3 answers
Victoria
Student
1
Question
Asked
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What classes should I take if Im interested in psych nursing?
Is there any classes that could benifit me in my potential career choice in psychiatric care? Im curious if this can better help me understand the type of work ill be doing.
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3 answers
Fatima Qamar
Recruiter
4
Answers
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Updated
Fatima’s Answer
Psychology (most important)
If your school offers:
Intro to Psychology
AP Psychology
Take it.
You’ll learn about mental health, behavior, emotions, and brain development — all core to psychiatric nursing.
2. Biology
Psych nursing works closely with the body + brain connection.
Take:
General Biology
AP Biology (if available)
This helps you understand medication effects, brain chemistry, and overall health.
3. Anatomy & Physiology
If your school or college offers A&P, take it.
It’s one of the most helpful courses for any type of nursing.
You’ll learn how the nervous system, endocrine system, and brain function — crucial in psychiatric care.
4. Chemistry
Especially for medication knowledge.
You don’t need advanced chemistry, but basic Chem helps you understand:
How medications work
Drug interactions
Side effects
Why certain psychiatric meds are prescribed
5. Sociology
Psych nursing is not just about the brain — it’s about people and societies.
Sociology teaches you about:
Families
Culture
Social behavior
Social problems (addiction, homelessness, trauma)
Very useful for psychiatric units and community mental health.
6. Human Development or Child Development
If you want to understand:
How mental health develops
Childhood trauma
Teen brain development
Behaviour patterns
This class is extremely valuable, especially if you choose pediatric psych later.
If your school offers:
Intro to Psychology
AP Psychology
Take it.
You’ll learn about mental health, behavior, emotions, and brain development — all core to psychiatric nursing.
2. Biology
Psych nursing works closely with the body + brain connection.
Take:
General Biology
AP Biology (if available)
This helps you understand medication effects, brain chemistry, and overall health.
3. Anatomy & Physiology
If your school or college offers A&P, take it.
It’s one of the most helpful courses for any type of nursing.
You’ll learn how the nervous system, endocrine system, and brain function — crucial in psychiatric care.
4. Chemistry
Especially for medication knowledge.
You don’t need advanced chemistry, but basic Chem helps you understand:
How medications work
Drug interactions
Side effects
Why certain psychiatric meds are prescribed
5. Sociology
Psych nursing is not just about the brain — it’s about people and societies.
Sociology teaches you about:
Families
Culture
Social behavior
Social problems (addiction, homelessness, trauma)
Very useful for psychiatric units and community mental health.
6. Human Development or Child Development
If you want to understand:
How mental health develops
Childhood trauma
Teen brain development
Behaviour patterns
This class is extremely valuable, especially if you choose pediatric psych later.
Wafaa Basanda
Credit controller
10
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Wafaa’s Answer
Hi Victoria,
If you're interested in psychiatric or mental health nursing, these high school classes can set you on the right path:
1. Science Courses
Biology helps you understand the body and brain.
Chemistry is useful for learning about medications.
Psychology, if available, introduces mental health ideas.
2. Math Courses
Algebra is good for basic math skills like dosing.
Statistics helps with research and using evidence in practice.
3. English & Communication
English and communication skills are important for talking with patients and writing reports.
4. Extra Helpful Courses
Sociology helps you learn about human behavior and social settings.
Health or medical classes, like first aid or anatomy, give you a head start.
Good luck, Victoria! You're on an exciting journey toward a career in psych nursing!
If you're interested in psychiatric or mental health nursing, these high school classes can set you on the right path:
1. Science Courses
Biology helps you understand the body and brain.
Chemistry is useful for learning about medications.
Psychology, if available, introduces mental health ideas.
2. Math Courses
Algebra is good for basic math skills like dosing.
Statistics helps with research and using evidence in practice.
3. English & Communication
English and communication skills are important for talking with patients and writing reports.
4. Extra Helpful Courses
Sociology helps you learn about human behavior and social settings.
Health or medical classes, like first aid or anatomy, give you a head start.
Good luck, Victoria! You're on an exciting journey toward a career in psych nursing!
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Victoria !
The way this works is that you will need to go to college for Nursing, so you should currently be looking into nursing programs in the city and state or province that you want to work in. You will need to be a Registered Nurse and I recommend going towards the Bachelors Degree level if you plan to go into psychiatric nursing in the future.
While you are in nursing school (and this is for the United States as you didn't mention where you live or where you will study), you will be taking however many psychology courses but they will be specifically geared to nursing. Some nursing programs include psychiatric rotations (clinical experience) so look for a college Nursing Program that does do that so you can get some experience.
