How useful is an Associates in Health Science

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I am currently a corpsman in the US Navy and I have quite a few credits that can go towards an Associates degree in Health Science. I also have acquired enough experience with bedside patient care to challenge the LVN board in California. My question is this, when I get my LVN license, will a degree in health science be something that would increase my chances of getting hired or just be a waste of time.

Thank you in advance.

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I vote for "waste of time."

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Employers will be interested in the fact that you have an active, unrestricted license and they want to know what kind of nursing experience you have. Everything else is on the side. Get the degree if you don't already have a degree to put on your resume and can finish quickly, but concentrate on fulfilling the prerequisites for an RN program. An ASN will be more useful to you down the road. Better yet, get a BSN if you can.

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This is some useful advice. Thank you

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
I vote for "waste of time."
Second that!
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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

A health science associates degree is not useful in itself. But if you need to have a degree program to get financial aid while you do prereqs for adn or bsn, it can be useful for that, if your school does not offer "pre-nursing" as a major.

To get working ASAP, get your LVN license.

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Specializes in Home health, Addictions, Detox, Psych and clinics..

Definitely get your LVN, get nursing experience, and if possible get the degree if you don't have one, it always looks a little better in my opinion since most LPNs don't have them. Good luck :)

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Specializes in EMS, LTC, Sub-acute Rehab.

My aunt used to say, "An education is the only thing in life someone cannot take away from you." I agree with that statement. It depends on how far down the road you are with your credits. If you're like me, I accumulated a lot of credits while in the Army so I didn't have that many classes to complete for the AAS degree. People were wait listed on ADN and BSN programs I applied to and many of the core requirements were included in the Health Sciences Programs. While an AAS in health sciences isn't really going to get you very far in nursing, it does have other benefits.

1. It proves you're committed to higher education.

2. It will give you a competitive advantage for employment over other non-degree LPNs.

3. Many AAS health sciences programs include ADN & BSN core requirements such as A&P I & II, Psychology, Sociology, etc...

4. The AAS program I completed offered concentrations in Phlebotomy/Laboratory, Physical Therapy Assistant, and Paramedic. All of which are valuable skills set which will broaden your knowledge base as a nurse. I know many LPN that also moonlight in these careers.

5. It may also give you a competitive advantage when applying to an ADN or BSN program.

Best of Luck!

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