Nurses are needed today more than ever before. If the recent outbreak of COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is the importance of health care workers. This may have inspired you to answer the call to work on the frontlines and become a healthcare hero. But if you‘ve already earned your degree in a different field, you may be feeling a bit discouraged. 

Earning a degree – in any field – takes time and work. If you’ve already completed a degree program, and that program is not nursing, you may be wondering how to become a nurse after college. Starting over is out of the question. So where do you go from here? Fear not! The journey to become a nurse is not as out-of-reach as you may think. 

You’re an educated person. Perhaps you had planned on becoming a teacher and earned your education degree. You may have even worked in a classroom for a few years before realizing you were meant to help patients instead of students. A career change, or a change in path, is not out of the question. It doesn’t mean you have to start a four-year degree program all over again. The truth is: There is a shortcut for aspiring nurses who have already earned their bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major. It is called an Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN) program. 

With an ABSN program, like the one at Goodwin University, students may take their hard-earned college credits and apply them toward their nursing degree, saving time on their new career path. If you’ve earned that bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and you maintained a 3.0 grade-point average, you are good to go! Often called a second degree nursing program, an ABSN will enable you to get licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) and start working in the healthcare field quickly. 

The 60-credit ABSN program at Goodwin may be completed in as little as 16 months full-time. Classes are typically offered in an online/on-campus hybrid format. This means that you can prepare for your role as a nurse on a timeline and schedule that works best for you. 

Some of the courses in the ABSN program include: 

• Health Assessment & Skill Development 
• Foundations of Nursing Profession 
• The Wellness Continuum for Adults 
• Mental Health Nursing 

Even though you are on an accelerated path toward becoming a nurse, you will still gain all the knowledge and skills that are needed to serve and advocate for your patients, families, and communities. Graduates of Goodwin’s program practice a holistic approach to patient wellness and quality care through critical and creative thinking, ethical decision-making, and evidence-based practice. 

A quality nursing program instills some important skills and values in its students, such as: 

• Applied Therapeutics 
• Communication 
• Empathy 
• Ethics 
• Professionalism 
• Psychomotor skills 

Once you’ve obtained your ABSN degree, you will be prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become licensed as an RN. After passing the NCLEX and becoming an RN, you may wish to continue your education with a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, as well. 

There is no question that nurses enjoy challenging but incredibly rewarding careers. RNs rank among the top 10 best healthcare careers in the nation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs earned a median annual salary of $73,300 in 2019. But RNs with bachelor’s degrees can expect to earn even more than their coworkers who have an associate. And BSN nurses are eligible for more opportunities that bring with them various work environments, higher earning potential – including managerial roles later in their careers – and more flexible schedules. 

Once you’ve decided to make your move and answer the call to become a nurse, there is no better time than the present to get your new career going! If you’ve ever wondered how to become a nurse after a bachelor’s degree, you are now equipped with the knowledge to get you where you need to go on an accelerated path. 

Are you ready to switch gears and get on the accelerated path toward becoming a nurse? Contact Goodwin University at 1-800-889-3282 or visit us online to learn more about our accelerated nursing degree.