Nursing degree courses vary from one program to the next. The basic courses that you may have to take as a nursing degree student are biological sciences, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, critical care nursing, adult, pediatric and geriatric care, environmental and occupational health, home health care, human growth and development, fundamentals of practice in nursing, maternal/child and neonatal care, medical and surgical care, microbiology, nursing leadership, nutrition, physical assessment, pharmacology, psychology, sociology and statistics.
The list of courses mentioned above are an example of the courses that an online nursing program may need you to complete. Since the nursing career has a wide scope subject, the courses that are offered are diverse enough for professional nurses to navigate to the role of administrator or educator and as well as other branches of nursing.
Non-nursing courses can also be taken online to help complete the prerequisites of an online nursing degree program. Taking online courses for these subjects allow applicants to fulfill more requirements prior to entering the nursing program which is beneficial in reducing the amount of extra courses to be taken during the program.
With distance learning or online format for a nursing degree, there is a lack of courses offered for science laboratory. Applicants may need to enquire more on the availability of such courses. If it is not possible, it is wise to take science laboratory courses in person. There are a few programs online that offer science lab courses using online labs and home lab kits, but make sure that the online nursing programs are recognized.
Nursing degree courses depend on the level of your degree and can also be selected based on your desired field of specialization. Specialization in some fields that have less competition can give you the edge and increase your demand as a nurse. By choosing courses that can help to cross-train you while you earn your nursing degree will ensure the advancements in your career and land promotions. Courses for specialization that you can consider are behavioral health, critical care, developmental disabilities, oncology, trauma, and many more.
Find out in details about the list of courses that are offered for your online nursing degree program to make sure that they are in line with the career goal you have in mind in the nursing field. Most importantly is to check out the facilities and study materials provided for the whole course.