[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”em”]In our [hen-ui-link href=”/ask-a-nurse/”]Ask a Nurse[/hen-ui-link] series, experienced nurses provide an insider look at the nursing profession by answering your questions about nursing careers, degrees, and resources.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-xl”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Question:[/hen-ui-text] What are some of the hardest classes students take in nursing school?[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Answer:[/hen-ui-text] Many nursing students pursue a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]bachelor of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (BSN), which takes full-time students around [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/four-year-bsn-degree/”]four years to complete[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With science courses, laboratory requirements, and supervised clinical rotations, earning a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/degree-requirements/”]BSN degree[/hen-ui-link] can seem daunting. Many students struggle with the difficult coursework, such as advanced scientific concepts.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We asked nursing professionals to offer tips and weigh in on what they consider some of the most challenging classes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Nursing Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Hardest Prerequisite Courses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Prerequisite courses lay the foundation for more advanced topics in nursing students’ education. However, “prerequisite” does not necessarily mean “easy.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Every nursing program requires students to complete the two courses below. These courses cover complex scientific concepts aspiring nurses need to know before covering illnesses, prescription drugs, and other nursing-specific topics. In fact, these courses may determine if nursing majors can handle the more challenging courses later on.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Anatomy and Physiology (1&2): [/hen-ui-text]You may have taken an anatomy and physiology class in high school, but nursing professors expect students to learn about human anatomy on an advanced level. The curriculum covers topics like the skeletal, muscular, neurological, and cardiovascular systems, among other anatomical systems of the human body. This course very often comes with a lab component. Students use the scientific method to carry out lab work, which might involve dissecting an animal or observing tissues with a microscope.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Organic Chemistry: [/hen-ui-text]Organic chemistry covers the natural processes that occur in carbon-carrying compounds. Students may learn about the effects of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and drugs on the human body. Like anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry often requires a lab component.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Hardest Nursing School Classes[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Once students pass their prerequisite classes, they begin advanced coursework that requires them to recall material from previous courses in anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This coursework often involves substantial memorization and writing. Below are some of the hardest nursing school classes, according to nurses we spoke with.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Pathophysiology: [/hen-ui-text]In this course, students learn how different anatomical systems work and how diseases or injuries affect these systems.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”In practice, this directly relates not only to a patient’s medical condition, but also the medications your patient needs and how different illnesses will affect their overall health in relation to their comorbidities,” says Alaina Ross, an RN and expert contributor to Test Prep Insight.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Pharmacology: [/hen-ui-text]Pharmacology, or the study of medication, can seem scary because of the sheer scope of the course. “It becomes one of the hardest classes for nursing students due to the depth and amount of knowledge needed,” says Megan Lynch, RN and instructor at Pima Community College.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lynch notes that pharmacology is one of the most difficult classes for nursing students, but is essential to patient care.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to the FDA, there are over [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-basics/fact-sheet-fda-glance” target=”_blank”]20,000 prescription drug[/hen-ui-link] products approved for marketing. The CDC reports that [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-therapeutic.htm” target=”_blank”]48.6% of people[/hen-ui-link] took at least one prescription medication in the last 30 days and 24% took three or more.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Students need to know the trade and generic names of medications, along with their classifications, reasons for use, and common side effects.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Pharmacology goes beyond simply memorizing drug names, and forces learners to think critically about the drug and how it works within the patient,” Lynch explains.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This is a core class that builds on the student’s fundamental knowledge of nursing practice. No matter what specialty the student practices, they need this knowledge of pharmacology.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Medical Surgical 1 (also known as Adult Health 1): [/hen-ui-text]This course covers common disorders or other health problems in adults. Learners need a foundational understanding of certain anatomical concepts.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”This course is considered difficult because it is the first course where students must combine what they have learned in chunks in previous courses, and put it all together as they apply it to a disease process,” says Nicole Beaver, RN and instructor at Hunt School of Nursing at Gardner-Webb University.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Beaver offered several tips. Foremost is preparation. Students should compare the information in the book against the lecture slides. Pre-lecture questions from the instructor can help focus a student’s reading and study.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If the instructor does not offer pre-lecture questions, consider asking someone who already passed the class for their insights. Using a game platform to help with studying and learning may also be helpful.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Answering practice questions in Kaplan and learning how to use Kaplan as a resource has also been helpful to most of my students, once they see that Kaplan is a necessary resource,” Beaver said.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Evidence-Based Practice: [/hen-ui-text]This course “involves taking a deep look at interdisciplinary healthcare research to establish a position on best-practice standards,” explains Laura Fero, Dean of Nursing at St. Catherine University.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”The [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/reasons-to-choose-a-career-in-nursing//”]nursing profession[/hen-ui-link] is based on science and new evidence is continuously being published,” Fero says. “This class offers the student the ability to analyze this to determine how best to treat patients.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The course often involves a substantive amount of reading, and students need to write both scientifically and concisely on assignments. Because of these requirements, some learners find this course exceptionally demanding.