How to Become a Nurse with a Biology Degree

Nurses play a vital role in healthcare. Their work sets people on a path toward healing, offering comfort and support to those in need. It’s natural to feel drawn to nursing if you’re interested in biology. Becoming a nurse with a biology degree is possible without returning to school for another four years.

At Concordia University Irvine, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science of Nursing (ABSN) program allows you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 15 months.

By enrolling in the right nursing program, you can expedite the time it takes to earn a BSN without compromising the quality of your education. Learn how to become a nurse with a biology degree and how your experience can give you an advantage in your nursing education.

Understanding the Pathways to Nursing

There is no single pathway to becoming a nurse. While every nurse must pass the NCLEX-RN examination to earn a license, there are multiple ways to qualify to take the exam. You can enroll in an associate’s degree program and earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s program to earn a BSN.

The right program for you depends on multiple factors: your educational history, previous degree type, desired timeline, and career goals.

Degree Type Options

The first step in learning how to become a nurse with a biology degree is understanding your degree options. To become a nurse, your main degree options are an ADN or BSN. Consider the differences between the degree programs below:

• ADN program: An ADN program is typically two years long. The curriculum covers nursing fundamentals, microbiology, and more, allowing students to develop vital nursing skills.
• BSN program: A BSN program typically takes four years to complete; however, accelerated BSN programs expedite the timeline. A BSN curriculum covers what you’d learn in an ADN program but is more comprehensive and includes coursework involving nursing research, public health nursing, and nursing ethics. The degree also qualifies you for graduate programs.

Note that many employers also prefer to hire BSN-educated nurses because of their ability to promote positive patient outcomes. A BSN education thoroughly prepares nurses to be highly skilled in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and patient safety.

A new graduate employment survey also indicated that 96% of BSN graduates found employment within four to six months after graduation.

The Feasibility of Transitioning to Nursing with a Bachelor’s Degree

Having a biology degree gives you an advantage in your transition to nursing. Because you already have a bachelor’s degree, you might be eligible for an accelerated nursing program, which allows you to earn a BSN faster.

Your experience also means you will enter the program with an understanding of core biology concepts, microbiology, biochemistry, and scientific processes. Many of your college credits might transfer and meet prerequisite requirements, reducing the number of courses you must complete before entering a nursing program.

Pursuing a nursing career after earning a non-nursing degree does not set you back. Your biology degree and experience will help you throughout your nursing journey.

Becoming a Nurse with a Biology Degree: From Nursing School to Licensing

To become a nurse with a biology degree, you must follow these steps:

1. Enroll in an ABSN program: To ensure you receive a quality education, look for accelerated programs that are regionally accredited and approved by your state’s board of nursing.
2. Earn a BSN: You will learn the skills needed to be a competent nurse, develop clinical judgment, and gain valuable experiences while working in various clinical settings.
3. Pass the NCLEX exam: The NCLEX tests your clinical judgment and understanding of core nursing concepts. You can register for the exam after earning a nursing degree.
4. Obtain a nursing license: Once you pass the NCLEX, you can obtain a license by registering with the board of nursing in the state in which you’ll practice.
5. Apply for entry-level nursing positions: As a newly licensed registered nurse, you’re ready to apply for your first nursing job.

 

Exploring Accelerated Nursing Programs

You can leverage your biology degree to earn a BSN through an accelerated nursing program. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 65 college credits, you may be eligible for Concordia’s ABSN program, where you can earn a BSN in as few as 15 months.

You will receive the same quality education you’d expect from a four-year program in less time, allowing you to start your career sooner.

Benefits of an ABSN Program

ABSN programs have many benefits, in addition to the shorter program length. At Concordia University Irvine, the ABSN program offers students:

• Two Course Delivery Options: Students can choose between enrolling in the in-person, campus-based program in Irvine, California, or the hybrid-based program in Rancho Cucamonga, California, which combines online courses with in-person labs and clinicals.
• A Flexible Hybrid Program: The hybrid program offers flexibility to fit assignments into your schedule. Through an interactive e-learning platform, you can complete assignments on your own schedule, provided you meet deadlines and attend scheduled exams.
• Thorough Clinical Preparation: Students practice essential skills to build confidence in state-of-the-art facilities and complete 765 clinical hours in various settings.
• A Legacy You Can Trust: For nearly 20 years, Concordia University Irvine’s dedicated faculty has been educating the next generation of nurses to be leaders in healthcare through hands-on, diverse clinical experiences.

The ABSN Nursing Curriculum and Experiential Learning

Concordia University Irvine’s ABSN curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, preparing students with foundational nursing concepts and the philosophy needed for a healthcare career.

