Nursing Degrees, Program Prerequisites and Healthcare Tracks

Explore careers in the medical field with Pacific University

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If you’re looking for a profession that involves health, science and helping people, you might be considering how to become a nurse. Nurses care for and advocate for patients in a variety of medical settings. They also help to educate patients and their families about health. Nurses work with doctors as they perform medical procedures, administer medication and monitor patients.

Becoming a nurse can be approached through many different paths, depending on what area of nursing you want to enter and how you want your nursing career to progress. You can enter a nursing program straight out of high school or you can pursue an undergraduate degree in the sciences or health professions and then enter a graduate level nursing program.

There are also many other health professions you may want to consider — like being a physician’s associate, pharmacist, occupational therapist, or physical therapist — if you are thinking of becoming a nurse. While Pacific University does not offer a degree that directly leads to licensure as a nurse, through our College of Optometry and our College of Health Professions, we do offer 18 graduate and professional degree programs that lead to careers in healthcare serving our communities. 

What degree do you need to be a nurse?

There are a range of nursing degrees that lead to different nursing qualifications. You can pursue a nursing degree in a community college program, a four year university or as a graduate degree after completing your undergraduate education.

The right nursing degree for you will depend on your professional goals and your current level of education. When determining what degree track to follow, ask your educational advisors and teachers, academic advisors at programs you are considering and current nurses in careers you admire.

Nursing Degrees

Many nurses begin their nursing practice by completing an Associate Degree or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ADN or BSN) and then return to school for advanced degrees as they specialize and further their careers. But many nurses also study non-nursing subjects or pursue other healthcare tracks as undergraduates and then enter nursing programs as graduate students.

At Pacific University, because the school does not have a nursing specific program, students interested in becoming a nurse can major in other areas and then apply to outside MSN or MEPN programs upon completing their undergraduate degrees. MEPN programs are specifically for those with non-nursing undergraduate degrees. These pre-licensure programs teach you foundational nursing theory while giving you hands-on clinical experience and covering advanced healthcare topics. Salaries for nurses holding an MSN or MEPN degree are generally higher than for those with a BSN or ADN.

Whatever nursing degree you complete, you must also pass a licensing exam. To obtain a nursing license in Oregon, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination. This national exam is required after graduating from an approved nursing program and applying to the Oregon State Board of Nursing.

How do you prepare for a nursing degree?

How to become a nurse is about preparation. If you are in high school and planning on becoming a nurse, you’ll want to take science courses like chemistry and biology. These courses will help lay the groundwork for your medical education.

In college, you’ll need to continue taking advanced science courses. Common prerequisites for nursing programs include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, biology and statistics. Courses in these areas teach you about the human body, how to interpret data and scientific principles. This prepares you for pursuing a nursing degree and becoming a nurse.

The pre-med pathway and pre-physician assistant studies tracks at Pacific University are also excellent preparation for those interested in MSN and MEPN nursing graduate programs. Pacific also offers preparatory undergraduate pathways for healthcare careers in:

• Athletic training
• Audiology
• Dental and dental hygiene
• Psychology
• Occupational therapy
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Physical therapy
• Speech-language pathology

A public health major and/ or a communication and science disorders minor would also provide excellent foundational preparation those interested in MSN and MEPN programs.

Before being accepted to a nursing program, you will also need to take the entrance exams required by the program. Depending on the degree you are pursuing, this may be the National League for Nursing (NLN) Pre-Admission Exam (PAX), Nursing Entrance Test (NET), Kaplan Nursing School Admissions Test, or the Psychological Services Bureau (PSB) for Practical Nursing Exam. Check with the program you intend to apply to to determine which test is required.

What other careers in the medical field could you consider?

Nursing is a well known medical profession, but there are many other healthcare careers that you might consider if you want to become a nurse. For example, a physician’s associate is a medical professional who works with physicians to provide direct patient care. The physician associate program at Pacific University is an innovative program known for its cooperative learning environment and its commitment to providing care to underserved and rural communities.

Like nurses and physician associates, pharmacists can also provide direct patient care — and in Oregon, pharmacists can practice at the top of their license as healthcare providers, prescribing medications, managing chronic diseases, and ordering labs. Pacific University’s Pharmacy Jump Start program, allows you to complete your undergraduate prerequisites in two years before jumping into our doctor of pharmacy program.

Another foundational healthcare profession is dental hygiene. Because dental cleanings are often recommended biannually (every 6 months), people often see a dental hygienist more frequently than they see their primary care physicians. As a result, dental hygienists play a vital role in early detection within the healthcare system. Pacific's new dental therapy program, amplifies that impact by training dental therapists who — working under the supervision of a dentist — extend basic dental care to rural and underserved populations.

If you’re interested in helping athletes or those experiencing physical injuries or limitations, you might consider a kinesiology (exercise science) major or minor, or a degree in athletic training or physical therapy. Pacific University’s accelerated 3:2 Kinesiology & Athletic Training Pathway allows you to earn your bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years.

Pacific University also offeres guaranteed graduate admission for six healthcare programs, including audiology, athletic training, occupational therapy, optometry, physical therapy and speech-language pathology.

Whether you’re preparing for a future nursing program or pursuing another healthcare career, Pacific University has a variety of courses to suit your needs as you pursue your purpose.

Pacific is one of the top private research universities in the Pacific Northwest and empowers you to pursue your purpose with real-world training.

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