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)
I found chemistry to be very helpful. It made me one with dimensional analysis.
I transferred second semester to a different nursing program. They wouldn't take my chem credit (from years ago), and made me redo it over the summer. I probably wouldn't have been so frustrated about it had I known it was going to benefit me so much with dosage and calc exams.
As for electives, see if your school offers a Medical Terminology class. That really helped me. Some other electives I took include Death & Dying, Study of Disease Processes (a pathophysiology class for non-nursing majors...it really helped with learning signs and symptoms and everything) and Basic Pharmacology (pharm class for non-nursing majors...there are a TON of drugs but it gave me a nice introduction to them).
Consider teaching supplemental instruction at your college. You'll be helping other students while getting super refreshed in whatever course it is. You prepare for your class and also sit in on instruction. Furthermore, you don't worry about retaking a class you don't need for a grade. I taught SI in phys and highly recommend it. I was amazed at how much I had forgotten.
I'd recommend retaking anatomy and physiology, as well as microbiology for sure. My school requires two seperate English/writing credits, as well as a communications class, but not chemistry, although I find that the unit conversions are helping with medications. However, we're also required to take a "Dosage Calculations" class...
Oh, and I almost forgot, we had to take a CNA class to learn basic assessment techniques (B/P, pulse, respirations, etc.) and patient care (bed bath, transfering patients, etc.).
Over all, I'd say that the CNA class, microbiology, and the dosage calculations class has helped the most, so far.
Most important - Anatomy and Physiology. If you're going to be a nurse, you can never know too much about A&P.
Second most important - Microbiology. Also something you can never know too much about, but it won't have an effect on absolutely everything you do the way A&P will.
Third - Nutrition. Every process of the body is affected by the quality of nutrition the person is receiving - something you would obviously know already
Fourth - Psychology (both general and life span). Gives you some fundamentals of how the mind works. As a nurse, you need to be able to empathize with other people, and you need to understand why people behave they way they do. You have to recognize anxiety, stress, depression, etc. and you have to be able to communicate well. Psych classes give you a good foundation on which to build those skills.
Fifth - College Algebra, but Statistics is probably OK. It really helps if you're good at math. Dosage calculations are a bear, but it's for good reason - if you screw them up, you can kill people.
As for your list - You've already taken Chemistry. While helpful in some areas, it's not going to be something you're thinking about on a daily basis. I wouldn't bother retaking it.
You've got a degree in Nutrition, so no need to take that.
The math - if you are someone who is good at math, and catches on to math concepts quickly, then I wouldn't bother. Just look on the internet or in old used textbooks and study a bit on your own to refresh your memory. If you struggle with math, then go ahead and retake a math course. The last thing you want to worry about in your first semester of nursing school is reviewing math.
English is generally a required prerequisite for nearly all majors in every college I've ever looked into. I'm surprised you never had to take it.
I think English is worthwhile, but only if you go through the sequence, because the helpful class will be Technical Communications or Research Writing (the name varies). This is typically the third course in the sequence. English 1101 is usually basic composition, and 1102 usually focuses on literature. The Technical/Research Writing switches over to APA format and all of that.
That won't be overly helpful in an ASN program, but may be of great use in a BSN or MSN program. It may even be required in a BSN or MSN program.
Well, I can tell you what pre req class I wish I had paid more attention to because it came up over and over again in nursing school, clinicals, NCLEX reviews, the class was Developmental Psych. I did not realize the importance of this class until it was too late. I made a "C" but if only I had known how important this class was I would have paid more attention. Everything in nursing had to do with certain stages in dev. psych. From newborn, peds, psych, senior citizens, cultures, death and grieving process and on and on. Really, it is very important to have a heads up on all these things before you start actual nursing. I did pass everything but I could have made my life so much easier! Even if this particular class is not on your cirriculum I would advise you take it. God Bless!
Here's another "If I could do it all over again." It's funny that you said your degree was in nutrition, because that is one class I would retake. I am sure the prereq's have changed in 25 years, but I would also retake lifespan development, pharmacology, and microbiology. Those may not help so much in nursing school, but will definately be help when you get out in the real world.
