As you progress in your program, you will be required to complete nursing-specific courses in preparation for your career. The names and course descriptions of these classes will vary. These courses are designed to teach anatomy, disease pathology, clinical research, health assessment and nursing theory. The sequence of these classes will vary and some of these classes may have prerequisite classes before they can be completed.
Clinical practicum classes are performed in the hospital setting, usually under the supervision of a licensed instructor. This portion of training is made possible through agreements made between the school and the hospital. These courses are provided to allow nursing students the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom and to practice in a real-life environment. The time frame for clinical practicum will vary based on your school; those obtaining an associate degree will be introduced to clinical classes sooner in their degree program as they will have less time in school.
Laboratory hours in your nursing program will be performed at the school and will allow students the opportunity to practice procedures learned in class on practice mannequins. The mannequins are designed to respond to the procedures performed on them to ensure that students perform the procedures properly. These classes are usually one part of a classroom and laboratory class requirement.
Pharmacology classes will teach you medications, dosing and medical calculations. Pharmacology may be taught in a single class or in a group of classes depending on the program. While the training will not teach the student every drug on the market, it will give an introduction to common drugs and teach the meaning of the Latin roots of generic names of drugs. The classes will also teach about how the body and illnesses react to drugs. Pharmacology may be scheduled after completion of mathematics classes as the courses will require an understanding of basic college algebra.