Preparing to Enter Nursing School



Return to:Becoming a Nurse

Nursing student Some schools are, especially degree programs, all inclusive. By that, I mean they teach you everything you need to know in order to take your licensing exam. But most schools will require you to complete certain prerequisites before starting the program. These include your normal general education classes such as math and writing, and also some sciences. The school may require you to pass anatomy and physiology with a certain grade or higher before starting or even applying for the nursing program.

While taking these classes, keep in mind which classes will be most important later on. For example, it is more important to get an “A” and have a complete understanding of anatomy and physiology than it is to ace Western Civilization? Shouldn't your nursing classes build on your understanding of the human body, not translating the works of Shakespeare?

Common Nursing School Prerequisites

  • Biology Micro

  • Anatomy and Physiology

  • Chemistry

  • Writing

  • Algebra

  • Pathophysiolgy

  • General Education

There are often Co-Requisites These are classes that are not core nursing classes, but needed for graduation. It is best to get as many of these done as possible before starting nursing classes.

Here is a list of nursing prerequisites from a two year nursing program: PCC Nursing prerequisites full nursing course list

The prerequisites for a direct bsn: University of Arizona Prerequisites

While taking your prerequisites, it is the best time to start learning medical terminology. Doing so will make the massive amounts of reading that lie ahead in nursing school a lot faster and more productive. You may also want to subscribe to a nursing journal. I personally subscribe to Nursing Made Incredibly Easy.

Before Starting Nursing School

If you have not yet worked in a hospital, do not wait for clinicals to start. Apply for a job as a CNA or PCT (Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician) or whatever they are called in your area. Many hospitals and nursing homes will pay you for the training! There is several reasons for doing this. You may hate working as a nurse and it is best to find this out before you waste your time and money at nursing school. It will also give you a huge advantage when you start school. You will have experienced many of the things talked about in lecture. Working at a hospital now will make you a better nurse. Nurses that have work their way up from butt-wiper (CNA, PCT) have a better skill set and understanding than nurses who have never worked in the hospital before. Many hospitals will also pay for their CNAs and PCTs to become nurses. My hospital gave me a $5,000 stipend to attend nursing school.

Get you life in order before nursing school

It is never a good time to get divorced but in the middle of nursing school is probably the worst. You also need to have a reliable transportation, but not a huge car payment.

  • Have you finances in order/ create a budget see Money and College

  • Take your vacation before or after nursing school

  • Pay down credit card dept

  • Do not get pregnant

  • Don't buy anything with a payment

  • Be in a stable relationship or none at all

  • Have reliable transportation

  • Have a stable and calm place to live

  • Have friends you can count on

Return to: College Tips--Becoming a Nurse