Classes to Take Before Nursing School: How Can I Prepare for My ADN?
From the moment you start high school, your teachers, friends, and parents will repeatedly talk about college. One of the fields that have become popular among students is in the vast medical field, particularly the nursing profession. Nurses have been around since Florence Nightingale created the profession in the 1800s in Italy, and nurses are not going away any time soon.
If you're a caring person who loves to care for those who cannot care for themselves, nursing may be a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for you. One of the greatest appeals of the nursing profession is the ability to earn a lower-level degree and get to work, returning for a more advanced degree later. The first degree many nurses consider earning is the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
Classes You Should Take Before Nursing School
You may not know this, but preparing for the rest of your life starts right in high school. For instance, nurses use algebra to calculate medication dosages. What you learn in high school will build a solid foundation for your future, no matter what you decide to do. If you're determined to be a nurse, it's never too soon to start taking classes that can help build up your medical knowledge.
Biology
If you plan to enter a nursing degree program directly after high school, some programs will require you to take a laboratory science course for two years before you can get started with your degree. One of the main focus areas of a typical nursing class is biology, and it’s a prerequisite for most nursing degree programs.
High school biology classes should introduce you to cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, evolution and genetics, and animal physiology. You could also take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with laboratory equipment, which can prepare you with the essential skills and knowledge on how to handle lab samples.
Mathematics
Nursing programs require students to take basic and advanced mathematics such as algebra and statistics. Algebra is essential for a bachelor's or associate degree in nursing. You can prepare by taking algebra classes that will cover subjects such as inequalities, quadratic equations, logarithmic and exponential functions, graphing, and systems of equations. These subjects can prepare you for nursing classes where research and analysis are an essential part of the coursework.
Chemistry
Chemistry is another important nursing course requirement that you can prepare for in high school. A typical nursing curriculum has a number of courses in both pharmacology and biochemistry. You can get ahead while still in high school by taking chemistry classes that will introduce you to the balancing of equations, organic and inorganic chemistry, and the general principles of chemical reactions. Additionally, the high school chemistry course will introduce you to laboratory components and how to handle chemicals safely.
How High School Classes Can Benefit you Later
Apart from academics, high school will also prepare you for the challenging college life. Here are three benefits of your high school education to your college life.
Challenging coursework: High school education can help you develop a strong work ethic. You can learn how to think critically and how to integrate information. Take the hard classes that push you. The rigorous coursework in chemistry, mathematics, and biology can give you a preview of what you will encounter in college.
Facing these challenges will be easier as a high school student. Later in life you will also face challenges but the stakes will be higher, and you'll be glad you developed persistence and tenacity at a young age.
Classes that equip you with the right skills: Some high school classes can introduce you to valuable life skills. For instance, refine your writing skills now. Writing clearly is necessary for nearly all fields, including nursing. Understanding information is one thing; communicating that knowledge quickly and clearly is an entirely different thing.
Developing a good relationship with your instructors: A typical high school classroom has about 30 students. However, when you go to college, the lecture halls can hold hundreds of students and with such a crowd, it may be difficult to create a good relationship with your instructors. Developing a good relationship with your high school teachers will be beneficial when you join college. How you communicate with your professors and how you attend their office hours can either make or break your grade.
Why High School Students Choose to Pursue an ADN Degree
Although there are several ways to become a registered nurse (RN), most high school students choose to earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) due to its numerous benefits including:
- Takes less than 2 years of coursework to become a practicing nurse
- With an ADN you can pursue a BSN through an accelerated program in the future
While not every high school experience will directly affect your college transition, it’s still an important part of your academic and personal growth.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? If you want to earn an Associate Degree of Nursing, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information about this exciting program, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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