Get a jump start on nursing school by taking classes for free on the internet. With all the information and confusion out there, choosing the right ones can be difficult. Unless, you turn to the below 100 cutting-edge open courses for beginning, advanced, specialty, and other nurses.
Beginning Open Courses for Nurses
These open courses are ideal for nurses just starting out on their education or those who just want to brush up.
1. Public Health 101: Get the same introduction to medicine and health as the students at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It contains a series of presentations to introduce health department employees to the basic terms and concepts that they are likely to encounter in the field.
2. Introduction to Biology: A leader in open courses, M.I.T. offers this class to its freshmen complete with video lectures. It covers the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology.
3. General Human Anatomy: Learn the functional anatomy of the human body as revealed by gross and microscopic examination in this course. Lessons come as a webcast, audio, or download the MP3.
4. Medical Terminology: The College of Eastern Utah offers this nursing course. Simply click on the column on the left to get lessons, key terms, and case studies.
5. General Biology: Life processes are examined primarily at the molecular and cellular levels. It is a good starting point for the more advanced courses and comes with reading, lecture materials, and more.
6. Principles of Human Disease: This course covers understanding and approaches to human disease, emphasizing both genetic disease and cancer. It comes with a complete set of readings and assignments.
7. Microbiology: Get an introductory on infectious agents such as Streptococcus and Fastidious Bacteria. Tufts University gives you a syllabus, lectures, and even labs.
8. Introduction to Clinical Pain Problems: The program provides information on optimal pain management through a unique, interdisciplinary program for pain education. In addition to the readings, there are links to other useful resources.
Advanced Open Courses for Nurses
Second year nurses looking to go beyond the basics will appreciate the following open courses.
9. General Biology: Get an introduction to population genetics, ecology, and evolution. To be taken after first year biology courses.
10. Principles and Practice of Human Pathology: This course puts an emphasis on mechanisms of disease and diagnostic medicine. Major organ systems, cellular mechanisms of disease, and imaging are all discussed.
11. Gastroenterlogy: Get a detailed description on the inner workings of the digestive system in this course. It discusses the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, and bioengineering of the gastrointestinal tract and the associated pancreatic, liver. and biliary tract systems.
12. Human Reproductive Biology: Designed to give the student a clear understanding of the menstrual cycle, the course also discusses fertilization, implantation, ovum growth development, differentiation, and associated abnormalities. Readings and lecture notes are included.
13. Tumor Pathophysiology and Transport Phenomena: Tumor pathophysiology plays a central role in the growth, invasion, metastasis, and treatment of solid tumors. This class applies principles of transport phenomena to develop a systems-level, quantitative understanding of it.
14. General Genetics: This in-depth look at genetics, includes mechanisms of inheritance, gene transmission, and DNA element. Developmental genetics are also discussed.
15. Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology: Learn about the immunology and pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. They may predominantly affect joints but also affect multiple organ systems of the body in some diseases.
16. How Best to Deliver Bad News: One of the hardest things for a nurse or doctor to do, get expert advice on how. Elly Hann is the director of the San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care and speaks on how best to deliver the diagnosis of a potentially terminal illness to patients.
Specialty Beginning Open Courses for Nurses
Nurses looking to go into a particular specialty or who are just curious should check out these open courses.
17. Introduction to Neuroscience: Get detailed lessons on the anatomy and growth of the brain in this course. You will also learn about higher brain functions dealing with memory, language, and affective disorders.
18. Nutrition Function and Metabolism: See how nutrients get delivered to cells in this course. It also discusses activation, storage, excretion, and toxicity of nutrients.
19. Speech Communication: Learn applications to recognition and generation of speech, along with the study of speech disorders. The course also surveys the structural properties of natural languages, with special emphasis on the sound pattern.
20. Ophthalmology Grand Rounds: Provided by Tufts University, this course is ideal for the study of the eye and adjoining systems. A series of patient cases is presented weekly and followed by a discussion with faculty, professors, and ophthalmologists.
