"hard science" requirements for RN's

caliotter3 · Jan 28, 2015

Most schools have "health science career" versions of the science courses that are used for nursing school admittance, but that does not preclude a prenursing student from taking the traditional hard science versions, also acceptable. Accepted courses (from that school) are usually listed on the requirements list of each program.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2015

I started out as an LVN. The VN program I attended required no prerequisite coursework and simply rolled the A&P into the beginning of the 12-month program.

I earned an ASN degree at a trade school whose LPN-to-ASN transition program didn't require the 'hard' empirical sciences, but allowed students to transfer credits if they previously completed them at a community college or state university. Students who had not previously completed A&P I, A&P II or Micro would have to take them at the trade school as corequisite coursework.

I had completed A&P I and II at a community college, so the trade school granted transfer credit for these courses. I ended up taking Micro at the same trade school before starting the nursing coursework.

Hence, I've taken A&P I and II at a community college, Micro at a trade school, and biochemistry (without lab) as part of the online RN-to-BSN completion program in which I am currently enrolled.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2015

I took them all, bio, micro (which bio was a pre- req) chemistry (bio, physical, organic), A n P (they're taught together) all of it. This was for my BSN. All listed as pre reqs along with the other non health care ones.

wanderlust99 · Jan 29, 2015

Yes, those are the basic science classes needed to get into nursing school. Sometimes the chemistry is combined, mine was only 1 semester if I remember correctly! It's been awhile! But bio, micro, A&P and chemistry is standard. Nurses use to have to take physics but I think that's a thing of the past.

Libby1987 · Jan 29, 2015

I had to take the 5 listed in the OP.

What about math? We had to take Alg II in order to take stats. I can't imagine trying to pass Alg II after being out of school for anytime, going straight from HS (and with no real responsibilities plus supportive parents) was a definite advantage.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2015

What about math?

LVN program, 2005 = no math course; just dosage calculation quizzes

LPN-to-ASN transition program, 2010 = no math course; students had to score 100 percent on a dosage calculation quiz or be forced to withdraw from the program

Online RN-to-BSN program, 2014 = one introductory probability & statistics course was required. A 'foundations of college mathematics' course was also required, but the school waived this requirement for me since I hold an ASN degree.

annie.rn · Jan 29, 2015

TRADITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR BSN: Inorganic Chem One Semester; Organic Chem One Semester; Statistics One Semester; Microbiology One Semester; Developmental Psychology One Semester; A&P 2 Semesters; Pharmacolology (1 Semester) and Pathophysiology (2 semesters).

I found Pathophysiology to be the most challenging of the bunch. The chemistries were an easier version than one science majors had to take. I'm not sure about math. I transferred to the nursing program in my junior year so I had met most of my requirements while a Biology major. We def. had to pass med calculation quizzes.

brownbook · Jan 29, 2015

I'm glad to hear most of you did have to take something along those lines. Not sure what the "health science career" version includes? On another thread I mentioned in passing that all nurses had to have taken hard sciences and several said they did not!

I had to take all these just for my ADN, (except organic chemistry, that came with my BSN).

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 29, 2015

For ADN: A&P I & II w/labs, Micro + lab. That's it. No math pre-reqs & a one credit dosage calculation class.

For BSN (2 decades later): needed 3 more science credits, had Bio from back in the day. Algebra I (had from before), stats for HC (don't be fooled, this was a booger of a course).

Still managing to escape w/o chemistry.

Escaping advanced patho by going straight from BSN to PhD. MSN of any "flavor" would require it. In a way, I think I'd like it, just no time with all the other coursework.

CountryMomma, ASN, RN · Jan 29, 2015

My ADN required nutrition, chemistry, A&P I and II, Microbiology, College Algebra before starting Core Curriculum, and Statistics during Core. Also, Pharmacology. These were all individual, college level classes.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2015

My ADN program required A&P I and II--both w/ lab, microbiology w/ lab, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. I can't remember what they required for math...college algebra maybe? Anyway I was exempt; I'd already taken calculus I.

My RN-to-BSN program I don't think required any more hard sciences except pathophysiology, but that was a slightly time-consuming bird class considering it was 100% online and 100% open book. :sarcastic: I said "I don't think" because I did take inorganic chem in college pre-ADN (I started out as a music major at a liberal arts college), so it could have transferred. I don't remember any fellow students talking about chem though. For math, we had to take Stats I for a re-requisite.