Jeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Jeff Tompkins ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Written By Jeff Tompkins ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Jeff Tompkins ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Contributor Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Updated: May 2, 2023, 5:55am
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A nursing career can enable you to help others while also earning an above-average salary in a field that sees steady demand. But before you can become a nurse, you must go to nursing school.
There are two ways to become a registered nurse (RN): by earning a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or an associate degree in nursing (ADN). Before you can decide which academic path is right for you, you must know which nursing school prerequisites you’ll need to complete.
In the following article, we describe the most common nursing school prerequisites and explain why they’re important.
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Every nursing program sets its own prerequisites, so these requirements vary by school and whether you pursue an ADN vs. a BSN. Below we list some of the most common prerequisites for a BSN degree; prerequisites for an associate in nursing may not be as strict.
For more tips on nursing degrees, check out our guide on how to study for nursing school.
Anatomy and physiology relate to the structure and functions of the human body. Students can expect to study the cardiovascular, integumentary, lymphatic, reproductive and skeletal systems, among others, and how these systems work together for the body to function properly.
Students in this course learn anatomical terminology and the locations and functions of major organs. Anatomy and physiology courses require a lab component.
Prospective nurses need to understand the processes that take place inside the body at the cellular level. A chemistry prerequisite familiarizes learners with atoms, ions, molecules and biological substances and mixtures. Chemical reactions among inorganic, organic and biological substances—the underpinning of so much medicine—are another key area of study. Chemistry also commonly has a lab requirement.
Microorganisms, also known as microbes, have an extraordinary ability to adapt to and even resist medications and treatments. This is what makes microbiology, the study of microorganisms, relevant to nursing. A microbiology course usually focuses on genetics, morphology and reproduction. Students can expect to learn about biochemistry, epidemiology and infectious diseases in this course.
Microbiology’s lab component teaches the correct use of personal protective equipment and procedures that prevent contamination by microbes.
Few things affect human health like the food we eat, so a basic nutrition course is another fundamental requirement for future nurses. Areas of study include principles of nutrition and nutritional requirements as they pertain to evolving health needs (for every age group), along with food safety and the prevention of chronic illnesses.
Because reliable data is critical for achieving the best patient care, nurses must be able to interpret statistical information. A statistics course emphasizes the importance of the scientific method: gathering, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data. Students in this course learn fundamental concepts that help them locate the patterns in patients’ symptoms and vital signs, calibrate dosages of medication and assess the effectiveness of treatment.
A foundation in the subjects covered above prepares you for a BSN program’s in-depth course material. Understanding scientific concepts and methods allows you to hit the ground running as your instructors delve into more specialized bodies of knowledge.
Nursing degree programs expect you to keep up with a demanding core curriculum. Having prerequisites under your belt signals that you’ll be able to stay on top of science-based course material.
Completing prerequisite courses demonstrates that you can commit to learning subject matter that relates to nursing. This helps distinguish the truly motivated from the rest of the pack.
Mastering standard medical terminology enables you to identify human organs and anatomy and recognize specific treatments, procedures and equipment. Learning standard prefixes, suffixes and abbreviations helps make this language less intimidating to prospective nursing students.
An ADN program takes two years to complete and is the minimum amount of schooling required to become an RN. For an ADN, high school courses in biology and chemistry fulfill most standard prerequisites.
A BSN program usually involves more prerequisites than an ADN. For a BSN, general education courses taken at a four-year college or university are often sufficient. Regardless of which degree you’re interested in, check with each prospective program for exact prerequisite information.
Time limits are more of a factor for science prerequisites like chemistry, microbiology and nutrition than they are for general education prerequisites like sociology or communication. Nursing degree programs expect applicants to have current knowledge of areas that depend on findings from the latest research.
In general, you must have completed your nursing school prerequisites within five to 10 years of starting the program, though exact guidelines vary by school.
Scientific prerequisites like microbiology and statistics tend to involve a higher level of academic rigor. Your program may have prerequisites in the liberal arts or the so-called “soft sciences” (such as sociology) for which your high school and/or general undergraduate education should already have prepared you.
You must have a high school diploma or GED certificate before you can apply to a nursing degree program. From there, the prerequisites you’ll need may vary depending on whether you pursue an ADN or a BSN.
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ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in CHA Review of Books and Films, the Brooklyn Rail, the Chicago Review of Books, PopMatters, Words Without Borders, and other outlets.
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