Which pre-nursing classes did you find the most useful?

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Hello everyone!

I'm trying to figure out which classes I should take this year as a pre-nursing student. Here is my background: I have a degree in Nutrition, and have already taken some of the required pre-nursing classes. However, I'm considering re-taking a few classes if they are really important because I want the information to be fresh in my mind for when I go into nursing next year. The only class that my school told me I HAVE to re-take is anatomy and physiology. But I am wondering if I should re-take some other courses as well?

I am hoping some of you can give me some advice about which pre-nursing classes are the most important ones to take. Which of the following pre-nursing classes did you find very useful once you got in the nursing program, and were actually working as a nurse?

Anatomy and Physiology (I'm definitely re-taking this class)

Microbiology (I'm considering re-taking this class, because it's been 7 years since I took it)

Chemistry (I already have 3 chemistry credits so I don't feel the need to re-take this)

English (I haven't taken college English, but am wondering if I should?)

Math for health sciences (I have only taken statistics, and am not sure if I should take algebra or another math)

Communications (I took this class 5 years ago, so I don't think I will re-take it)

Thanks so much for your help!

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DEF anatomy and physiology.. 1 & 2. Biology and Microbiology. Chem..eh maybe but not as important as first 3. And if you can take a Math for Meds course then DO IT!

And a lifespan class.. child development, something of the sort!

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patho

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math for meds hands down.

I wouldn't retake anything else. although I did because they were easy A's at my "nursing" school and I had c's at my division I university.

trust me. You can make it without retaking anything else.

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Thanks so much for the advice! I was really on the fence about math and now I think I will take it. I'm also signed up for anatomy and physiology and a lifespan development class.

Still not sure if I should re-take microbiology. It's been so long since I last took it that I'm worried I forgot important things.

I hadn't considered taking pathology since it's not on my school's list of required pre-requisites. My school does offer a pathophysiology class though, do you think this would be really useful?

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I found Microbiology to be most helpful for understanding Patho, so I would encourage you to retake that. Taking Micro along with A&P will refresh your basic bio and chem skills, so I wouldn't worry too much about taking those. I hadn't had math since high school and I do fine with nursing math. We have this book called Calculate with Confidence that we had to review and then pass a math for meds test. It's basic algebra, solving for "x", ratios, that kind of thing, memorizing conversions. I would recommend getting a book, going through that and then seeing if you feel like you need a class to review. If you haven't had college level English that would be helpful as well, there are always a few papers each semester and it helps to be comfortable with college level writing.

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I hadn't considered taking pathology since it's not on my school's list of required pre-requisites. My school does offer a pathophysiology class though, do you think this would be really useful?

You need a good understanding of Patho(physiology) to do well in nursing school. However, find out what you will be taking in the first semester/year. We took Development and Patho in the first semester, so unless you want to do it again the first semester of nursing school it might be good to hold off (or take them now and see if you can place out).

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A&P for sure!

My other prereqs (psych, soc and English) haven't been at all useful (at least not yet -- but I'm only just finishing my 3rd week of my first semester)...

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Hello everyone!

I'm trying to figure out which classes I should take this year as a pre-nursing student. Here is my background: I have a degree in Nutrition, and have already taken some of the required pre-nursing classes. However, I'm considering re-taking a few classes if they are really important because I want the information to be fresh in my mind for when I go into nursing next year. The only class that my school told me I HAVE to re-take is anatomy and physiology. But I am wondering if I should re-take some other courses as well?

I am hoping some of you can give me some advice about which pre-nursing classes are the most important ones to take. Which of the following pre-nursing classes did you find very useful once you got in the nursing program, and were actually working as a nurse?

Anatomy and Physiology (I'm definitely re-taking this class)

Microbiology (I'm considering re-taking this class, because it's been 7 years since I took it)

Chemistry (I already have 3 chemistry credits so I don't feel the need to re-take this)

English (I haven't taken college English, but am wondering if I should?)

Math for health sciences (I have only taken statistics, and am not sure if I should take algebra or another math)

Communications (I took this class 5 years ago, so I don't think I will re-take it)

Thanks so much for your help!

If I could do the whole "if I knew than what I know now" thing. I would have really tried harder in A&P. It came back TONS so far in nursing school and I feel so dumb and think to myself a lot, "did we ever learn about the heart" or whatever topic. I know we did, but that time was such a blur to me and I was just trying to get through it, it was a bad time at home too. Having a really good understanding on it would have been really beneficial for the pharm and med/surg class.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
A&P for sure!

My other prereqs (psych, soc and English) haven't been at all useful (at least not yet -- but I'm only just finishing my 3rd week of my first semester)...

English is good for all the paper writing in APA format there will be and Psych will come back when you talk about the theorists in Peds, and when you take Psych nursing.

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English is good for all the paper writing in APA format there will be and Psych will come back when you talk about the theorists in Peds, and when you take Psych nursing.

I actually legitimately learned nothing in my English class, and all writing was MLA not APA format. It was a wasted class if you ask me since it wasn't any different than my high school English classes.

Peds and psych nursing are so far off that I'm not so sure how much intro psych will help...especially since I'm taking developmental psych right now which actually might pertain to nursing.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I actually legitimately learned nothing in my English class, and all writing was MLA not APA format. It was a wasted class if you ask me since it wasn't any different than my high school English classes.

Peds and psych nursing are so far off that I'm not so sure how much intro psych will help...especially since I'm taking developmental psych right now which actually might pertain to nursing.

Oh see we had to do the APA in my English class. I still suck at it though and suck at grammar and spelling. I have no Idea how I got an A in the class. It's the developmental psych that will come back more in Peds. and it does come back. I took my Psych and Lifespan psych like 4.5 years before I needed it in nursing school but it still came back. I believe the English is a requirement of getting any degree though. The basic like English 101 course.

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