Can you become a nurse with a biology degree? Absolutely! In fact, you have an advantage, since in nursing, biology knowledge is important. Switching from biology to a nursing degree is possible with an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing track. You’ll work through a blend of coursework and in-person activities.
Can you go into nursing with a biology degree? Absolutely! This degree offers an excellent introduction to the material covered during a nursing education, but a biology degree alone is not enough to gain certification as a nurse. You will first need to earn a nursing degree and pass the NCLEX exam. Concordia University Texas offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track in Austin and Dallas, allowing you to transition from biology to a nursing degree in as few as 16 months upon successful completion of prerequisite courses.
In this post we will discuss the path of switching from biology to nursing and show how you can earn your BSN degree sooner through completing an ABSN track like ours.
Why a Biology Degree Is a Strong Foundation for Nursing
How can a biology major become a nurse? A biology degree provides a great foundation from which to pursue a career in nursing. That’s because it emphasizes coursework in mathematics and life sciences, which are essential building blocks for nursing education. In nursing, biological knowledge is important. Many of these topics will naturally overlap, like coursework in genetics and biological processes.
In fact, you can leverage your prior college credits toward a second degree in nursing at Concordia Texas. You might also not need to take as many prerequisites as students who earned a non-nursing bachelor’s in another field. For example, it’s quite likely that, as a biology major, you already took courses in areas like statistics and microbiology.
Now that you know the answer to the question, “Can you become a nurse with a biology degree?” are you ready to get started? Here are some steps to follow on the path to a nursing career:
1. Choose a Nursing Track and Connect With Admissions
The first way to switch from biology to nursing is to choose the right track for your goals. While you can choose from a variety of nursing degrees, we recommend you choose a track that confers a BSN, as this will likely provide more opportunities than an associate degree.
Other considerations when choosing a nursing track include:
- Accreditation and state approval: Ensure the track is both accredited and approved.
- Admissions requirements: Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Availability of a hybrid online track: Online learning offers greater flexibility.
- Length of curriculum: A shorter, accelerated track will help you graduate sooner.
- Multiple start dates each year: This will help you start earning your degree earlier.
- Quality of clinical and lab experiences: Experiential learning is key with nursing.
The ABSN track at Concordia Texas offers three start dates each year — in January, May, and August — meaning you could start the 16-month curriculum sooner. Our students learn through a combination of online classes, interactive labs, and clinical rotations. If you have at least 60 college credits or a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, you might be eligible for the ABSN track.
2. Finish Your Prerequisites and Apply
Your bachelor’s degree in biology has given you a great start in your nursing education. Science courses you’ve already passed might satisfy most or all the prerequisites. Given that science prerequisites don’t currently expire in our ABSN track, you don’t have to worry about how long ago you took classes like organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, or microbiology. To confirm which college credits are transferable, get in touch with an admissions counselor.
Learn more about what nursing prerequisites you’ll need before starting the accelerated nursing track.
3. Earn a BSN
Once you’re admitted into nursing school, the next step is putting in the work to earn your degree. Concordia Texas’s ABSN track is challenging, and it’ll require dedication, but because it’s accelerated, you’ll get through it in less time than with a traditional degree track.
How the ABSN Track Works at Concordia Texas
Concordia Texas’s ABSN track incorporates online learning, on-site labs, and clinical rotations at top area hospitals and healthcare facilities, so you can gain all the experience you need to graduate career-ready. Since biology plays an important role in nursing, your existing degree gives you a head start with the ABSN track curriculum.
Online Coursework
Online coursework offers greater flexibility. You won’t be beholden to a set classroom schedule or location; however, you will be responsible for completing all the coursework within the given timeframe. The online delivery method also means you can engage with the material as often as needed to cement it in your memory. You’ll also have regularly scheduled chat sessions with your instructors.
Nursing Skills Labs
In-person skills labs are opportunities to develop crucial nursing skills. In these labs, you’ll learn how to insert a nasogastric tube and an IV line, for example. You’ll also practice checking vital signs, providing wound care, performing patient assessments, and even interviewing patients.
Nursing Simulation Labs
In nursing simulation labs, you’ll put your nursing skills to work while also developing clinical judgment and decision-making. Simulation labs mimic the clinical environment. While working in a group, you’ll be responsible for assessing the condition of a patient simulator manikin and implementing appropriate nursing responses.