21. The Peripheral Auditory System: The focus of this course is the ear and its related systems. Experimental approaches to the study of hearing and deafness are presented through lectures and laboratory exercises.
22. Renal Pathology: The importance of the kidneys and their function is demonstrated in the course. It also reviews how the kidneys adapt to extra-renal disturbances and explores disorders that can arise from defects in kidney function.
23. Cholesterol in Health and Disease: One of the most common blood tests, this course examines the good and bad of cholesterol. It also deals with cholesterol-related human disorders and the drugs that deal with them.
24. Pathology of Hypertension: Learn about high blood pressure and related issues in this 14 page PDF. Dr. Gilbert’s objectives are to instruct on hemodynamic determinants, the role of the kidney, and various other topics.
Advanced Open Courses for Nurses in Specialties
Get extra open courses for nurses in all sorts of specialties below.
25. Fundamentals of Oncology: Lectures cover the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention/screening measures used for various cancers. Controversies surrounding this disease are also discussed.
26. Cardiovascular Pathophysiology: This second year course expands on the fundamentals and more advanced practices of cardiology. Content includes electrocardiography, cardiac muscle cell, and hypovolemic shock.
27. Pathology of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism: Learn about three different diseases and how hormone levels and the thyroid can affect them. Other diseases include pituitary neoplasia and hypothyroidism.
28. Gastroenterology Pathophysiology: This course explores a variety of gastrointestinal disorders from gastroesophageal reflux disease to cirrhosis. Treatments for theses disease disorders are covered in detail.
29. Confronting the Burden of Injuries: Nurses who work in the emergency room will appreciate this course. Prevention and treatment of various injuries are discussed.
30. The Impact of Primary Care on Population Health: Technically not a specialty, this course examines primary care and its definition. The lecture summarizes Professor Leiyu Shi’s work on primary care, his research, and U.S. primary care studies.
Open Courses for Nurses in Specific Diseases
These open courses focus on a specific disease, its cause, treatment, and more.
31. Cancer Biology: This course is ideal for nurses going into oncology. Topics discussed include tumor formation, progression, metastasis, and much more.
32. Pain and Endometriosis: Endometriosis is most often seen by those who specialize in gynecology and women’s health. In this lecture, Karen Berkley, Ph.D. talks about pain and this condition.
33. Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases: Get an introduction to the basic methods for infectious disease epidemiology and case studies of important disease syndromes and entities here. Case-studies focus on acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, STD’s, malaria, and other vector-borne diseases.
34. Autism Theory and Technology: A devastating disease among children, learn more about the theories pertaining to it. Students will understand, help, and learn from people with autism.
35. Diabetes Mellitus: Dr. Anastassios G. Pittas is an expert who tells all about this disease. It includes symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
36. Parkinson’s Disease Workshop: Nurses practicing in the field of neurology will encounter this disease. This workshop explored different aspects of it including characteristics, neuropathology, genetics, and cognitive function.
37. Impact of Pandemic Influenza on Public Health: This training examines the path of the avian influenza and how it could impact world health. Get the slide version here, or register for free to get the full one.
38. Diarrhea and Malabsorption: Get an inside look at how this condition affects the body. It uses lectures, slides, and even has quizzes.
39. Malariology: This course emphasizes the biology of malaria parasites and factors affecting their transmission to humans. Topics include host-parasite-vector relationships, diagnostics, risk factors associated with infection, and policy issues.
40. Irritable Bowel Syndrome: In this lecture, Dr. Emeran Mayer talks about IBS. He focuses on the disease in women and pain management.
41. STI Prevention: Also known as sexually transmitted illness, this course shows how to inform and prevent. Nurses can also learn about the etiology and epidemiology of STI’s.
Open Courses for Nurses for After School
These open courses are ideal for after nursing school and show what to expect in nursing life, how to get ahead, and more.
