Why is there a 7 year limit on prerequisites for nursing?

[mdwatkins13]

Had a hopefully easy question but wanted a full answer, I have taken ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, and MICROBIOLOGY at CALSTATE LA around 10-12 years ago, I have been a EMT for the last 10 years in the hospital system. Wanted to know why some schools but not all require PREREQUISITES to be within 7 years? My GPA is 3.8 in the classes and there at a university, i find it unethical that a college would place these barriers on nursing for no apparent reason or benefit. Seems more like a money hungry move since not all schools are doing this. Also there is no other degree or field of study, like ENGINEERING, where this requirement is being made. Could someone please justify this or give me a answer they think the schools would give? Also what legal ramifications do i have to fight this?

[Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think you'll find most degrees that are related to medical care will have limitations on how long ago you took pre-reqs. Why? Because that information forms the foundation for the nursing classes you are about to embark on. Additionally, they want you to succeed, and if you haven't studied bio in 10+ years, that's going to be a struggle.

Case in point: I took my bio classes 5 years prior to acceptance. I was a straight A student, and boy oh boy did I come down to earth with a bump. I really struggled to recall the basic stuff, and I had to go back and reteach myself. I regret not retaking it closer to going into the nursing program - for both myself AND my future patients.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion, but the way you wrote your posts is pretty aggressive and angry. You'll really struggle in nursing school with that attitude and sense of entitlement.

[Vquest5, BSN, MSN, RN]

The sad reality assessed and documented at the CC program where I work is that significant prerequisite course knowledge is lost to program applicants over time. The effect translates into students struggling in nursing courses and in program failures. There is a massive amount of pathophysiology involved in understanding the correct application of nursing diagnoses, development of care plans, and delivering nursing care. Nursing faculty, course durations, and course credit limits simply cannot include adequate time to integrate refresher sessions for prerequisite anatomy and physiology knowledge. It is the student’s responsibility to enter a nursing program prepared to learn nursing concepts. There are state boards of nursing that specify nursing education requirements, including course completions in the degree program overall, written into that state’s laws. Without those credits in the degree, a new graduate may not be able to establish eligibility for licensure.

As you may have retained significant A&P knowledge through your experiences as an EMT, if your program is at the associate degree level, you may be able to challenge the requirement by successfully taking the A&P course final exams or a college level proficiency exam. BSN programs are often less receptive to such challenges, but there are exceptions. Don’t be discouraged if the nursing program permits the challenge but requires the equivalent of a “B” grade rather than a minimal pass to waive the requirement. If you can genuinely demonstrate the knowledge required, attempt the challenge. If not, accept that the requirement is important and retake the course(s). You’ll find you’ll be better prepared and will save study-time and reduce personal stress while studying nursing.

[ShouldIBeNurse]

I can say there are plenty of other degree programs. where there is a 7 year limitation to courses. Really pissed me off when I went back to school after 15 years because I wanted to refresh my skills, and had to retake (at $4000 a class) things that I had been using at work and didn't learn anything new.

On 8/3/2019 at 11:33 PM, mdwatkins13 said:

Also there is no other degree or field of study, like ENGINEERING, where this requirement is being made.

Nope, I know engineering/technical schools with a 7 year requirement.

[Aspirational Beauty, CNA, LPN]

I was googling this exact thing and was directed to this thread. Read the whole thing. As an LPN this has been a challenge for me as well. As a practicing LPN I honestly do not see the need to repeat these classes w/maybe the exception of micro as someone made valid points in regard to this class. I also understand the need to refresh especially for those that this is their first time in the healthcare clinical setting. As OP is an EMT he probably shouldn't have to retake the courses. Unfortunately this is the situation. I hope OP tried to challenge some of the classes as I will definitely be doing the same.