Honestly (and this is only after four weeks of nursing classes) I've found Micro to be even more helpful than A&P. We've spent a lot of time covering sepsis and infection control procedures, and those are all topics that we covered in Micro. Plus I loved Micro. :)
I'm sure A&P will become more important once I start my Med/Surg class in a couple weeks.
I learned absolutely nothing in Micro. Unfortunately, my professor only wanted to teach basic chemistry and the Krepps (?) cycle. I had nothing regarding infections, sepsis etc. I was so disappointed.
The classes that I found most useful in the long run were: anatomy and phys (I had 2 separate classes I and II), micro, math for health (which comes in-handy when you're calculating IV drips and titration..!! Just any algebra class won't teach you that..!), medical terminology (very useful when u have no idea what the disease/pocedure/etc is but at least you can translate its name and you get a slight idea what they are talking about :)), nutrition, psychology (comes in handy in the psych clinical rotation!), and english (handy when u have to write papers/essays which we had plenty of!). Thats about it....I also took a Child development class, and that was pretty useful as well! Good luck and GOD bless!
Anatomy and Physiology -- retake b/c the school requires it
Microbiology -- I'd retake that one because MRSA and other superbugs change the picture, somewhat. I used a lot of Microbiology on those RN pre-entrance exams, too.
Chemistry -- No need to retake. The textbooks for later classes include refreshers of most of what you'd need to know. If not, just look it up online or in a textbook in the library. There are faster ways to learn dimensional analysis a.k.a. the factor label method without sitting through a semester of chem again.
English - All 4-year and most 2-year college degrees I have seen in the USA require one if not two English classes. So, how did you get a nutrition degree without any? They are usually in the first two semesters for freshmen. CLEP out is an option for at least one of them.
Communications -- That is the English II, so maybe you also have English I?? No retake.
Math for health sciences -- Maybe take that one, since it is for health sci. A college algebra class would be pretty worthless, imo, and not significantly different from algebra I & II that a good high school offers for the college prep track.
General Biology -- Skip unless it's required. If you can do A&P, you can pick up enough gen biol to answer the questions on the pre-entrance exams.
Pharma intro and /or med terms -- Those would be useful but may not actually be included in the degree requirements.
These are the usual college courses that seem to be in all nursing programs:
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Microbiology (might be General, or might be a special nursing-oriented one, so check what's accepted by your program.)
Nutrition (you might need one that makes you do diet plans - definitely check what your nursing program accepts or requires)
English I -- College Composition I
Psych -- Introduction to Psychology
Psych -- Human Growth & Development
CPR for Health Care Providers and possibly including a customized First Aid training
Chemistry - One semester for most diploma programs and degrees. You need it for BSRN. So take it anyway.
Very likely for a college degree AD or BS RN program and maybe for a diploma RN:
Chemistry -- May need more than one semester. Might need organic, too. Check with the school.
College Algebra -- Will never hurt you. You need algebra for pharm calcs. Health care specific math would be better, imo. Check the school's requirements.
CompSci 101 -- usually general computer use course for using Microsoft Office suite
English II -- Business and Professional Speaking
phys ed -- at least one semester
Soc 101 -- Principles of Sociology
Sometimes:
Psych -- Abnormal Psych (You need it for BSRN anyway)
Ethics (usually a philosophy course)
Strategies for Academic Success / College Study Skills (a freshman level "study habits" class)
Those are general requirements that I found most schools require. Your mileage may vary, hehe, so do your own research for the particular school(s) you are interested in. But if you know that your goal is BSRN or higher, cram as much of that gen ed and science as you can into your pre-work as a full time student will cut costs. Having it under your belt will definitely make the PAX and HESI preadmission tests a piece of cake. And it will free you later on to devote all of your time to the nursing core.
With any degree program, make sure that you take courses that are accepted for the degree. Larger schools might have 20 flavors of chemistry, and only two of them are accepted for the RN degree. Watch out for that. Advisors should help, but there's a tendency for students to map out their own degrees nowadays. Read the college catalog.
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SingDanceRunLife
952 Posts
Yeah...my English was just like high school English, MLA and all.
My developmental psych class is a coreq not a prereq, so I can't count it as being a helpful prereq since I'm taking it now during NS.