42. Management Communication for Undergraduates: The Sloan School of Management at M.I.T. is renowned for producing some of the top minds in management. Learn how undergraduates are taught to communicate as managers in this course.
43. Caring in Hospitals: This course is designed to show nurses what they can expect from working in a hospital. It considers the type of care offered in hospitals, using Leeds General Hospital as a case study.
44. Information Technology in the Health Care System of the Future: Get a step ahead of other nurses by knowing what to expect in the future in this course from M.I.T. It discusses information technology, e-health delivery over the internet, and more.
45. Professional Issues in Nursing: This is an intermediate seminar to assist registered nurses to develop the critical reading, thinking and writing skills necessary for university level study. Professional practice and nursing leadership are also explored.
46. Diversity and Difference in Communication: Learn interpersonal communication in health and social care services in this course. Differences, identities, and more are discussed.
47. Training Methods and Continuing Education for Health Workers: Nurses who wish to train and educate others will learn how in this course. It draws on real life examples from community-directed onchocerciasis control, village health worker programs, and patent medicine vendor training programs.
Open Courses for Nurses on Caring
Learn the latest advances in caring in these open courses.
48. Substance Abuse and the Family: A more and more common cause of health problems, this course examines how substance abuse affects the family, along with the abuser. It also explores the methods and resources available for helping such families.
49. Health Assessment and Promotion: This course focuses on the complete health assessment, the nursing process, and its relationship to the prevention and early detection of disease. It even includes a laboratory component complemented by self-directed computer assisted instruction.
50. Vitamin D Prevents Cancer?: In a new study, researchers at the UCSD School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center determined that intake of vitamin D3 and calcium would prevent thousands of cancer cases annually in the US and Canada. Carole Baggerly with GrassrootsHealth has more.
51. Treating Female Veterans of War: Darrah Westrup is a recognized authority on the treatment of PTSD and discusses the mental health needs of women who have served in the military. She puts emphasis on the emergent needs of OIF/OEF women.
Historic Open Courses for Nurses
Get a solid grip on the future of medicine by taking a look at what the past can teach nurses.
52. The History of Public Health: John Hopkins University gives you a look at public health from 1750 to the present. Students learn how the organization of societies facilitates or mitigates the production and transmission of disease, along with many other topics.
53. Disease and Society in America: Using a historical approach, this course examines the changing patterns of disease, the causes of mortality, and the evolution of medical theory and practice. Also taught are the development of hospitals and the ethics of health care in America.
54. Lennox Castle Hospital: Built in the 1930’s, Lennox Castle was the largest hospital in the UK and considered to be 100 years ahead of its time. Learn about its history and what it can teach us now.
55. History of Anthropology of Medicine and Biology: Topics discussed in this course include histories of bodies in medicine, genes and genomes, the role of science and medicine in racial formation, and emergent diseases. The course also takes a look at new reproductive technologies and socialities.
Open Courses for Nurses in Mental Health
Learn how to treat the mind, along with the body, in these open courses.
56. Introduction to Psychology: Get an introduction to how the human brain operates in this freshmen course from M.I.T. It covers human behavior and mental life ranging from how you see to why you fall in love.
57. General Psychology: This course contains the principal areas, problems, and concepts of psychology. Available as audio or video and even for the hearing impaired.
58. Challenging Ideas in Mental Health: Both new and old ideas in mental health are challenged in this course. Examples include risk and madness.
59. Human Emotion: This course examines two theoretical perspectives on emotion: the differential emotions approach and the social constructionist approach. Also included are culture, gender, personality, and psychopathology.
60. The Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: Dr. Donald Hilty presents an update on bipolar disorder. In this 50 minute lecture, he also discusses epidemiology.
61. Introduction to Mental Health and Disaster Preparedness: This presentation introduces the topics of disaster mental health services, mental health surge capacity, and psychiatric first aid. Hurricane Katrina and other disasters are used as examples.