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Fero offers several tips for students to be successful in this class. Nursing requires students to be inquisitive and willing to adapt, as does learning and incorporating the content from this class into their critical thinking.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Students have to be motivated to search, read, synthesize, and apply their new knowledge. It may feel overwhelming at times, but trust what you have learned and be confident in holding the best standards of care for those you serve,” Fero said.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Technology can be overwhelming for some, and treatment modalities are constantly evolving. Students must be willing to grow in school and throughout their careers. What students learn in this course will help make them better practitioners.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Be willing to ask questions and show your vulnerability. It is the key to a bright and powerful role as a professional,” Fero adds.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Tips on Acing Nursing School’s Hardest Classes[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These classes may seem intimidating at first, but learners can earn a passing grade with the proper study tools and methods.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Break it down[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pace yourself rather than trying to learn everything at once — especially with classes requiring a high level of memorization. Instead, break down material into chunks.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”No one can learn 100 drugs in two days,” Lynch says. “But they can learn 10 drugs a day for two weeks.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Look at your syllabus and physically break down the curriculum into daily sections. Focus on one bite-sized section each day while reviewing material from previous days.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Make flashcards[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Make lots and lots of flashcards and memorize the heck out of the different bodily systems and their processes,” Ross says about pathophysiology, although her advice applies to all classes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Flashcards help you remember concepts when you study, and writing out definitions can aid in memorization. Additionally, using flashcards allows you to study with your classmates.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Learn prefixes and suffixes[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Many medical words — from anatomy to medicines — come from Latin, meaning words with similar definitions often share the same prefixes. This knowledge helps learners when memorizing prescription drugs in a pharmacology class.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”You can chunk together many classes of drugs using their telltale beginnings or endings, such as ‘cycline’ or ‘caine,'” Lynch says. “These drugs are very similar, thus have many of the same side effects and nursing considerations.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Get creative[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Mnemonic devices are memory tricks and techniques that allow you to recall concepts through association; Lynch offers this example: “Motrin (Ibuprofen) helps me painlessly write papers, I-B-proofing.”Or, for instance, think about the word ACHES when considering the side effects of contraception:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]A[/hen-ui-text]bdominal pain[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]C[/hen-ui-text]hest pain[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]H[/hen-ui-text]eadaches[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]E[/hen-ui-text]ye problems[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]S[/hen-ui-text]evere leg pains[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Additionally, you can take advantage of the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.picmonic.com/” target=”_blank”]Picmonic website[/hen-ui-link] and mobile app that uses picture mnemonic devices for medical and nursing students.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Consider the “why”[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The previous tips help you memorize facts for exams, but you should also consider the meaning behind each vocabulary word, biological process, and anatomical concept.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Classes like pharmacology involve more memorization. “Try to understand the “why” behind how medications work in certain scenarios and not in others,” Ross says. “Having a deeper understanding of the information behind the numbers will help you crush this class.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Prep before class[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Beaver recommends students review materials before class begins. Professors give students class curriculum plans so they know what to expect; use that to your advantage. Read ahead, make notes, and prepare any questions you have before the lecture.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Master time management[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Manage your time. This is vital for anyone balancing school and work, but especially for nursing students.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Lynch brings up the concept of “chunking” again. “Learn to chunk,” she says. “Chunk drug classes, study time, and the overwhelming amount of material.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]If you struggle to manage your time, Fero advises you to pull through with perseverance and remind yourself why you want to become a nurse. “Students have to be motivated to search, read, synthesize, and apply their new knowledge,” she says. “It may feel overwhelming at times, but trust what you have learned and be confident in holding the best standards of care for those you serve.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Meet Our Contributors[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Nicole Beaver, MSN, RN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1605733867/experts/Nicole_Beaver.png” img-alt=”Nicole Beaver, MSN, RN” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”][hen-ui-link href=”https://gardner-webb.edu/people/nicole-beaver-msn-rn/” target=”_blank”]Nicole Beaver[/hen-ui-link], MSN, RN, is an instructor at Hunt School of Nursing at Gardner-Webb University.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Laura Fero” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1606154069/experts/Laura_Fero.png” img-alt=”Laura Fero” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Laura Fero, Ph.D., MSN, RN, is the Dean of Nursing at [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.stkate.edu/” target=”_blank”]St. Catherine University[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Megan Lynch” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1605733655/experts/Megan_Lynch.png” img-alt=”Megan Lynch” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Megan Lynch, RN, MSN, CWON, is an instructor at Pima Community College, ADN nursing.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Alaina Ross” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1604524523/experts/Alaina_Stoltenburg.png” img-alt=”Alaina Ross” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Alaina Ross, RN, BSN, has 10 years of experience as a pre-op and PACU nurse. Ross is also an expert contributor for [hen-ui-link href=”https://testprepinsight.com/” target=”_blank”]Test Prep Insight[/hen-ui-link], a test prep company that helps nursing students prepare for exams like the TEAS and NCLEX.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]