15 Common RN Classes

Whether you pursue an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), the core of a registered nurse (RN) program looks similar: anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, health assessment, ethics, and a stack of clinical hours. Many of these subjects show up again on the NCLEX-RN. You will also choose electives that point toward a specialty, such as pediatrics, oncology, or geriatrics.

The 15 courses below are drawn from the curricula of accredited nursing schools and represent what most students can expect.

1. Nursing Fundamentals

Programs usually open here. You explore healthcare systems, the professional role of the nurse, and the basics of patient care. The course builds core skills through lectures and lab work and sets up a framework for clinical decision-making. It also helps undecided students figure out whether nursing fits before they go further.

2. Anatomy and Physiology

You strengthen your grasp of the human body and how it works, covering cell processes, organ systems, and homeostasis. The course builds the medical terminology you need for documentation and introduces the language of illness and injury. It is a prerequisite for most advanced nursing coursework.

3. Lifespan Growth and Development

This course covers cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development across the lifespan, plus the role of genetics, culture, and environment. You also look at family development and how the social environment shapes health, which feeds directly into health promotion and disease prevention for different age groups.

4. Health Assessment

You learn to assess patients through interviews and physical exams across all ages, from children to older adults, with attention to mental health and cultural context. Labs and simulations build the hands-on skills, and you sharpen communication, health promotion, and disease prevention along the way.

5. Gerontology

Gerontology is the study of aging: the conditions that come with it, the psychology of aging, and how to communicate effectively with older patients. Some programs offer it as an elective, but it matters for every nurse. The US population is aging, and older adults make up a large share of patients in nearly every setting.

6. Mental Health Nursing

This course prepares you to deliver psychiatric and mental healthcare, covering common conditions, their treatment, and the legal and ethical issues specific to this population. Physical and mental health are tightly linked, and because nurses provide direct care and serve as a communication link for patients, your grasp of mental health shapes the quality of everything else you do.

7. Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of medications. The course focuses on safe administration, including opioids and other drugs with abuse potential, plus routes of administration, medication errors, and drug interactions. It also introduces the major reference sources. RNs do not prescribe, but you have to understand pharmacology to keep patients safe and answer their questions, and the NCLEX-RN tests it heavily.

8. Women and Infant Health

This course covers women's health, reproductive health, pregnancy, delivery, and infant development, with emphasis on patient education and direct care. Some programs split it into two courses, one for reproductive health and one for infant health. It lays the groundwork for specialties like obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics.

9. Nursing Leadership

Usually an upper-division or BSN course, nursing leadership builds the decision-making and management skills behind administrative roles. Topics include staff leadership and motivation, the legal and ethical sides of management, strategic planning, and healthcare administration, paired with case studies that show the theory in practice.

10. Ethics in Nursing

Ethics is a core course because nurses face ethical situations everywhere they practice. You cover professional conduct, conflicts of interest, health equity, and how to respond to unethical behavior, then apply that thinking to real dilemmas. The goal is a mental framework you can use to reason through hard calls throughout your career.

11. Community and Environmental Nursing

A branch of public health, this course examines how communities and the environment shape health. You study social determinants of health, community safety, pollution, and community design, usually at the BSN level. Nurses are often the first to communicate health risks to the public, so this work is central to caring for at-risk and underserved populations.

12. Nursing Research

This course introduces the research methods used to evaluate patient outcomes and nursing practice. You examine study designs, data collection, and research ethics, and you build the critical analysis skills to turn evidence into practice. It is typically a BSN course and a strong foundation for graduate study.

13. Nursing Informatics

As care relies more on technology, informatics has become a working skill. The course covers electronic health records, database management, and clinical information systems, along with how to use informatics for quality improvement and patient safety.

14. Hospice and Palliative Care

You learn to care for patients with chronic or terminal illness, with emphasis on pain management and supporting patients and families at the end of life. The course also addresses ethical issues, the cultural dimensions of death, and symptom management, preparing you for hospice units, home care, long-term care, and acute care.

15. Clinical Practicum

Clinicals are closer to an internship than a traditional course, and they are required for licensure. You complete supervised hours in a hospital, clinic, or other facility, working under an experienced RN to build real skills and explore specialties. Clinicals prepare you for the NCLEX-RN and for the demands of your first job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What courses are required in nursing school?

The curriculum covers physiology, health assessment, lifespan development, pharmacology, and more, alongside nursing research, leadership, and clinical practice. Programs vary, so check with your school for its specific requirements.

What classes do you take in nursing school besides nursing courses?

Beyond core nursing practice, physiology, and health assessment, students take microbiology, chemistry, and math. After the core requirements, most students pick electives that line up with a specialty.

What are the best courses in nursing school?

The most useful courses pair lectures with experiential learning that builds clinical judgment. In them you apply anatomy, research, and assessment to actual patient care, which is what prepares you for licensure and the job.

What degree do most RNs hold?

A BSN is the most common nursing degree. 73% of RNs hold a BSN or higher, according to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey. BSN-prepared nurses are also the largest share of new RNs, at 46% in 2024 compared with 34.2% who held an ADN at licensure.