Need RN advice

TazziRN, RN · Jun 8, 2008

If pharm and pathophys are integrated into the program, you don't need the separate courses. It would be nice to have the courses, but it's not absolutely necessary. MedSurg will be integrated in the clinicals, so don't worry about that.

northwestwind · Jun 8, 2008

I doubt a new grad would be hired into ICU. You need experience before you take on that level of illness/knowledge. Your clinicals/classwork will give you the basics of what you need to know. I would ask around - what experience do you need to be considered for ICU. Ask your instructors, they should also know.

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 8, 2008

Look at the board pass rates for that school (you can do so by going to your State Board of Nursing website), and if your school has a pass rate > 80% and are not under any type of accreditation problems, then your school is teaching enough required for students to pass the national standard board exam (NCLEX).

All nursing schools are different and some integrate patho and pharm into their subjects while others have separate course and then there are schools that have classes as well as integrate.

Some schools obviously prepare their students far better than others, but if students from the school are passing the NCLEX, you should have nothing to worry about.

Bicster · Jun 8, 2008

Your clinicals/classwork will give you the basics of what you need to know.

Which is why I asked about the above courses and if they were necessary for success.

Bicster · Jun 8, 2008

Look at the board pass rates for that school (you can do so by going to your State Board of Nursing website), and if your school has a pass rate > 80% and are not under any type of accreditation problems, then your school is teaching enough required for students to pass the national standard board exam (NCLEX).
All nursing schools are different and some integrate patho and pharm into their subjects while others have separate course and then there are schools that have classes as well as integrate.
Some schools obviously prepare their students far better than others, but if students from the school are passing the NCLEX, you should have nothing to worry about.

Great, thanks. The school I am considering has the highest NCLEX pass rate in the state for ADN programs and the 4th overall in the state.

It just surprised me how many classes I thought were integral are missing. But I suppose they are doing something right.

imanedrn · Jun 8, 2008

My prospective nursing school does not have the following courses:
-pharmacology
-pathophysiology
-med/surg
Do you feel these courses are integral to being a successful nurse? Especially one with hopes of going on to advanced nursing practices? The school does have the highest NCLEX pass rate in the state though, so thats good. I just don't know what to do.
I really want to work ICU but am concerned that w/o those courses I will not be a competetive applicant. Any advice?

These courses may go by different names. I had 2 semesters of patho/pharm (combined course) with those words clearly in the course description. My gero class was on a med/surg unit with almost no gero patients and was called "Nursing Care of Older Populations." My "med/surg" class was called "Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill" -- the lecture was all med/surg topics, but our clinical was on an IMC unit.

Also, I know many classmates who were hired directly into acute care units (IMC, ICU, PICU, CCU, ED, etc.). If you're interested in pursuing that specialty, make sure you focus a LOT of attention on that area -- in lecture and clinicals -- and get to know a LOT of the staff nurses, charge nurses, manager, and even your lecture instructor. If the nursing staff believes you can do the job as a new grad, that's your ticket in -- esp. if you precept at a facility that hires new grads!

LadyTiger44 · Jun 8, 2008

As long as they are accredited I would not worry about it. They probably include it in their classes, and just don't make it separate. As far as being hired in the ICU as a new grad, I think that depends on the need for nurses and where you are at. I am a new grad and got hired on at an organ transplant ICU that is opening up here; there were also new grads hired on into the SICU, MICU, and NICU. Your dream job is out there you just have to find it! Good luck!

TazziRN, RN · Jun 8, 2008

I doubt a new grad would be hired into ICU. You need experience before you take on that level of illness/knowledge.

Wrong. Many facilities offer preceptorships into critical care areas for new grads. Whether or not it's a good idea has been debated to death here, but they do exist.

elkpark · Jun 8, 2008

That content would have to be in the program somewhere, whether it is separate courses with those names or integrated into other courses, or your program wouldn't be BON-approved and operating. All basic, pre-licensure nursing programs are required to cover the same general content, regardless of how they divide it up and what they call their individual courses.

Bicster · Jun 8, 2008

Thank you all so far, this has been very helpful

suanna · Jun 8, 2008

My school offered no separate pharm class, patho class, and ?med surg? -isn't that part of you regular nursing lecture- I can't imagine a separate class. I think if the school has an above average NCLEX passing rate then you can assume that these subjects are well covered in whatever they call thier nursing lectures..."Gen. Nursing 101...."