Is it possible to take some nursing courses before I get into the program?

[wydlynn]

Hello everyone. I currently work and go to school part time for my pre-requisites. Looking ahead at applying for the nursing program, if I don't get in is it possible to take some of the classes that you actually have to take in the program, ahead of time? If it takes two or three years for me to get accepted (competition is fierce here), I'd at least like to plug away at some of the courses, such as Pharmacology, or Pathophysiology, or some of the courses that they use textbooks only. I'm 55 years old and I don't want to waste years waiting without being able to work on things I will need. I was told we "aren't allowed" to take those courses unless we are in the nursing program. Why not? I don't understand. If I can lighten my workload when I get into nursing school I will be less stressed and able to hold down a job while going to school. I am considering trying to take some of those courses online or at a different school if I am able and then hopefully the credits will transfer. If not, at least I'll already know the material and it will make school much less stressful. I am a single mother of an adult autistic son, there's nobody to help me with him/ I still have a mortgage & bills to pay/ and elderly parents in their 80's who often need me, so lightening my future study load while I'm waiting seems like a logical thing to do. Thanks in advance for your comments.

[caliotter3]

In general, the answer is no. You have to look at the specific requirements for each class for each school you are considering. For example, one might be able to take pharmacology at the nursing school if given specific permission by the instructor because they need the course for another endeavor. But this would be an exception. Most schools clamp down on nursing classes being available for enrolled nursing students only. There are only so many nursing seats to be had and there are not normally extra seats for auditors. If they could allow extra people in the class, then they could conceivably have another person added to the actual nursing class.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

8 hours ago, wydlynn said:

I'd at least like to plug away at some of the courses, such as Pharmacology, or Pathophysiology, or some of the courses that they use textbooks only.

Anatomy and Pathophysiology are pre-reqs for most nursing schools. If your school incorporates some of the those classes into their nursing curriculum, check to see what the pre-requisites for that class is. Many other majors require A&P, so you may be able to take it before being accepted into nursing school.

[babysplash, ADN, RN]

Depending on what school you are looking to apply to, patho and pharm are probably already available to you. For example, I live in Texas and you can take both of those classes without enrollment to the nursing school. I will say, however, in my nursing program pharm and patho are not a part of the curriculum, nor are they required to apply. I’ve found that enrollment in nursing courses are not allowed without admission to the nursing program due to clinicals needing to be attended concurrently with the nursing fundamental courses. Not only that but as the user stated above, there is only a limited number of students they can teach at one time due to the amount of students a hospital is willing to have attend for clincial spots. Also, of course more students means more nursing faculty and more clinical sites needed, so resources may need to expand which may not be an option.

[ThatChickOmi, ADN, RN]

At my school you can't take any (NUR) courses until you're actually in. So in the program I was in, it was both nursing and pharm courses. I (and most of my classmates) took our non-nursing courses before the program, so that was all the sciences, microbiology, sociology, lifespan development, etc. A&P is a pre-req for many other programs so it's open to everyone. You'll likely need Chemistry too.

Some tried to take micro in first semester along with nursing and it didn't end well for them. It was too much.

[MaiaS]

Have you considered self-studying in the meantime? That's what I'm doing since I know I will be a LOT busier once I'm back in school. There are sites like quizlet and chegg that are super helpful for studying just about any subject. You can search the course number and people have likely already posted online notes, flashcards, and sometimes even quizzes.

[wydlynn]

MaiaS, yes that's what I'm thinking. Study up ahead of time. Find out what textbook is going to be used and buy one. I want to know the material before I take the class. You are spot on. Thanks for your input, even though nursing school is still two years away, I can still memorize the immunization chart, dosage calculations, and get the textbooks for various subjects. Know as much of it as possible before you get accepted into the program. It will make it all so much easier ?