Nursing is part of the broad health science field; however, a health science degree does not qualify you to become a nurse. To practice as a registered nurse, you must complete a nursing degree and meet licensure requirements.
You can earn a nursing degree with a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. If you majored in history and became a marketer, for example, you can switch careers to nursing by leveraging your academic history to earn a nursing degree fast. The same is true if you earned a health science degree. Is nursing a health science? Yes, but you will still need a nursing degree to become a nurse.
At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, we’ve streamlined the transition into nursing from all types of backgrounds. The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program confers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing degree in as few as 16 months for students who have already completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
While you’re exploring your career options, start with a few common questions: “Can I be a nurse with a health science degree?” and “Is nursing a health science?” Next, review the pathway for career switchers, including the requirements you must complete.
Is Nursing a Health Science?
Nursing is generally considered a health science. Health science is an umbrella field that includes many disciplines. Some roles focus on direct patient care, while others provide clinical support or administrative services. Health sciences can include healthcare administration, pharmacology, lab work, occupational therapy, and similar roles.
Can I Be a Nurse With a Health Science Degree?
Although nursing is a type of health science, a health science degree doesn’t directly prepare graduates to become nurses. Instead, it can build a strong foundation for further education in healthcare fields, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, laboratory work, or chiropractic care.
To become a nurse, you will need to earn a nursing degree. If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree in health science, however, you can still become a nurse. Your degree might help you complete the required nursing coursework more efficiently than someone without prior college experience.
How long does it take to become a nurse?
How a Health Science Background Prepares You for Nursing
“Can I be a nurse with a health science degree?” A BS in Health Science doesn’t prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN or practice as a registered nurse (RN); however, it can build the academic foundation you’ll use in nursing school. Curricula vary by school, but they may include courses in:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Epidemiology
- Healthcare communications
- Medical terminology
- Microbiology
- Psychology
A health science degree can help you build strong science and math skills, including knowledge that applies to nursing, such as human anatomy and physiology. With this background, you may feel better prepared to enter a nursing degree program.
If you enroll in the ABSN program at Mount Saint Vincent with a health science background, you may have already completed multiple prerequisite courses, allowing you to enroll quickly with fewer additional requirements.
A health science degree can also support your transition into nursing by strengthening soft skills. Nurses rely on communication, teamwork, time management, and critical thinking, all of which are commonly developed in health science programs.
Education Pathways From Health Science to Nursing
Students with little to no college education typically enroll in a traditional BS in nursing program, which often takes four years to complete. With a bachelor’s in health science, however, you may be eligible to apply to the Mount’s ABSN program, which can be completed in as few as 16 months.
As a nursing student, you can draw on your health science background to succeed in courses like Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice. Along with completing didactic coursework that teaches nursing theory, you’ll learn how to perform fundamental nursing skills, such as placing nasogastric tubes.
You’ll complete nursing simulation labs to practice navigating clinical situations. You’ll also gain immersive experience during clinical rotations, where you’ll practice providing direct patient care under supervision.
After completing your nursing degree, you can take the NCLEX-RN. This national licensure exam is required for all aspiring RNs to obtain a nursing license. Once licensed, you can pursue your first nursing job in your chosen specialty area.
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Additional Requirements You May Need to Complete
The admission process may seem complicated, but at Mount Saint Vincent, our applicants work with a dedicated admission counselor, who walks them through it step by step. Your counselor will review your unofficial transcripts and assess your eligibility to apply. Then, they’ll create a customized admission plan for you to follow.
The Mount’s admission requirements include:
- A non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0
- CPR certification
- Criminal background check
- First aid certification
- Up-to-date immunizations
Your admission counselor will determine if you need to complete any prerequisites. Your health science degree may fulfill some or all of the prerequisites. These include non-science classes that require a grade of C or higher:
- English language
- Mathematics, such as statistics or calculus
The following science classes require a grade of B or higher:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II
- General Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Psychology
Is Nursing the Right Next Step for Your Career Goals?
If you have a health science degree but feel limited by your current career options, nursing may be a strong next step. When you make the switch to nursing, you can benefit from:
- Opportunities for career advancement: Continue your clinical practice as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), such as a nurse practitioner (NP), or step into non-clinical leadership roles, such as nurse administrator.
- Diverse careers away from the hospital: There are many jobs for nurses outside of clinical settings. Consider job titles like nurse researcher, nurse consultant, or nurse educator.
- Strong job growth: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a job growth rate of 5% from 2024 through 2034, faster than average.
- High salary expectations: According to the BLS, the median annual salary for RNs was $93,600 as of May 2024.
Nursing also offers continual opportunities for learning. It’s an increasingly high-tech field, and you can choose from many specialties, including oncology, pediatrics, infection control, informatics, and more.
Make the Switch to Nursing at Mount Saint Vincent
Mount Saint Vincent offers a rigorous nursing curriculum at multiple locations in the heart of New York City. Known as the “Right Place on the River,” Mount Saint Vincent nurtures the development of the whole student through small class sizes, caring faculty, Academic Success Coaches, and clinical partnerships with top-tier healthcare facilities.
Contact an admission counselor today to find out if our ABSN program is right for you. Our dedicated admission team will work collaboratively with you to develop a plan to fulfill the requirements.