Not sure how to prepare for nursing school? The path to becoming a registered nurse has its challenges, but understanding what you should know before nursing school starts can help you start the journey with confidence. You will have to complete some academic requirements before applying, so learn what classes to take before nursing school and more with this overview.
Before jumping into your core nursing program, you’ll need to complete two major educational milestones: finishing your nursing prerequisites and passing the TEAS exam.
Nursing prerequisites (also known as general education classes) are foundational courses that prepare you for the more challenging core nursing subjects ahead. You need to study these prerequisite topics before nursing school starts in order to jump into more advanced healthcare coursework.
Nursing prerequisites can be completed in a variety of ways, including online. In fact, a lesser-known system called credit by exam allows you to test out of prerequisites by passing a proficiency exam. Rather than taking an entire semester-long class, you can earn the same college credits by passing one CLEP test. This system speeds up the prerequisite process, enabling you to skip up to one year in the classroom.
The nursing school entrance exam is called the Test of Essential Academic Skills or “TEAS”. The TEAS is a standardized test with multiple-choice questions designed to gauge your nursing school readiness.
This exam covers math, science, reading, and English language questions. The information for these topics is generally covered in nursing prerequisite courses, and will range in everything from human anatomy to basic grammar.
In general, nursing applicants must receive a minimum passing TEAS score of 55% to be considered for admission. The higher your score, the more desirable you will be to your school of choice. An exemplary TEAS score is 92% or higher, whereas the proficient range is between 59-79%. Every nursing program has different score requirements; be sure to check your school’s threshold so you can prepare accordingly.
Taking a TEAS exam prep course is a smart way to get the score you want on your first attempt. Test prep courses walk you through example questions and lessons so you can brush up your skills and feel confident knowing what to expect.
Outside of finishing your academic requirements, one of the most important ways to prepare for nursing school is understanding how your day-to-day life will shift moving forward. Nursing school is a challenging combination of coursework and clinicals that give you the knowledge and skills to take care of others.
Learning something new can be a trying process, especially when you’re learning complicated medical procedures and best practices. You’re likely to experience growing pains while in nursing school; in fact, most nursing students report having a significant adjustment period, particularly during their first year of nursing school.
Getting nursing experience before nursing school can help bolster your application. Programs look for students who not only have the academic credentials necessary to succeed but also the relevant life experience.
While you can’t do any official nursing until you have your degree, there are ways to get some introductory experience before nursing school begins.
Knowing what to study before nursing school is half the battle! Achieve Test Prep offers online nursing prerequisites so you can earn college credits from home. We offer day, night, and weekend courses to fit into your busy schedule; plus, courses meet only once a week We also offer college planning, on-demand tutoring, and TEAS test prep to help you at every stage of your nursing education. Connect with our Advisor team to get started!