B.S. in health science... can it lead to a career in nursing?

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Hi guys. I'm currently in my 5th and final year at SJSU and I'm graduating with a degree in health science. Since my freshman year, I started taking courses for the nursing program... well, only for it to not fall through so then I became a health science major. Now I'm wondering how to pursue a nursing career AFTER you get a B.S. degree in something other than nursing. I tried checking numerous websites and all of them aren't helpful.

I know to apply for the nursing program, you need to take the pre-requisites and the TEAS test. So far, the only pre-requisites I haven't done are microbiology and physiology. And I haven't taken the TEAS test. I also know that all the pre-requisites have a time limit, so that may very well mean that some of the pre-requisite courses that I took during my freshman/sophomore year (i.e. chemistry, psychology, basic english courses) might expire and I'll have to retake them. Another thing that I found out was that some people who also get a degree in something else can get their masters in nursing in another school as long as they did the pre-reqs and the TEAS test? That seems too good to be true, but I'm definitely up for that if it's possible. The only thing now is how to do that after graduating?

Next fall (after I graduate in spring), should I go to community college and take the last two courses for the nursing program? That would also mean that I would have to retake some of the courses I took in freshman year because they expired... But anyways, if I take the remaining pre-reqs at community college and do the TEAS test all in the following year, can I then apply for the nursing program? But then, would that be for the masters program or to get a B.S.N? Would it just be easier to retake ALL the pre-req courses for nursing starting next fall and then try and transfer to a nursing program? I'm sorry if this is all confusing, but I'm trying to see where exactly I'm at now and what my options are.

If there's any good websites that could help me in my predicament (or is there anyone who's in a crappy place like where I'm at now?)?

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Have you looked into an accelerated nursing program? I don't know what state you live in but many schools in Ohio have accelerated nursing programs or people who have non-nursing undergraduate degrees. There are even programs that allow you to earn your a Master of Nursing degree with a non-nursing undergrad degree. I did an accelerated BSN program. It was intense but It was worth it. I hope this helps.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Your science classes are generally the only ones with a time limit. Your Psych, humanities, etc. should be OK. Also, ditto what kayemmejay said about accelerated programs - they are the bomb! That's the route I'm taking.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

There are some entry-level (pre-licensure) MSN programs, but BUYER BEWARE! Employers in my part of the country are not hiring them - they are not really keen on accelerated BSNs either unless the individual has a background in another healthcare discipline. So - bottom line - don't invest megabucks in an accelerated program if you won't be able to get a job afterward.

I am curious - what make you originally choose a 'health science' degree? It doesn't really seem to have any value in the work world. I know that some well-known universities in my neck of the woods keep steering students in to 'quasi health care' programs like health education by painting a very rosy and unrealistic picture of what they can do with that degree.

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I was originally planning on being a nursing major, but since it was so impacted to get into the program (there's a new rule at my school that if you apply twice and you don't get accepted both times, then you can't reapply anymore ever), I switched to health science. Kind of sucks because I'm a pretty good student (3.4 GPA), but I know people who got into the program with a 3.0 GPA and people with 3.6's not getting accepted. I looked online of course to see what kind of careers you can get with a health science degree and from what I've seen, either people have gone onto health care administration/management, or they used their health science degree as a stepping stone to other medical careers such as nursing, physical therapy, and even dentistry. I have a friend who graduated with a health science degree and right now she's an assistant for some plastic surgeon and gets paid pretty nicely. If that had anything to do with a health science degree, I'm not sure (probably not). Again, from what I've looked online, they said that a health science degree is so "flexible" that it can lead to any kind of job in the health care world. I guess we'll see right?

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I can't say too much about accelerated programs, but I have heard that they are a good option. I will say that as far as your science classes it depends on your state and school. I know some people who got into my ASN program not having a science class in 20 years, but then they changed the rule back to it had to be within 5 years. But in some states/schools, they are okay with your science class being 5-7 or so years old as long as you have actively been in school the whole time.

Another option to look into is why not get your ASN? Sometimes those are easier to get into and employers will kinda forget about the fact that you aren't a BSN because you have a Bachelors. I know somebody that had a PhD in education and decided to go back and do an ASN because he wanted to be a nurse and he said he wasn't ever going back to school. (Can you blame him)?

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