The curriculum comprises nursing coursework, skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations. Together, these components build a foundation for a nursing career, where you develop the clinical judgment and skills to provide caring, compassionate, and competent patient care.

Coursework Overview

The nursing coursework establishes the groundwork for the curriculum’s experiential learning components. Some courses include:

• Adult Medical/Surgical Nursing Theory
• Bioethics and Healthcare Professions
• Pathophysiology
• Pediatric Nursing Theory
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Research in Nursing

Keep in mind that if enrolled in the hybrid program at the Rancho Cucamonga learning site, you must still attend in-person labs and clinicals.

Experiential Learning through Labs and Clinical Rotations

Nursing labs and clinical rotations are where you will apply the knowledge gained from coursework to practice, first in a skills and simulation lab and then in a real clinical setting.

Nursing labs include two types: skills labs and simulation labs. Skills labs teach you to provide safe, quality patient care in a simulated setting. You will practice core skills such as nasogastric intubation and wound care on medical manikins.

These skills are then applied to simulation labs, where you and your peers must work together to treat the medical manikins. Controlled by your instructors, these manikins simulate various responses and conditions, from allergic reactions to cardiac arrest.

Labs prepare you for clinical rotations, where you work in local healthcare facilities, providing direct patient care under close supervision from nursing faculty and staff.

This is where you experience what it’s like to work as a nurse and further hone your clinical judgment and abilities, gradually gaining independence as you progress through the program. You will complete clinicals in the following nursing areas:

• Adult and Advanced Medical/Surgical
• Behavioral Health
• Community Health
• Maternal/Newborn
• Pediatrics

 

NCLEX Test Prep Support

The NCLEX is a nationally recognized nurse licensing exam. It’s important to start preparing as early as possible, which is why NCLEX preparation is incorporated into coursework and simulation labs at Concordia University Irvine so that you can feel confident on exam day.

As evident by the most recent 99.23% first-time NCLEX pass rate for Concordia University Irvine students, you can trust that the ABSN program prepares you to become a skilled nurse.

How to Apply to Nursing School with a Biology Degree

To become a nurse with a biology degree, you must first graduate from nursing school. The admissions process for the ABSN program at Concordia can be completed in five steps:

1. Contact an admissions counselor: Fill out the contact form to put you in touch with an admissions counselor. They will contact you to discuss the program, eligibility, and a target start date. They will also help you create an academic plan to meet requirements in time.
2. Complete prerequisites: Some college credits might transfer to satisfy these requirements. You will need to complete any remaining prerequisites to be eligible for enrollment.
3. Apply for admission: Complete the online application and send all supplemental materials to the admissions office.
4. Finish remaining prerequisites: If you have, at most, two remaining prerequisites to complete at the time of application, finish these courses and send an updated transcript to the admissions office.
5. Participate in admissions interview: You might be asked to participate in an admissions interview. If so, your admissions counselor will discuss how to complete the interview process.

Confirming Eligibility

It is critical to carefully review the admission requirements for any nursing program. At Concordia University, our admission requirements include:

• A completed Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree or at least 65 non-nursing college credits from an accredited institution
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
• Completion of prerequisite course requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• A minimum of 100 hours of qualifying patient care experience, with at least 75 hours completed at the time of application

Prerequisites for Enrollment

Prerequisite course requirements are an essential part of the admission process. Because an ABSN program builds on your previous education, prerequisite courses are needed to ensure all students enter the program with the same foundation in science, math, and general education.

If you have a biology degree, you have already taken many of these courses. Depending on the time of completion and grade, these credits might transfer, minimizing the number of prerequisites you must complete before enrollment.

At Concordia, our ABSN requires students to complete the following prerequisites:

• Chemistry (with lab)
• General Psychology
• Human Anatomy (with lab)
• Human Nutrition
• Human Physiology (with lab)
• Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology
• Lifespan Developmental Psychology (birth to death)
• Microbiology (with lab)
• Oral Communication
• Statistics – Mathematics
• Written Communication

Role of Admission Counselors

At Concordia University Irvine, you will be assigned an admissions counselor who will simplify the admissions process and walk you through each step. They will advise you on the ABSN eligibility requirements, set a target start date, determine which prerequisites you must complete, assist with your application, and answer any questions.

Embarking on Your Nursing Career with a Biology Degree

Prepared with an understanding of how to become a nurse with a biology degree, you’re ready to take the next steps toward a nursing career.

Nursing is both an art and a science. In Concordia University Irvine’s ABSN program, you will learn to meet your patient’s needs and provide holistic care, treating their minds, bodies, and spirits.

Contact an admissions counselor today to learn more about the ABSN program and how you can leverage your biology degree to become a nurse in as few as 15 months.