10 Best Highschool Classes To Take For Neonatal Nursing

Chemistry

Understanding how medications work and how they affect babies is essential for any nurse. Having chemistry knowledge helps nurses know when a dosage will be too high or too low, as well as whether there’s a risk of side effects from using that specific medication.

Pharmacology

Neonatal nurses will likely come into contact with drugs on a daily basis. Knowing which ones to use and when is crucial for new nurses looking to give their patients proper care. Which drugs should you avoid using while caring for premature babies? What do you need to know about hydrocortisone, and what are some lesser-known facts about antibiotics that neonatal nurses need to know? are what all neonatal nurse need to know.

Mathematics

Math classes will teach you how to read and write units of measurements such as grams, kilograms, and miles per hour. This will be helpful when tracking patient weight gain and other physical markers. Math classes can help with ordering lab tests based on those markers such as CBC (complete blood count) labs. You can also use your math skills for calculating dosages for medications given via IV or SQ(subcutaneous).

Biology

Before you start working with premature babies, you need to know all about how they develop. Check out some basic biology lessons so that you can better care for your tiny patients.

General Chemistry

Taking chemistry courses early on in your college career will allow you to gain a better understanding of all other science courses, which will come in handy when studying advanced material such as anatomy and physiology. No one expects every nurse to be a chemist, but it’s wise for new graduates to study general chemistry so they have a basic understanding of the science behind medications.

Organic Chemistry

Neonatal nurses must have a broad knowledge of organic chemistry topics, but there are a few core classes you’ll want to take in order to provide high-quality care for all newborns.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a class that provides essential information about how everything works at a cellular level. While it is only one of many possible classes that might be important for neonatal nurses, its importance can’t be overstated.

English

To work on a newborn baby, you have to have good English. Since English is a global language, taking classes can help you communicate with other nurses and doctors from different countries.

Statistics

Statistics is a key component of many sciences, including medicine and psychology. Learning how to analyze and organize information can help you work more effectively with your peers and employers.

General Physics and Calculus

Nurses who work in neonatal sector need a broad understanding of human physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development says that having a background in general physics is important because it can help you calculate factors like respiratory rate and oxygen saturation (measures of how well a baby is breathing) and even estimate body surface area when it comes time to give newborns medication.

Calculus will make you better at measuring things like blood pressure, breathing volumes and acid-base balances.