Clinical Rotations
At Concordia Texas, our accelerated nursing track for biology majors prioritizes applied learning. Our nursing students participate in hundreds of hours of clinical rotations at top healthcare facilities in the area. You’ll gain real-world experience during clinicals. First, you’ll shadow an experienced RN, then apply your own nursing skills as you provide direct patient care under supervision.
Concordia Texas offers clinical rotations in a wide range of nursing specialties, including adult health, obstetrics, acute care, and pediatrics. You will work across a range of practice areas, but we do not guarantee that students will be able to access any specific practice area during clinical rotations.
Wondering how to pay for nursing school? Get your guide to financing your education here.
4. Pass the NCLEX and Get Licensed
After earning your degree, the last major checkpoint of transitioning into your career in nursing is passing the NCLEX®. First, you’ll need to apply for licensure/registration at the nursing regulatory body (NRB) for your state. The NRB will determine your eligibility and issue an authorization to test (ATT), which will allow you to sit for the NCLEX.
The NCLEX is the culmination of all you’ve learned in nursing school, and it generally requires intensive preparation that ideally begins while you’re still a student. At Concordia Texas, we are committed to preparing our students to sit for the exam, and we incorporate NCLEX-style questions into exams throughout the curriculum. Upon passing the exam, you’ll receive your license and be ready to start your new career as a nurse.
5. Start Your First Nursing Job
It’s finally time to find your first nursing job. With your BSN degree and RN license, you’ll be ready to apply to various inpatient or outpatient nursing positions. If you made connections with other nurses during clinical rotations, you may be able to use that network to help you in the job-seeking process.
Career Options to Consider
After making the transition from a BS in biology to a BSN degree, you’ll be on track for a fulfilling career. Concordia Texas's ABSN track will provide you with leadership and management skills in organization, communication, and advocacy, making you an ideal candidate for many more career opportunities both inside and outside of the hospital setting.
A few of your many career options include:
Inside the Hospital:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse: Work with premature and sick infants born with a variety of problems, including congenital disabilities, infections, and complications of prematurity.
- Medical-Surgical Nurse: Provide pre- and post-operative teaching, care for patients in the recovery room, and monitor patients on the surgical floor for complications.
- Quality Improvement Coordinator: Work with hospital or clinic healthcare executives to develop, maintain, and implement health plans to achieve goals.
Outside the Hospital:
- Forensic Nurse: Investigate sexual and physical assault crimes as well as accidental deaths. You will review cases of elder, domestic, and child abuse and oftentimes work in the court system.
- Public Health Nurse: Provide critical healthcare services to low-income and rural communities. You will perform health screenings and provide health education within city health departments, federal health organizations, county health departments, and mobile healthcare services.
- Flight Nurse: Administer comprehensive critical care for diverse patients on airplanes and helicopters. You will care for patients in emergency situations and be trained to make decisions quickly.
Discover more alternative nursing specialties beyond the bedside.
The clinical skills and experience you gain at Concordia Texas will provide you with a broad scope of practice. This will give you the versatility to shape your nursing career as you go.
Leadership Opportunities
Graduating from an accelerated nursing track for biology majors also provides you with ample room for career growth. According to the American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN), nurse leaders recognize the unique value of nurses who hold a BSN degree.
As patient care becomes more complex, nursing leaders are standing together and advocating for an increase in the number of BSN-prepared nurses in all clinical settings. They believe that education impacts and improves the quality of patient outcomes, and they’re right.
The AACN cites several studies showing that having more nurses with BSN degrees results in reduced patient mortality and failure-to-rescue rates. Studies also show that nurses with BSNs tend to have higher job satisfaction levels than registered nurses who do not have a bachelor’s degree.
Healthcare employers will see the dedication and quality care that Concordia Texas nurses provide. Not only do they count on you to move into leadership roles, but they expect you to mentor the next generation of RNs.
Go From Biology to a Nursing Degree at Concordia University Texas
How can a biology major become a nurse? At Concordia Texas, it’s not only possible, but it can be accomplished in less time than you’d think. Here, you can use your biology education to earn a nursing degree in as few as 16 months upon successful completion of the prerequisites.
Our faith-based private school empowers nurses to act with integrity and serve with dignity. Our values are integrated directly into the curriculum, introducing students to the concept of providing spiritual care that respects cultural diversity and aligns with professional ethics.
When you’re ready to make the transition from biology to nursing, our friendly admissions team is here to help. Your admissions counselor will put together a personalized plan to guide you as you navigate the admissions process. Contact us today and begin working toward a meaningful future in healthcare.