Biology degree then Nursing or Nursing straight away?

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I'm new here, so I would just like to say hi everyone! I am a 17 year old high school student, and I would really appreciate your advice. I really think I would love a career as a nurse (I have shadowed one recently), however, since I am only 17, I don't know if it would be wise for me to go into nursing immediately after high school, or if I should complete a bachelor's degree in, say, Biology first.

I was thinking I could get a Biology degree then complete an accelerated BSN, but the thing is, the whole time in Bio I would just be looking forward to the nursing material, because I don't love every aspect of biology. (With nursing, however, I love going through my sisters nursing textbooks and I think I would enjoy it a lot more).

I want to make the right decision and am afraid that I will be wasting money and time doing the biology degree when I only really need the nursing degree. My parents think I should complete another degree first, what is your advice?

I apologize for writing so much! Thanks for reading and, hopefully, responding! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you're set on going into nursing I'm not sure what advantage there would be to getting a BS in Biology and then having do a further 1-2 years for a BSN - that's a lot of extra time and tuition for a degree that you don't really need! If you have the grades I'd suggest going straight for the BSN.

Some universities require you to enter as a "pre-nursing" major and complete all of the general ed prerequisites before being admitted to the school's nursing program. If you aren't admitted to the nursing program you could then switch majors to biology, finish your degree, and apply to ABSN programs. Alternatively, if cost is a concern you could do your general ed and nursing prereqs at a community college and then apply to transfer directly into a BSN program, or complete a community college ASN/ADN program and then do an RN-BSN bridge program at a university. Good luck with whichever path you choose!

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Thank you so much for your advice, I found it very helpful!

:)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Some BSN programs let you double major. You could at least double major in the first 2 years of college. After you have tried a little of both, you could either graduate with both majors ... or major in nursing and minor in biology ... or maybe you would be ready to decide which career you want and just graduate with either one of those degrees.

It sounds to me as if your parents don't think nursing is a good choice for you ... and are trying to guide you away from that career towards a pre-med track. (Or maybe they think that you will "grow out of this nursing thing" and choose something else entirely -- and are trying to distract you away from nursing.) Maybe you should ask them that directly and find out if they are going to be supportive of a nursing career for you or not. Maybe you all would benefit by exploring your options together so that you could end up in agreement on a path for you.

A biology degree is not necessary for nursing ... and it would add a LOT of cost to your education. Unless your parents are very wealthy, the amount of debt you might incur before starting to earn a living in the career of your choice could cripple you financially for the rest of your life. Don't ever spend money on a degree you don't really want. Have you talked with your parents about the financial implications of paying for an "extra" degree in biology that you don't need?

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

llg, PhD, RN-BC

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BSN programs all require electives; I would go for the BSN and take biology classes for fun or a minor. Like was said above, besides A/P there really isn't a need for bio in nursing degrees and it would add a lot of work/money to double major or to get a bio BS and then to the ABSN after.

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While biology is cool, there really isn't a need for another degree if nursing is what you want to do. A BSN is going to cost money and will probably force you to take out loans. You'll be taking out even more loans with the ABSN. You'll basically be like me (I have a previous bachelors degree) and be something like 80,000 dollars in debt. Don't be like me.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I thought the same way many moons ago. If you want to be a nurse, get your Science Degree in Nursing. ;)

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aye just to reinforce what everyone has said, if you want the nursing degree then go for the nursing degree. Now if you don't get into the nursing program you can certainly go for nursing after you graduate with the Bio degree. But since nursing is what you want to do, then pursue that.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

What would be the point of doing another degree first? Go for your nursing degree if you plan on being a nurse.

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Get your BSN. I have my BS in Biology and SO wish it were in nursing. I went back to nursing school and got an ADN now I'm working fulltime and doing online BSN coursework.....

I strongly suggest that you not choose biology for your major unless you are going to go directly to graduate school for biology OR you are going to apply to med school. I remember when I graduated years ago I had a heck of a time finding a job with a bio major.

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