62. Social Attitudes and Public Opinion: Learn how patients can feel about certain behaviors in this course. The nature of attitudes, beliefs, and values are examined.
63. Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health: The course is designed to help students develop basic literacy regarding social concepts that influence health status. Objectives include helping students develop insight into populations with whom they have worked in the past or will work in the future.
64. Psychology of Gender: Should male and female patients be treated differently? Take this course to find out.
Open Courses for Nurses in Imaging
One of the latest advances in technology, nurses are also in demand for this specialty. Get prepared by looking at the below open courses.
65. Principles of Radiation Interaction: This course is ideal for nurses who wish to work in or with imagery technology. The central theme is the interaction of radiation with biological material.
66. Noninvasive Imaging in Biology and Medicine: Similar to the above, the course discusses X-ray, CT, PET/SPECT, MRI, and optical imaging. In addition to the lectures, there are also hands on demonstrations.
67. Biomedical Signal and Image Processing: Learn the fundamentals of digital signal processing with particular emphasis on problems in biomedical research and clinical medicine. Both two and three dimensional models are used.
68. Magnetic Resonance Analytic, Biochemical, and Imaging Techniques: This is an introduction to NMR theory, or nuclear magnetic resonance. Students participate in detailed study imaging techniques, including cross-sectional image reconstruction, contrast, flow and real-time imaging, and hardware design considerations.
69. Radiation Terror 101: Learn about the harmful affects of radiation in this course. It includes principles, safety, protection, and basic types of radiation.
Open Courses for Nurses in Ethics
Don’t wait until you are in the middle of a shift to make critical decisions. Use these open courses to learn what to do before you do it.
70. Human Rights in Theory and Practice: This course covers human rights issues including gender and race discrimination, globalization and human rights, and technology. Also included are readings, assignments, and related resources.
71. Narrative Ethics: Literary Texts and Moral Issues in Medicine: Use historic literary narratives and poetry to study ethical issues in medicine. Works studied include those by Woolf, Chekhov, Kafka, Marquez, and Tolstoy.
72. Moral and Ethical Principles in End of Life Care: In many areas of health care, and especially in such areas as palliative care, increasing attention has been paid in recent years to patient autonomy. Ethics such as telling the truth to patients and seeking their consent for health care interventions are discussed.
73. Ethical Issues in Public Health: Discussions focus on ethical theory and current ethical issues in public health and health policy. This includes resource allocation, the use of summary measures of health, the right to health care, and conflicts between autonomy and health promotion efforts.
74. Ethics of Human Subject Research: Topics covered in lectures and discussions include informed consent for research participation, role of institutional review boards, selection of research subjects, and privacy. In includes lecture materials and readings.
75. Dilemmas in Bio-Medical Ethics: An up and coming field of medicine, learn more about the good and harm that can come from it. The course comes with readings, lecture notes, and assignments.
76. Introduction to Health Policy: Learn how those at the top organize the health policy to see how it affects nurses. Four main topics cover economics, need, ethics, and quality.
Open Courses for Nurses who Work With Children
Learn how to deal with the youngest patients and their parents with these open courses.
77. Reproductive and Perinatal Health: Lectures and research papers present issues such as conception and infertility, contraception and hormone supplementation safety and the affects they can have on reproductive cancers. Also included are perinatal issues such as complications of pregnancy, maternal mortality, and birth defects.
78. Preventing Infant Mortality: This course focuses on the problems and interventions associated with infant mortality. It describes the scientific basis for infant mortality and analyzes causes and consequences.
79. Infant and Early Childhood Cognition: In this course, students learn the normal development of an infant and toddler. Very useful for recognizing diseases or problems with the health of the child.
80. Human Growth and Development: This course follows the development of motor, language, and cognitive capacities, among other topics. Content includes cognitive development, personality disorders, and motor development in children.
