Choosing the right senior high school strand can be the first step toward saving lives and building a rewarding healthcare career.
Key Takeaways:
- The STEM strand is the most recommended nursing strand in Senior High School because it provides a strong foundation in science and mathematics.
- Students interested in becoming nurses should develop both scientific knowledge and emotional intelligence, which are essential in healthcare.
- While STEM is the best strand for nurse aspirants, other strands like GAS can still lead to nursing, although students may need to work harder to catch up in science subjects.
Nurses are one of the main pillars of the healthcare system. Nurses take on multiple roles in the medical field to ensure patients receive proper care and help them recover from their illnesses.
Indeed, nursing is a difficult job that requires both highly specialized knowledge and skills and high emotional intelligence to deal with challenging, often life-and-death situations.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? If so, you should start preparing for this honorable yet demanding profession as early as possible with the right SHS strand for Nursing.
Let us discuss the most suitable nursing strand for those who want inpatient care.
Becoming a Nurse in the Philippines
Nurses are healthcare professionals focused on the care of patients, either directly or in support of physicians. They coordinate with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to ensure all patients receive appropriate care and the facility runs smoothly.
Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, and, because of that, it’s not easy to become and work as a nurse. Nurses go through rigorous studies and training, complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, and pass the Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination to be licensed to practice in the country.
Learning for nurses doesn’t end there, however. Our knowledge of the human body and the technologies used in healthcare continues to evolve, which means nurses must continually study and learn to provide the best possible care to their patients.
While Nursing is a reputable career that comes with great opportunities in the country and abroad, it is no secret that these professionals work under a lot of stress. Nurses, along with many healthcare professionals, often deal with emergency situations, but it doesn’t help that there is also a global shortage of nurses, as the International Council of Nurses reported.
Students who are passionate about nursing should choose an online senior high school in the Philippines that can prepare them academically and mentally for the challenges of the nursing profession.
Choosing an SHS Strand
Understanding the different strands is important, especially for students who are asking what nursing strand aligns with their future healthcare goals.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): This strand focuses on honing students’ aptitude for the hard sciences and math.
- Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS): This strand’s curriculum revolves around the social sciences, communication, and literature. HUMSS is a great choice for those who want to pursue a career in the arts, law, or psychology.
- Accounting, Business, and Management (ABM): This strand offers classes that tackle accounting, business math, marketing, and management to prepare students to start their own business.
- General Academic Strand (GAS): This is the strand for those who aren’t sure yet what they want to study, because this will cover key courses from other strands.
- Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL): This strand teaches students technical skills they can use to get vocational work right after graduating from senior high school.
Now that you have an idea of what the strands are, let’s talk about the best nursing strand in SHS.
What Senior High School Strand is Nursing?
Being a vital part of the medical field, Nursing is a science course. Thus, the nurse strand in senior high is the STEM strand.
Nursing students study biology, chemistry, physiology, psychology, pharmacology, and many other science subjects. They also learn about ethics, community health, communication, research, and leadership.
All these subjects shape their future practice, allowing them not only to understand the human body and the conditions and diseases patients may have but also to demonstrate compassion toward patients and communicate effectively as their health advocates.
Nursing students require a well-balanced education that hones both their academic and emotional intelligence. Among the SHS strands we offer, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Strand is the one that can prepare students as early as senior high for these complex requirements of nursing, as well as other careers in the STEM strand.
The STEM strand’s curriculum includes classes tackling the hard sciences to build students’ knowledge early on. These classes build on students’ skills that can support their learning beyond senior high school. Classes in STEM encourage students to research, think critically, analyze, and experiment.
Here are the classes you can expect in the STEM strand:
- Mathematics
- Earth Science
- Statistics
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- Communication
- Practical Research
The STEM strand is not limited to the classroom and theories. This strand of nursing challenges students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems. Through these activities, students also hone their research skills, ethics, and sense of compassion.
As the SHS strand for doctors, the STEM strand offers students interested in a field that provides care for others a holistic education. This curriculum builds on technical skills and knowledge without neglecting social-emotional learning – all of which are necessary for future doctors and nurses to provide quality patient care.
Does Senior High School Strand Matter in Nursing?
