Nursing classes provide skilled training along with supervised hands on clinical experience. Those entering the field of nursing have a wonderful career ahead of them. Becoming a nurse allows everyday people to become heroes by helping others live long, healthy lives.
Nursing courses may consist of Pharmacology, Nutrition, Microbiology, Human Anatomy, Chemistry, Nursing Science, and Human Development. Course requirements vary by program so it is best to check the degree requirements for a particular school in order to get a clear picture of what is needed. Nursing students have a great deal of opportunity to look forward to after graduating from accredited nursing programs.
Online Nursing Classes Vs. Traditional Classes in Nursing School
Nursing students have so many options when it comes to receiving their nursing training. Many people struggle to decide whether online or traditional nursing courses are right for them. The answer to this question depends of what each individual is looking for in a nursing program. Here are a few basic that can help point potential nursing students in the right direction.
Traditional Nursing Classes
Traditional nursing classes offer students the opportunity to get their degree by attending classes on campus. Students get to have face to face contact with their professors and classmates. If interaction is important to the learner, traditional courses offer this opportunity. Most colleges and universities offer an abundance of nursing courses for those taking traditional classes.
The downside of traditional nursing classes is that they limit the learning. Nursing students who take traditional nursing classes are expected to attend classes at scheduled times, which may not always be convenient to them. Another downside to traditional classes is that the learner can sometimes get lost in the crowd. Some nursing courses may have hundreds of students attending so it may be easy to get overlooked.
Online Nursing Classes
Online nursing classes offer nursing student the chance to earn their degrees on their own terms. There is no need to drop everything and attend classes because online nursing courses can be taken from anywhere in the world, as long as the student owns a computer. Online nursing courses also offer a great deal of flexibility to the student. Students may also participate in advanced and accelerated courses to complete their degree in less time.
The downside to online nursing classes is that not all colleges and universities offer these classes. Those that do offer online classes usually offer a limited number of online classes. Also, contact with classmates and professors may be complicated. Online nursing courses may be more expensive than taking traditional nursing courses.
Full-time Vs. Part-time Nursing Class Load
Full Time Nursing Classes
Full-time nursing classes allow student to complete their degree quickly. A bachelors degree takes approximately 4 years to complete. Full time students can take short courses and summer courses to complete their nursing degree in less time. Those attending nursing school full time have more choices in the courses that they can take, and they are not limited by their current employment positions.
The downside to attending nursing school full time is that many students have to choose between working and attending school. Many students are going back to school, and they have to work to pay for their nursing classes.
Part Time Nursing Classes
Part time nursing classes let students get their degree over time. They have the opportunity to work a full time job and pursue their dreams of becoming nurses. Part time classes allow students a chance to take control of their learning experiences.
The downside to attending part time nursing classes is that it can take a long time to earn a nursing degree. Students may be very limited to the classes that are available when taking online nursing classes.
Nervous about Nursing School?
If you are nervous about nursing school (which almost all nursing students are), try to prepare yourself for it by doing all the research you can. One great place to start is this website. We offer hundreds of articles about nursing school and how to be successful.
Study Tips for Passing Nursing Classes
- Create a study plan. Students should decide what to study and the duration that they want to study each week. Stick with the plan as closely as possible.
- Allow time away from studying. Students should take a 10 to 15 minute break after each hour of studying. Take this time to take a walk or have a cup of coffee before going back to studying.
- Do not procrastinate. Nursing students have too much content to wait until the night before a major exam to study.
- Get a study group started. The ideal number of students for a nursing study group is 3.
- Set practical goals for studying. Nursing students must sleep, socialize, and work so make sure the goals are realistic.
- Repetition is important. Students should continue to study nursing content until the concepts are embedded in their brains.
- Get out every now and again. Studying is not productive when students get bored. Change scenery for a while until ready to resume.
Nursing students have quite a few options when it comes to earning their nursing degrees. The important thing is to have a plan and realistic goals. Online and traditional nursing programs offer students numerous opportunities to become licensed nurses.
List of Nursing Classes
The following list contains classes most nursing students will have to take in most accredited nursing schools across the U.S. You can find more information by visiting our nursing school classes section for students. Click each subject to learn more about it, and to learn how it is used in nursing:
- Anatomy and Physiology in Nursing School–Learn the basics about human anatomy and the way the human body works.
- Microbiology in Nursing School–Learn about microbiology in nursing school, and how nurses use microbiology on the job.
- Basic Food and Nutrition— Learn about Basic Food and Nutrition in nursing school, and how nurses use it on the job.
- Dosage and Calculations–Learn about Dosage and Calculation in nursing school, and a guide to help you pass.
- Medical Terminology–Learn about Medical Terminology–and how nurses use it on the job.
- Pharmacology–Learn about Pharmacology–and a guide to help you pass.
- Pathophysiology–Learn about Pathophysiology–and how nurses use it on the job.
- Maternity Nursing–Learn about Maternity Nursing–and how nurse use it on the job.
- Pediatric Nursing–Learn about Pediatric nursing–and tips on how to pass this nursing class.
- Introduction to Nursing–Learn about Introduction to Nursing–and tips on how nurse use it on the job.
- Nursing Theory & Research–Learn about Nursing Theory & Research–and how nurses use it on the job.
- Geriatric Nursing–Learn about Geriatric Nursing–and tips on how to pass this nursing class.
- Medical Surgical Nursing–Learn about Medical Surgical Nursing–and tips on how to pass this class.
- Mental Health Nursing–Learn about Mental Health Nursing–and how nurse use it on the job & tips on how to pass this class.
- Organic Chemistry–Learn about Organic Chemistry–and how to pass this nursing class.
- Biology–Learn about Biology–and how to pass this nursing class.
- Transcultural Nursing–Learn about Transcultural Nursing–and how to pass this nursing class.
- Health Assessment–Learn about Health Assessment–and how to nurse it on the job along with how to pass this nursing class.
- First Aid & Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR–Learn about First Aid & CPR.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) –Learn about Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)–Learn about Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
Thinking about going to Nursing School?
Are you contemplating going to nursing school, or are you actually in nursing school right now? Nursing school can be challenging, especially if you do not know what to expect. Here is a great guide by S. L. Page BSN, RN called “How to Pass Nursing School“. This book gives you detailed information about how to pass nursing school from beginning to end. S.L. Page, the creator of this website, complied all the information students what to know about nursing school into one easy to read guide. She gives in depth information on how to succeed in nursing school.
S.L. Page graduated from nursing school with honors and passed the NCLEX-RN on her first try. In this ebook, she reveals the strategies she used to help her succeed.
Here is what the book looks like: