What courses do I have to take to be a nurse?

Information on What Courses to Take to Become a Nurse

• Answer:

  Registered nurses make up the largest number of workers in the health care industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To enter the field, prospective candidates must have a high school diploma. Depending on the program, some nursing schools may require applicants to take the National League for Nursing, pre-admission exam. Nurses can earn their diploma by completing a two- to three-year hospital-based nurse training program. Prospective students who wish to obtain advanced degrees in nursing should enroll in a bachelor's or master's degree program. Professional Degree Courses Nursing students enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program must take foundational courses in nursing. Students take courses in physical assessment, pharmacology and independent study in nursing. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a physical assessment course learn how to examine patients and record their findings. The coursework includes hands-on supervised training, observations, class lecture and discussions as well as independent study in specialized nursing fields. Students enrolled in professional degree courses may be required to take prerequisite subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. Intermediate Courses Nursing students who complete their foundational training take intermediate courses and conduct laboratory and clinical studies to learn the practical applications of their theoretical training. Intermediate course highlights include the science of nursing practice, case management and issues of nursing practice. Students learn basic concepts in nursing science such as taxonomy, philosophies of caring, nursing room process and evidence-based care. Students apply concepts from biology, epidemiology, behavioral science and physical science. The courses are designed to prepare nurses for medical and surgical nursing care. Graduate Courses Nursing students who are enrolled in a master's program take specialized courses in fields like physiology, pharmacology, anesthetics and pediatrics. Students enrolled in advanced physiology courses learn the major organ systems of the body. The course is designed to prepare students for advanced studies in pathophysiology. Graduate nursing students must be able to assimilate significant amounts of information with accuracy. Students must also be able to interpret physiological data and the interactions between the major organ systems of the body. Advanced and Doctoral Courses Doctoral candidates in nursing develop advanced nursing skills that are used in research and teaching. Topics in a doctoral nursing program include the social and intellectual foundations of nursing, introduction to biostatistics, analysis and evaluation of health policy and statistical methods and data. Students learn basic skills for data collection, analysis and presentation that is applicable to all areas of public health. Research methods courses cover topics such as the general principles of study design, probability and hypothesis testing.