Should I Challenge These Classes???

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 16, 2005

I say go for it except for the physical assessment course. The one I took for my BSN was much more involved and informative than for my RN, and it was full of information I couldn't get from just reading. Lots of anecdotes from experienced providers, and little tips that came in handy later. Plus, because it was more informal it was a great bonding experience before the later group projects (you knew who to stay away from).

LPN01112005 · Feb 16, 2005

Don't be fooled into thinking diet therapy is an easy class. I have a sound nutritional background, not from any formal education, but just because health and nutrition is an interest of mine and I've studied it extensively on my own by taking a variety of community education classes. However, this class caught me completely off guard. I managed to end the course with a B, but it was the first of the weed out classes and we lost approx. 1/4 of our students to it. My diet therapy final exam was the second hardest exam I took the entire time I was in nursing school, with the exit exam being the hardest. You may well be able to challenge this class, especially if you remember most of what you learned in nutrition and have a good knowledge on the basics of nutrition, but I'm just advising that Diet therapy isn't a "filler" class such as Intro to Computers.

Med term is probably a class you may be able to challenge provided you learn the root words. Our class was basically self taught using the CD and flash cards that came with the book. Fairly easy, I passed with an A.

Medical Math you could probably study on your own and challege successfully. It was a fairly easy class. If you know Units Conversion already, then you are a step ahead because Dimensional Analysis is a form of units conversion. My program used DA, but some programs are still using ratio and proportion, and if you like that, then you'll be able to figure your dosages without problem. I think anyone with a good grip on fractions can do medical math.

Infection control and physical assessment are important areas of practice, I'm surprised your school will allow you to challenge these classes. Especially the Physical Assessment class. But, I suppose if they do allow it, you could give it a try.

I admire the self-confidence you must have to consider such a task as challenging some of the proposed classes. That in and of itself says a lot about you. Good luck and I wish you well and much success.

Fiona59 · Feb 16, 2005

Try the computers and maths challenges. The rest are there for a reason. The challenges are there for people who have experience in this area (ie: courses at other institutions that you can't get transfer credit for)

Also getting advanced credits usually doesn't shorten a courses length. You wind up with shorter days at school. LPN programs are usually set up in semesters that the courses are completed in. They usually don't allow you to take a seat with the semester ahead of you, just because you have a free period.

I think you need to slow down admire each tree before cutting down the forest.