81. Adolescent Health and Development: The purpose of the course is to explore a variety of aspects of adolescence and adolescent health. It uses lectures, readings, discussion, and panels of guest speakers
82. Environmental Causes of Birth Defects: Learn how to care for a child in the nine months before it is born with this lecture. Dr. Edward Lammer of Oakland Children’s Hospital discusses Gene Environment Interaction.
83. Improving School Related Peer Relationships: Dr. Kasari discusses both solutions and obstacles to overcome when trying to help improve the social lives of higher-functioning children in mainstream classrooms.
Open Courses for Nurses in Elder Care
The most common patients doctors and nurses encounter are senior citizens. Learn the diseases that affect them, treatments, and more in these open courses.
84. Geriatrics: Dementia, Delirium, and Depression: The three most prevalent mental disorders in the elderly, Dr. James Bourgeois lectures in detail. He explores the work up and management of elderly persons presenting with these mental disorders.
85. Update on Alzheimer’s Disease: A devastating disease for seniors and their families, Dr. Charles DeCarli provides an overview of recent scientific developments. Topics covered include: the role of vascular disease in Alzheimer’s Disease, assessment and management of mild cognitive impairment, and use of cognitive enhancers.
86. Transitions Into Residential Care: This course identifies the process in which the elderly transition into residential care. Ideal for nurses who plan to work in this field.
87. Health Issues for Aging Populations: Get an introduction to the study of aging, its implications for individuals, and the background for health policy related to older persons. Also included are basic health and mental health issues.
88. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: This 25 page PDF focuses on geriatrics, medicine, and health. The Five I’s of Geriatrics are also covered.
89. Population Medicine: Go beyond the single patient and learn how to treat a population in this course. In this course, the elderly are used as a model population to explore the intersection between clinical practice and population medicine.
90. Healthy Brain Aging: Dan Mungas is the Associate Director of the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and lectures on healthy brain aging. He addresses the diversity in cognitive aging, describes how the brain changes with aging, and gives strategies for health.
91. Basic Human Pathology: This course serves as a foundation for other courses and aids in the understanding of managing patients. It is particularly aimed at more aged patients with complex medical histories.
Open Courses for Nurses in Other Areas
Get the best of the rest in open courses for nurses below.
92. Issues in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Learn why so many people turn to alternative medicine and why they raise such controversy here. This unit explores why, critical issues, and ethics.
93. How to Learn (Almost) Anything: Ideal for those who have trouble learning new technological concepts, this course shows you how. Students reflect on a variety of learning situations, develop new workshops, and analyze how and what the workshop participants learn.
94. Comparitive Health Policy: This course examines the health care policy problems facing the United States. This includes providing access to medical services for all, the control of rising costs, and the assurance that the quality of health care services is high and improving.
95. Statistics for Laboratory Scientists: Offered by John Hopkins, it gives a basic overview of experiments in the biological sciences. Students are even taught how to use R software.
96. Pharmacology: Use this course to learn about every drug from Abilify to Zyrtec. Planned topics include over-the-counter drugs, “dietary supplements,” drugs of abuse, and many more.
97. Natural Supplements for Pain in Women: Dr. Robert Bonakdar is the director of pain management at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. Get an inside look at how supplements can help or hurt with pain management in this lecture.
98. Environmental Health: Discover how elements in the environment can make people sick in this course. Topics include how the body reacts to pollutants, agents of contamination, and emerging global environmental health problems.
99. Biology of Sex: Dr. Mark Sussman teaches this course at San Diego State University. Get a syllabus, useful links, and other resources.
100. AIDS and Poverty in Africa: Nurses who plan to travel can learn a great deal about the situation in Africa. The course gives a frank discussion on how to fight AIDS and solve poverty.
Whether just starting your education or looking for a more advanced nursing degree, you can find tons of help in these 100 cutting edge open courses for nurses.