Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, statistics and a focus on evidence-based practice are all part of a nursing education curriculum. Nursing schools often spread science and general coursework over the first two years of a four-year program; clinical rotations occupy the final two years.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that nursing schools have begun to teach students how to apply modern technology to health information management and patient care. Courses about the latest medical equipment now also include sessions on medical decision support tools, electronic medical records and electronic prescribing and dispensing systems.
Regulatory and payer organizations directly affect the professional practice of nursing, and it is critical for nursing students to understand particular health policy issues. Health care financing, economics, the legislative process and state and federal policy trends are topics that nurses will study in school.
Nurses need to understand disease process, health promotion and disease prevention, including the role of immunizations, screenings and health counseling. Nursing schools sometimes offer coursework and clinical rotations in community health nursing to underscore these important lessons.
Effective communication and collaboration are essential to the efficient delivery of quality health care, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nursing schools teach negotiation, collaboration and conflict resolution through clinical rotations and real-life, hands-on experience as part of a patient-care team.