Nursing programs have a variety of prerequisites.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job growth for registered nurses will increase much faster than the average for all professions over the next 10 years and beyond. However, admission into RN programs remains competitive, and most programs have prerequisites for admission and graduation. Prerequisites might include academic and clinical requirements as well as passing various background checks.
Background Checks
Many nursing programs require certain types of background checks before applying to the program. The Colorado Community College Nursing Program requires an FBI fingerprint record check to determine eligibility of application to the RN program. After the college accepts the application, it then conducts a criminal background check and drug use screen. The student might need to pay for the drug screening out of pocket, and the nursing program might require that the screening be conducted by a specified laboratory. In addition, any facility at which clinical rotations are performed during the RN educational program might also conduct its own background check of the student. In some cases, the nursing student must arrange for the background check; in others, the facility makes the arrangements .
General Courses
Most RN programs have prerequisites for general education classes at the college level. Some RN programs, such as that at Simmons College, allow students to take general education prerequisites online. General education course prerequisites might include English, psychology, nutrition, statistics, health assessment, anthropology, sociology and mathematics (Wayne State University). Some RN programs such as the Colorado Community College Nursing Program stipulate that the prerequisites be completed within seven years of entrance into the RN program. In addition, nursing programs might enforce a minimum grade point average for any or all prerequisite coursework. For students who speak English as a second language, RN programs such as that at New York University require an Internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language); a minimum score of 101 total is required as a prerequisite to program admission. RN programs that lead to a bachelor's degree often include courses on leadership, teamwork, human resources, management, communication and critical thinking as part of the program's requirement.
Clinical and Laboratory
Prerequisites for RN programs usually include science courses with laboratory components. Anatomy and physiology courses with laboratory are prerequisites for most RN programs; some programs require multiple anatomy and physiology lecture and lab classes. In addition, microbiology lecture and lab as well as general biology courses with both lecture and laboratory components are often prerequisites to RN programs. Also included in some program prerequisites are organic and inorganic chemistry with lab; some RN programs might require one to two semesters of each. RN programs leading to a bachelor's degree might also include supervised clinical experience as a prerequisite to the program and for graduation. This experience might include required rotations through nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, ambulatory clinics and hospital departments, including pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity and surgery.
Tags: background check, courses with, might include, programs have, programs such, bachelor degree, background checks