Courses you found useful...

[yopinkman]

Were there any courses that weren't required for you to take prior to entering nursing school that you took and then later found out they were useful? I start nursing school next fall and I have some free space in my schedule so I'm trying to fill it with something I can maybe use later on. Any ideas?

[Sparrow91]

Not sure what your school offers but one of the classes I took when I was on a wait list for an ADN program was a Death and Dying class. It was very interesting to learn about death and dying in other cultures. Plus a big focus of the class was getting yourself comfortable with the idea of death and dying. One class (or classes) that I have been wanting to take in American sign language. I have had a handful of deaf patients over the years and I wish I at least knew a few phrases. We had a translator but they only came for an hour once a day. I think it would have gone a long way in making the patient comfortable if we at least knew a few important phrases.

Just double check with your adviser or business office. Usually FAFSA does not pay for courses outside of your degree UNLESS you are going for a minor or double major.

[Cohiba]

Is there a ASL (American Sign Language) class that'll fit in your schedule?

[psd.]

Not sure what your school offers but one of the classes I took when I was on a wait list for an ADN program was a Death and Dying class. It was very interesting to learn about death and dying in other cultures. Plus a big focus of the class was getting yourself comfortable with the idea of death and dying.

Yes! at my undergrad school, it was the psychology dept. that offered the course, albeit named a bit differently, and it is a most interesting (and understudied) topic. though other students registered for different reasons might be inclined to disagree.

[rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Not sure what your school offers but one of the classes I took when I was on a wait list for an ADN program was a Death and Dying class. It was very interesting to learn about death and dying in other cultures. Plus a big focus of the class was getting yourself comfortable with the idea of death and dying. One class (or classes) that I have been wanting to take in American sign language. I have had a handful of deaf patients over the years and I wish I at least knew a few phrases. We had a translator but they only came for an hour once a day. I think it would have gone a long way in making the patient comfortable if we at least knew a few important phrases.

Just double check with your adviser or business office. Usually FAFSA does not pay for courses outside of your degree UNLESS you are going for a minor or double major.

I will second this class. I didn't get to take it because I was taking too much anyway. I did take a EKG interpretation class from the EMS department and I found it really useful already in my job. It is a prerequisite for ACLS I think.

[knnyz]

Public speaking, any sciences, common languages (spanish probably the best choice), anything that can make your resume stand out!

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Any class that challenges you. Makes you work hard and learn new study habits. In nursing school you will hear the classic line "this class is stupid and I will never use it as a nurse". When you hear that smile and carry on. You WILL use it...because you learn to do what needs to be done to get the job done. No matter "stupid" or not. Don't fall into the complaining trap. Part of school is seeing how bad people want it. And you DO learn a lot just from that experience.

[RunBabyRN]

Any language course, especially if it's commonly spoken in your area.

Speech

Anything about cultures in your area

Medical terminology, if you're not already familiar

[jnichox2]

I agree with @RunBabyRN language courses are a good way to pick up some words and phrases. Even though nursing pre-reqs are science based, don't forget about the humanities. Public Speaking, World Religions, a specific culture course (arabic language and literature) There are a great way to enhance your knowledge on different people you may encounter from different walks of life.

[applejackcrunch]

I finished an AAS in Health Information Management this past spring. Electronic Medical Records classes are a great way to learn how to do charting, and especially learning about HIPAA laws and other state and federal regulations regarding medical records and patient privacy. An insurance class also helped a lot with understanding how third party payers work and the terminology that is associated with that side of the industry.

[Spangle Brown]

IT might not seem important to know about different Religions. But our religion really defines many of us. It determines what we can or can not eat. Etc.

Understand OTHERS will help when taking care of them. To know what they can or can not eat, etc. We do not have to believe in their religion, just understand it. I took a religious traditions class. I had a classmate that took it and she said she forgot it all as soon as she finished it. I asked her why, and she said because people believe in stupid stuff. She totally did not "get" the point of the class. She didn't have to believe it herself, but develop a working knowledge.

[Spangle Brown]

Oh, and a students for success course. Great ideas for studing, and learning what resources that are available to help study.