To be eligible for certification, you typically need at least two years of full-time RN experience and a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in psychiatric mental health nursing within the three years preceding the certification exam. After putting in your hours, go for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To qualify for that, you must complete an additional 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric mental health nursing within three years of taking the exam. Passing this exam earns you board certification, which can enhance job opportunities.
So it's more than which classes to take in high school, you will want to learn what you can about human behavior now before Nursing school. There are many books you can read about various subjects within mental health that might be useful in giving you a base of knowledge before learning how to be a nurse. Find books in the library mostly on the conditions you will see and work with as a Psychiatric Nurse. These subjects to read up on are bipolar disorder, panic disorder, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, substance use and addiction, personality disorders, eating disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder.
Also read up on the other subjects that you would be working with which are neurodevelopmental disorders, self-harm behaviors, and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. You sometimes might have patients that have complex cases involving co-occurring physical and mental health issues. Reading individual books about these subjects can give you insight into the conditions you may see as early as your rotations during Nursing school, so it is good to familiarize yourself with what you'd be working with by reading individual subject books. Once you are in nursing school, that is where you'll learn nursing and the college lets you know what courses you'd have to take. Start looking at Nursing Programs at colleges now.
Learning more about Psychiatric Nursing may provide insight as to the subjects you will need to learn. I have left a link below to some videos about this career which may be helpful with learning more about the work.
Since you've stated that this career choice is a "potential" and not definite, I would advise that you take some online classes in health related subjects as well as behavioral health subjects just to see if it holds your interest. Websites you could go to for these free online classes are The Pan American Health Organization, NAMI Basics OnDemand, The Behavioral Health Workforce Training Clearinghouse provides free access for three years to clinical conference recordings on topics. The New York State Office of Mental Health funds free training programs, available in person, online, or as self-study. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers free online training through its Learning Center, including resources on trauma, psychological first aid, and recovery support.
So, if you are in high school right now these are some of the things you can do. You won't really learn nursing or about psychiatric until you are in nursing school, but online courses and the general basics you can get from high school sciences will give you insight for later on.
Best wishes to you !
VIDEOS ABOUT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=All+about+Psychiatric+Nursing
The way this works is that you will need to go to college for Nursing, so you should currently be looking into nursing programs in the city and state or province that you want to work in. You will need to be a Registered Nurse and I recommend going towards the Bachelors Degree level if you plan to go into psychiatric nursing in the future.
While you are in nursing school (and this is for the United States as you didn't mention where you live or where you will study), you will be taking however many psychology courses but they will be specifically geared to nursing. Some nursing programs include psychiatric rotations (clinical experience) so look for a college Nursing Program that does do that so you can get some experience.
To be eligible for certification, you typically need at least two years of full-time RN experience and a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in psychiatric mental health nursing within the three years preceding the certification exam. After putting in your hours, go for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To qualify for that, you must complete an additional 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric mental health nursing within three years of taking the exam. Passing this exam earns you board certification, which can enhance job opportunities.
So it's more than which classes to take in high school, you will want to learn what you can about human behavior now before Nursing school. There are many books you can read about various subjects within mental health that might be useful in giving you a base of knowledge before learning how to be a nurse. Find books in the library mostly on the conditions you will see and work with as a Psychiatric Nurse. These subjects to read up on are bipolar disorder, panic disorder, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, substance use and addiction, personality disorders, eating disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder.
Also read up on the other subjects that you would be working with which are neurodevelopmental disorders, self-harm behaviors, and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. You sometimes might have patients that have complex cases involving co-occurring physical and mental health issues. Reading individual books about these subjects can give you insight into the conditions you may see as early as your rotations during Nursing school, so it is good to familiarize yourself with what you'd be working with by reading individual subject books. Once you are in nursing school, that is where you'll learn nursing and the college lets you know what courses you'd have to take. Start looking at Nursing Programs at colleges now.
Learning more about Psychiatric Nursing may provide insight as to the subjects you will need to learn. I have left a link below to some videos about this career which may be helpful with learning more about the work.
Since you've stated that this career choice is a "potential" and not definite, I would advise that you take some online classes in health related subjects as well as behavioral health subjects just to see if it holds your interest. Websites you could go to for these free online classes are The Pan American Health Organization, NAMI Basics OnDemand, The Behavioral Health Workforce Training Clearinghouse provides free access for three years to clinical conference recordings on topics. The New York State Office of Mental Health funds free training programs, available in person, online, or as self-study. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers free online training through its Learning Center, including resources on trauma, psychological first aid, and recovery support.
So, if you are in high school right now these are some of the things you can do. You won't really learn nursing or about psychiatric until you are in nursing school, but online courses and the general basics you can get from high school sciences will give you insight for later on.
Best wishes to you !
Michelle recommends the following next steps: