What education is needed to become a nurse?

happilymarried · Jun 8, 2009

It can vary quite a bit at each individual school. I would go to the schools in your area and talk with an advisor from the nursing department. That way you don't take classes that aren't required. Plus they will be able to tell you if you can take a class in high school and clep out of it in college or whatever. Talking to the nursing dept. will ensure you get the correct info and they may even develop a plan of attack with you.

You should be proud of yourself for already deciding what you want to do with your life. Nursing school is intense but the pay off in the end is well worth it! Good luck to you!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2009

biology, algebra and chemistry would all be good to take in high school. you may also need to take college level classes in them again depending on the level of nursing you will study for: lpn or rn. biology is a pre-requisite that is needed before you are allowed to take human anatomy and physiology. college level human anatomy and physiology is required to get into rn nursing programs. a basic understanding of biology and chemistry is also needed because at college level if you will be required to take a class in microbiology and possibly a chemistry for the health sciences before taking actually rn nursing classes. basic algebra is done in chemistry and knowledge of how to do algebra is a extremely helpful in doing some of the more complex drug calculation problems although 8th grade level math is all that is required for most drug calculation problems.

you can read about the different kinds of nursing and the educational preparation for them on these websites:

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - about registered nursing from the u.s. department of labor
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm - about lpn nursing from the u.s. department of labor
http://www.discovernursing.com/
http://www.nln.org/careers/resources.htm - nlns resources page for nursing students

happilymarried · Jun 8, 2009

We were not required to take general biology at my college. I have never had general biology yet I have had anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition... Also, I did not have to have algebra to take chemistry (which I did take chemistry but it wasn't required to get into my nursing school either). It can really vary greatly by school. But I do agree that taking some of those classes in high school can begin to build you a good foundation. I would definitely get in contact with the local community colleges in your area and talk to the nursing dept. so they can lead you the right direction.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2009

Years ago when I was in high school (the 1960s) we took a College preparatory group of classes and were told to take the highest level of each subject:

4 years of English (grades 9 - 12)
Math: Basic Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II and Trigonometry, Calculus
History: American History, World History, Civics (American Government)
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

You need these subjects to get a decent grade on the ACT or SAT exam anyway. If you don't you will end up having to take remedial classes of them in college for which you do not recieve college credit.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2009

I'm sure every school has their little differences but mine required chemistry and biology before taking A&P.....I never took chem. in high school so I had to take chem. in college beforehand. Good luck!

madnurse2b · Jun 9, 2009

First - congratulations on thinking ahead! If you are planning to go to your community college, why not see if the health programs/nursing advisor will meet with you and give you some advice? We also have the opportunity in our city for high school students to take some of those classes during their senior year, and we also have a "Community College High School" when they graduate they also are getting the Associate's Degree usually in General Studies at the same time as their high school diploma. Talk to your counselors at your high school about your options in this regard. And you may be able to volunteer at your local hospitals during summers and breaks for a little more experience.

Again - congratulations that you know what you want and are willing to work for it at your age. Keep up that kind work and I know you will go far!

chloejean104 · Jun 9, 2009

Congrats on your decision, I personally think it is one you will enjoy, and great job being ahead of the game! I was always told it was okay to decide later when I was in college, as most people I know do, but it is so much easier to just be prepared ahead of time. Again as you have read already, it does vary per school. I know that my school you needed general biology and chemistry, as well as up to Algebra II. They encouraged that you go higher in math, which i did, but Algebra II was the highest you needed to go. Also, if you are interested in taking Advanced Placement classes, and if your high school offers them, I would say definitely take AP Psychology. Much times it is easier in a high school setting, and if you do well enough on the test it counts as a college class and is just another one you got out of the way early. Congrats again!

beth66335, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2009

Take Algebra for sure, my school requires a college level Algebra class to apply to nursing school, and I never took it in HS, so I struggled. Chemistry would be good too, if you ever decide to go higher than an RN. A BSN requires Chemistry in the Universities where I live and Calculus too. I have a daughter going into her junior year and she will be eligible through her school to take college level courses during the Spring semester Sr year if she has enough credits to graduate by the end of that Fall semester. She will if she passes everything she takes between now and then, she is a good student. You might check with your school to see if you can do this, you could take your English 1 class at the CC and see how you like the school. Good luck, like I said my daughter is a good student but she still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up yet, it's great that you do!