that you can still become a nurse with a Health Science degree. Here’s how:

1. Talk to an academic advisor about your goals and options.

If you’re still in school, speak to a guidance counselor or academic advisor about your nursing goals. Ask what your options are and how they think you can accomplish your goals most efficiently. This is the best starting point, as these professionals are well-versed in transferring credits, changing majors, and exploring program options.

If you’ve already completed a Health Science degree, you can always reach out to the admissions team or advising staff at each prospective nursing college. You can explain your background and objectives, and further ask which nursing program aligns best with your goals, credentials, and needs. This brings us to step two.

2. Pursue a nursing program that aligns with your needs.

There are many different types of nursing programs out there. In addition to the traditional associate and bachelor’s degree routes, aspiring nurses may also consider accelerated nursing programs — specialized programs designed for candidates who already have higher education under their belts.

An Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN) is the most commonly recommended pathway for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in Health Science, but who now wish to become a nurse. An Accelerated BSN essentially takes your prior credits earned and automatically applies them to your nursing curriculum, speeding up the overall timeline. Instead of four more years in school, an ABSN program allows you to complete critical nursing courses and clinicals in a matter of months, and makes you eligible for the RN licensing exam directly after graduation.

3. After completing your nursing degree, take the NCLEX-RN exam.

As noted above, every state across the U.S. requires that registered nurses become licensed through the state in which they work. To be granted licensure, candidates must successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN). This exam tests aspiring nurses’ competencies in areas like patient care, infection control, pharmacology, and more — ensuring they have what it takes to launch a career as a nurse. Only those with an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in Nursing, which includes hands-on experience in nursing via their program, are eligible for this licensing test.

While it may mean taking the road less traveled, having a Health Science degree in your arsenal can offer benefits that extend well into your nursing career. For example, Health Science courses often cover research methods, public health, healthcare administration, organizational leadership, informatics, and other intricate subjects that entry-level nursing programs do not. Fundamentally, these advanced courses can position you for growth opportunities as a nurse, not to mention qualify as transferable credits upon entry into nursing school.

What’s the difference between a Health Science and Nursing degree?

A Health Science degree is meant to prepare you for a range of careers in health and medicine, from research-based roles like epidemiology, to administrative and technology-driven positions that help keep the field running smooth. A Nursing degree, on the other hand, is designed to prepare you for that exact role: a registered nurse, delivering both preventative and life-saving care to patients in need.

With this in mind, you can see the key differences between these educational paths:

• Health Science programs explore a range of topics relating to healthcare, including various sciences, research methods, informatics, leadership, public health, ethics, medical terminology, and more.
• Nursing degree programs narrow in on patient care delivery, covering the bases of core sciences but also focusing on nursing skill development, the wellness continuum, and hands-on clinical experiences in healthcare settings.

With a Health Science degree, you can earn titles like a biostatistician, epidemiologist, healthcare administrator, community health specialist, mental health counselor, or even patient care advocate. Or, you can use this degree as a stepping stone into other professions, like Nursing or other direct-care careers that might require a graduate education. Learn more about your options here.

A Nursing degree, meanwhile, will position you for a career as a registered nurse (RN). However, note that RNs are not tied to bedside care or hospital jobs. Nurses can also specialize in various fields of medicine, such as pediatric care or oncology, and pursue alternative roles in administration, education, insurance, research, case management, and more. Nurses may also work in exciting fields like criminal justice or travel abroad, where temp nurses are needed to fill staff shortages.

So, can you become a nurse with a degree in Health Science?

It’s possible to become a nurse with a Health Science degree, absolutely! However, the pathway is not direct. The most straightforward route to becoming a nurse is by earning an associate degree in Nursing (which takes about two years to complete) or a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (which takes roughly four years of nursing school).

However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree in Health Science, you can qualify for an accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing program, which will put you on the fast track towards your nursing goals. At Goodwin University, students in the ABSN program can earn their nursing degree (and become eligible for licensure) in just 16 months full-time. The ABSN program encompasses both classroom learning, lab experiences, and hands-on practice in real-world clinical settings — giving you the background and skillsets needed to thrive in the field of patient care.

You just need a bachelor’s degree, in a non-nursing major, to apply.

If you have, or will soon have, a Health Science degree in hand, you can continue your pathway to becoming a nurse. As a reputable nursing school in Connecticut, we know there are many ways to help you reach your goals. If you’re interested in learning about your options at Goodwin, visit us online to speak with an advisor today.