Pathophys or not?

Pathophysiology provides the basis necessary to understand the myriad ways that things go wrong with the human body. In other words, the process of disease.

I can't fathom a nursing education program that doesn't require it!

I'm in a BSN program, but I can only guess that ADN's all teach pathophys...it's just a case of whether it's mixed in with other information and the course is called Pathophys. So, Med-surg would include the pathophys for all the conditions they cover, etc.

I agree though, if you get the oportunity to take it...take it :-)

I am in a BSN program where we have the option of leaving after our ADN. I cannot guess why they wouldn't require patho in an ADN program. I would take it. Usually ADN programs cover everything except for leadership courses. I believe that understanding patho is very necessary to caring for a patient. How can you understand the reasons for medication and treatment without understanding the disease process?

I think the knowledge of pathophysiology is crucial to being a nurse and helps put it all together when working with medication, doing critical thinking, and the like. I was in a BSN program that taught a pathophysiology class during first semester, with fundamentals of nursing. Because my program only taught med/surg in one class, I think that patho class helped me with getting the concepts when I took med/surg and made it easier to make the connections. I think programs that don't have a separate class for pathophysiology instead incorporate it into their program. I know of some programs that don't have a separate class for pharmacology but rather incorporate those concepts into their program's curriculum.

I'm taking Patho right now online @ Santa Barbara city college, $60 and $75 for the book. It's interesting and am enjoying it. I just passed cpt-1 and am doing pvt duty cna on the weekends while looking for first paid Phlebotomy job. Its been a great summer...G-d willing AD nursing program (prior BA in Psychology) in January. Take patho, its a lot easier online.

True that pathophysiology is included in "care of -------" type classes, but a dedicated patho course will go more in depth and likely better prepare you to think critically about your patients.

I am in an ADN program and pathophysiology is by and large what my nursing school is centered around. I would assume the same for all other RN programs. I do not think one could pass the N-CLEX without it.

I have NO CLUE why a program would not have patho. Take it!