Elective courses for nursing programs

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Hi y'all!! 2 year member here, first time poster!

To make a long story short, nursing has been my career of choice for a VERY, very long time. I finally have the opportunity, help, and support I needed to pursue my career/goal with consistency!

Anyway, I am stuck trying to pick the best/right courses for my electives requirement. I currently attend a community college to finish up my basics, and will be applying to BSN programs around this time next year.

I am curious to know what electives did you all take, did it or has it helped you in your nursing program in any way, or would you have taken something different?

Thanks in advance for any insight/opinion/shared experience!

**Also posting this in the pre-nursing student forum**

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Specializes in ICU.

I took sociology, microbiology, and advanced physiology for my electives. I hated sociology but loved the others. I just had a terrible instructor though for sociology. She was always late and just droned on from power points never really getting us or her involved in the class. So that class to me was a total waste of time. Other people have loved it though.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I took a class on Human Sexuality and another on Alcohol/Drugs that were offered through the School of Education because I knew they'd be easy classes. I also took Adolescent Psych, a Spanish class my freshman year and did an Independent Study my senior year.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

A language might be good, something commonly spoken in your area. Medical terminology, if not required, is helpful. Any psych, like death and dying, abnormal psych, child psych, etc. would relate.

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Nutrition is another good one

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The school I attended for the BSN program had a health sciences dept., so I minored in health science, partly in anticipation of pursuing a MPH in the future. Another good choice would be a language, particularly one that is predominant in your area so that you can use it in future jobs. And I liked nutrition courses.

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Thanks so much for the responses! A few mentioned sound like something I'd be really interested in! Soci, Psyc, and Nutrition I've already taken since they're part of the required courses for pretty much ALL the programs I've looked into around my area. I'm already fluent in Spanish so I've thought of maybe Chinese? Vietnamese? I've also thought maybe sign language? I just don't know if one class would be worth it. I'm still going to look into it. Wouldn't hurt to learn at least the basics. Medical terminology I took a while ago for work purposes, but it was a non-credit course :( I'm not sure if they do offer it as a credited course, will look into it as well. Definitely checking to see what other Psyc classes they have, and also alcohol/drugs. Human sexuality sounds good too! My head is flowing with options now! Thanks guys!!! I need to sign up for en elective ASAP before classes start to fill-up.

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KelRN215, BSN, RN - How did you fit all these classes into your schedule? I already have a full load just taking the required prerequisites for my top program :/ which only gives freedom for 2 electives, and one fine arts class...
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Specializes in Pedi.
KelRN215, BSN, RN - How did you fit all these classes into your schedule? I already have a full load just taking the required prerequisites for my top program :/ which only gives freedom for 2 electives, and one fine arts class...

I did a traditional pre-licensure BSN program. The way the program was set up, we got 3 electives over 4 years. I tested out of my core math requirement with AP Calculus in High School which gave me another elective and took one of my core social science classes elsewhere when I was on medical LOA, giving me another elective.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I recommend following your heart in the choosing of your electives. Take things that appeal to you. Enjoy them. Sometimes taking something totally different form "health sciences" courses opens up your mind to new perspectives on the world and helps you develop different ways of thinking about the world. Those "extra" mental skills will help you later down the road in ways you can't imagine now.

I took several political science courses as an undergraduate and to help me prepare for a summer studying abroad. It was fantastic and broadened my horizons. My only regret about that now is that I wish I had chosen to study history instead -- because now, decades later, I wish I had the skills to study/research the history of some of the things we see in nursing today.

You never know where life will take you -- but it will probably lead you to places where you deep down interests and likes will be useful. So base your elective choices on your deep down interests and likes -- even if they don't seem to directly relate to nursing now. Take advantage of this one chance in your life to get real academic education in something "just for fun."

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I recommend following your heart in the choosing of your electives. Take things that appeal to you. Enjoy them. Sometimes taking something totally different form "health sciences" courses opens up your mind to new perspectives on the world and helps you develop different ways of thinking about the world. Those "extra" mental skills will help you later down the road in ways you can't imagine now.

I took several political science courses as an undergraduate and to help me prepare for a summer studying abroad. It was fantastic and broadened my horizons. My only regret about that now is that I wish I had chosen to study history instead -- because now, decades later, I wish I had the skills to study/research the history of some of the things we see in nursing today.

You never know where life will take you -- but it will probably lead you to places where you deep down interests and likes will be useful. So base your elective choices on your deep down interests and likes -- even if they don't seem to directly relate to nursing now. Take advantage of this one chance in your life to get real academic education in something "just for fun."

Awww man, I wrote this semi long reply and don't know what happened to it. Well, in short, my heart has always been set on health/science topics. Specifically maternity...but they don't offer anything like it that would also count as an elective. My 2nd choice class was psych of adjustment (techniques for coping with anger, managing stress, anxiety, etc) but it didn't work out with my schedule, so I went with my 3rd choice. I'm definitely trying again the following semester for that psych class. I'd really like to learn that stuff. Even for myself!

Thanks for sharing llg, what you said makes a lot of sense.

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