Your choice of strand in senior high school fundamentally shapes your education. For students asking what strand prepares them to become a nurse, the STEM strand provides the strongest background in science and research.
The STEM strand has a highly specialized curriculum that hones students’ abilities in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which are not as deeply developed in HUMSS students.
The STEM strand is the best nursing strand in senior high because it prepares students for the demands of the field. This strand can make studying Nursing easier because students come into college equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel.
While STEM is the best choice for those who want to take up Nursing, students who are not yet completely sure of their choice may opt for the GAS Strand, which offers classes on both hard sciences and soft sciences while refining important foundational skills like critical thinking, research, and communication skills.
In contrast to STEM and GAS strands, the HUMSS strand offers great foundations as well. However, its focus is on sociology, literature, and the arts, which hone a different set of knowledge and skills. As a result, students from the HUMSS strand may struggle to keep up with the rigors of a science-intensive course like Nursing.
Choosing the right strand for Nursing can have a great impact on your learning experience and future success, so it’s important to decide carefully. You can read more about your options by reading our guide to all strands in senior high.
Is STEM and Nursing the Right Path for Me?
Admittedly, STEM and Nursing are challenging paths to take. If you choose this direction, you should be ready to dedicate your time and energy to science and caring for others. To help you confirm your choice, here are some things to think about:
- Are you willing to engage in continued professional development throughout your career?
- Do you see yourself working in a fast-paced work environment?
- Are you ready to listen to the needs of each patient and help them?
- Are you willing to collaborate with other nurses and other medical professionals in delivering care for patients?
If you can see yourself doing this type of work in the future, then you may be on the right path in the STEM strand.
Essential Skills Future Nurses Should Start Building in Senior High School
Choosing the right nursing strand in senior high school is an important step, but becoming a successful nurse also requires developing key personal and professional skills. The healthcare environment can be demanding and fast-paced, so students who want to pursue nursing should begin cultivating these abilities as early as senior high school.
Here are some essential skills that future nurses should start building:
- Strong communication skills: Nurses constantly communicate with patients, families, and healthcare teams. Being able to explain medical information clearly, listen carefully to patients’ concerns, and document patient care accurately is crucial.
- Empathy and compassion: Nursing involves caring for people who may be in pain, anxious, or vulnerable. Developing empathy allows nurses to understand patients’ experiences and provide comfort during difficult moments.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving: Nurses often need to quickly assess patients’ conditions and make informed decisions. Strong analytical thinking helps them identify symptoms, interpret data, and respond appropriately to changing situations.
- Attention to detail: In healthcare, small details matter. Nurses must carefully monitor patients’ symptoms, accurately follow treatment plans, and administer medications safely.
- Emotional resilience: The nursing profession can be emotionally challenging, especially when dealing with emergencies or serious illnesses. Resilience helps nurses stay composed and continue providing quality care even under pressure.
By developing these skills early, students can prepare themselves not only for the academic challenges of nursing school but also for the real-world responsibilities of caring for patients.
Your Future After STEM Strand
Although STEM is widely recognized as the best strand for aspiring nurses, it also opens doors to many fields. such as:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Dentistry
- Architecture
- Aviation
- Astrophysics
- Nutrition
- Medicine
OEd Senior High School: Nurturing Future Nurses
Filipino nurses are recognized as one of the best nurses in the world. The next generation of nurses can continue this legacy with the support of high-quality online learning in the Philippines.
OEd Senior High School is dedicated to the highest quality of education to empower students to reach their full potential. The right nursing strand can help students develop the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to provide world-class patient care, wherever they may be.
If you want to learn more about our senior high school course offerings, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Nursing in Senior High School
1. Can I still become a nurse if I did not take STEM in senior high school?
Yes. Students from other strands can still pursue nursing in college. However, they may need to strengthen their background in science subjects like biology and chemistry.
2. How long does it take to become a nurse in the Philippines?
After senior high school, students typically complete a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program before taking the nursing licensure examination.
3. What skills should future nurses develop early?
Future nurses should develop skills in communication, empathy, and critical thinking, in addition to strong scientific knowledge.
4. Are there other healthcare careers related to nursing?
Yes. Students interested in healthcare may also pursue careers such as medical technology, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, or nutrition.
