Published Sep 29, 2009
Not_A_Hat_Person, RN
2,900 Posts
After seeing a few threads from students about what non-nursing courses to take, I started wondering about the non-nursing courses that have been the most useful in my career so far.
I had a BA in English when I started nursing school. Newswriting taught me to document accurately, using as few words as possible.
World Religions and Spanish, both of which I took in high school, were very useful in nursing school, though I haven't used them in my career yet.
What non-nursing course(s) has been the most useful to your nursing career?
IHeartPeds87
542 Posts
I'm not a nurse (yet) but there was a nurse at a residential traumatic brain injury clinic that knew sign language and she had a leg up in communicating with patients
RNperdiem, RN
4,592 Posts
Spanish has been useful. I am not fluent, but can communicate well enough for basic care.
Typing is a class I took in high school. Good keyboard skills are helpful now that computer charting is taking over.
jessi1106, BSN, RN
486 Posts
Something that you will enjoy and that (hopefully) will bring you relaxation/fun while in the chaos of nursing school.
CECE,RN
66 Posts
Psychology and Communications is two of the courses that has helped me with my nursing career.
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
Sociology was an interesting class that has helped me in my career.
There are different social classes in America. In general, the poor tend to be in worse health, often seek healthcare when their disease processes are far advanced, and are generally treated differently than others who enter the healthcare system. Sociology has helped me to be cognizant of how socioeconomic status can impact a person's health.
Chewie_123
108 Posts
I took a couple sociology classes that have really helped out getting into the shoes of some of my patients.
Honestly though, the yoga class I took has proved to be the most helpful in the long term. Great stress relief.
Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN
1 Article; 1,978 Posts
Spanish, hands down. I also use my Growth and Development and Nutrition, and I have kept and refer to those texts regularly.
Imafloat, BSN, RN
1 Article; 1,289 Posts
Developmental Psychology, I use that all the time at work.
diane227, LPN, RN
1,941 Posts
General psychology, and the wonderful death and dying course that I took even before I declared nursing as my major.
llg, PhD, RN
13,469 Posts
Logic ... which I took from the Philosophy Dept. as a freshman.
The ability to analyze (and make) a logic argument is something I use almost every day.
An especially useful skill on this forum sometimes
J/k, I :heartbeat allnurses!