Why do schools make students take these pre-req courses that have no relevance in nursing? Subjects like: World Literature; P.E; History; Music and Arts; and Intro to theater... I understand they want the students to have a "rounded" education, but come on now, these subjects will not make you a better nurse. Why not require nursing students to take classes that will help benefit them before they get into nursing school-- like a pre-pharmacology class, or a drug and solutions class, etc...
I know it's all about the money and believe me, they make TONS of money off people taking these courses. I just wish I was getting my money's worth, that's all.
p.s- please don't tell me History should be required lol ... like me knowing about J.P Morgan and the Industrial revolution is gonna help save someone's life.
Why do schools make students take these pre-req courses that have no relevance in nursing? Subjects like: World Literature; P.E; History; Music and Arts; and Intro to theater... I understand they want the students to have a "rounded" education, but come on now, these subjects will not make you a better nurse. Why not require nursing students to take classes that will help benefit them before they get into nursing school-- like a pre-pharmacology class, or a drug and solutions class, etc...
I know it's all about the money and believe me, they make TONS of money off people taking these courses. I just wish I was getting my money's worth, that's all.
p.s- please don't tell me History should be required lol ... like me knowing about J.P Morgan and the Industrial revolution is gonna help save someone's life.
Engineers and law degree students and physicians (just as examples) have to take those 'not relevant to my degree' type classes. I would like a well-rounded person caring for me-didn't mind these classes-was a nice mind break from all of the sciences.
If you want a Bachelor's degree, then you have to take everything any other BA or BS has to take. If you want a vocational degree, go to vocational school. With nursing (unlike other professions) you still have that choice.
Is the music class going to make the engineer design a better building? No, but they take these classes to become well rounded human beings... As others have said, if you don't like it, go to a technical school and not a university.
As for colleges just wanting to make money--with some I'm sure it's true. With most though...give me a break. Good schools know they have better things to do that nickle and dime unsuspecting nursing students.
Finally, the issue of grammer and typing on this site. I know that I a poor speller and my grammer is not always perfect. A new pet peeve though--people who use "coz." Coz is not a word, nor is it even close to the word it is supposed to represent. It only has one letter in common with because! (Sorry, had to get that off my chest)
I have two degrees, one in Nursing and one in English Lit and all my humanities and social sciences transferred in. AND the classes I didn't have in my prior degree I was able to take at a community college to transfer in at a significant savings. The only courses I took to get my BSN at the school I got the degree from were the nursing core classes.
And yes, you do improve reading and writing skills in college. I went to my first degree with strong reading and writing skills for a high school student but still managed to grow and develop as a reader and writer. Not improving your existing skills in the classes you take is the individual's failure, not coming to college under-prepared.
My background in English also came in handy in nursing school- years of critiquing the written word for meaning made picking up on NCLEX style questions much less of a struggle. It helped me think critically in clinical settings, and it helped me empathize with my patients.
There is a simple answer to your question. Colleges are just businessess whose goal is to make money. You go to the college with the idea of purchasing specific education. However the college wants to make money. If you were only to purchase the product you "went to the store to buy", you would not have spent anywhere near the amount of money the college wants to make a profit. So, in order for them to increase profit, they require you to spend more money in order to get that piece of paper that states you have purchased the original product you intended to buy... Yes, it is fluff. Not that you might not enjoy the fluff, but I find it a waste.
To those thinking reading/writing skills are improved in college... well, you need to have those in check prior to college. That is the individual's shortcoming.
Anybody with multiple degrees understands this. This is why certain previous courses might not transfer to another college, or, why you are required to take a minimum of X amount of credits (even if you have another degree) at your new college in order to recieve that new piece of paper.
Remember that money is the catalyst for all actions. Follow the money as they say in all things.
While I am under no delusions that schools are not interested in making money, I disagree that their entire goal with regards to pre-reqs is to make money. I have multiple degrees, and I have rarely had an issue regarding the transfer of credits. Even when I studied independently at a foreign university (that is, not through any sort of exchange program), I had no trouble getting credit for my classes. Could it be because I went to state schools as opposed to private ones? Perhaps for profit and/or private colleges and universities are less inclined to accept transfer credits.
While I am under no delusions that schools are not interested in making money, I disagree that their entire goal with regards to pre-reqs is to make money. I have multiple degrees, and I have rarely had an issue regarding the transfer of credits. Even when I studied independently at a foreign university (that is, not through any sort of exchange program), I had no trouble getting credit for my classes. Could it be because I went to state schools as opposed to private ones? Perhaps for profit and/or private colleges and universities are less inclined to accept transfer credits.
I had no trouble with my private schools and more hassle transferring with the public schools (but was still able to transfer credits). I don't think people always realize that most private schools are not-for-profit. Schools rely on endowments and subsidies to meet operational expenses.
Just some food for thought: studies have shown that people who are involved in the arts score better on math and science testing as well. It's good for your brain to be learning new things and be challenged! My first degree was in Art History, and I remember thinking "well why the heck do I need to study Science to get an Art History degree?" It was beneficial for me to learn a different way of thinking (it sure is coming in handy now)!
Education involves more than just the knowledge of your chosen field, but the ability to communicate and interact with the community at large and see your role and the roles of those we serve.
That said, having attained academic degrees in different fields, and training in other fields, I have yet to be able to completely correlate what I was taught didactically to what I had to do to perform competently in the endeavor. That was in ALL of them, not just nursing.
I think the OP has a point of our professional training being off-the-mark, and I am participating where I can to change that. Most nursing programs are in constant flux regarding curriculum content, far more so than almost any other discipline. I agree that nursing theory can seem to be a whole bunch of time-wasting hokum when you are up to your elbows in patient secretions but, as others have noted, there is more to what we do than just the technical. And as much as you may be correct that history is probably not going to help you get that IV started, many of our current practices arose out of responses to wars, pestilence, technical upheavals and widespread disasters--i.e. historical events.
To the charge of colleges just wanting to extract the contents of your pocket, I have to disagree. Colleges must meet standards set by NLN and other accrediting bodies. In some cases, the accrediting bodies actually demand LESS time in the program and fewer ancillary classes (halting a process known as 'credit creep'.) But usually, they are enforcing a standard that demands particular academic competencies. Colleges either comply or lose accreditation. Colleges pretty much do as they are told as best they can.
Is it perfect? No. And I have had to resolve it never will be, because we are constantly trying to hit a moving target. Can we do better? Hell, yes. But it isn't just the academics who have to change...
I see the OPs point to a an extent, but I have to agree...the more education the merrier.
How about...whay type of classes/ electives should we be made to take? I needed 4 credits in an elective area and was able to take EMT-B training and the certification tests. This was the best elective evah....I still use the assessment skills to this day in my nursing practice.
Hey, maybe someday you will have a patient who is a musician and you will be able to have an intelligent conversation with him or her! Just try to look at the bright side and how you can practically use the information you are being given.
Nursing is a humanitarian service. Studying the humanities, whether in school or outside of school, is a good prerequisite for any human service profession.
... like me knowing about J.P Morgan and the Industrial revolution is gonna help save someone's life.
Otessa, BSN, RN
1,601 Posts
Engineers and law degree students and physicians (just as examples) have to take those 'not relevant to my degree' type classes. I would like a well-rounded person caring for me-didn't mind these classes-was a nice mind break from all of the sciences.