Nutrition Prerequsitie

Boxer Mama · Mar 28, 2013

To be honest, 8 hours per week is not an unreasonable amount of time to study. All my science classes recommend a minimum of 3 hours per week per class credit, so minimum of 12 hours a week. You did not mention if you have taken any other science courses. For me, I have had all of this in biology and A&P classes, so nutrition is a basic review. Because you are struggling some, I would recommend looking at your schedule to identify more study time. It sounds like this class requires it. Good luck!

professionalgirl80 · Mar 28, 2013

Hello, all. Let me give a bit of information about myself so that some of you can better advise me on my situation.
-I am a 25 year old female.
-Almost completed completed my bachelor's degree (not a nursing degree).
-Works almost full time in a government job and part time as a caregiver
-Decided last year that I want to pursue nursing. Seeing as how I almost have my other bachelor's degree, I've decided to enter a "second degree" nursing program or an accelerated BSN program.
-Currently enrolled in 5 classes (one of them, nursing)
So, this nutrition class has been an absolute disaster. I made a 62 on the first test. I studied really hard on the second one and did everything the professor told me to do to improve my grade. I made a 68. I broke down into tears. I couldn't believe it! It isn't that I don't "get" the material. It certainly isn't rocket science. Its just that the professor seems to make the class extremely challenging. Her tests are outrageously hard, riddled with trick questions, AND... she recommended I study 8 hours a week! I am in over my head here. I don't have time to study 8 hours a week for ONE class and I already am under so much stress with all my other obligations. She is a retired MD (neonatologist) and I am in a class with a bunch of pre-med and pre-nursing. I feel out of my league. Without sounding like I'm throwing myself a pity party, I wondered if not doing so hot in this class was an indicator of possibly not being cut out to be a nurse. I had heard this was an easy class. What gives? Is it the fact that I already have SO many other obligations or did I just get an overly hard professor?
My last question... Was nutrition a hard class for anyone else?

Hi there!! :) I am sorry that you are struggling in Nutrition. I am currently taking Nutrition. The class is not difficult at all. It all depends on who you have as a professor. The professor I have distribute nutrition notes and review sheets in class before the exam. In addition, she does a review before the exam. I bet if you had a different professor it would be a lot easier...Hang in there!! HUGS!!

Irish_Mist, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2013

It isn't that I find 8 hours incredibly unreasonable. Its just that I really don't have the time. The only other biology class I have taken was done a few years ago. I'm one of those students who, before this class, never really had to try hard at school. I guess I learned through this that any biology class requires a lot more time to study. I think I may have overloaded myself a bit.

Thank you, professional. Reading your message was pretty encouraging. I think that I just have a rough professor in combination with my life situation. I plan on re-taking the class. I really want to be a nurse. I was just so afraid that this meant I couldn't be one. I refuse to give up!

professionalgirl80 · Mar 28, 2013

It isn't that I find 8 hours incredibly unreasonable. Its just that I really don't have the time. The only other biology class I have taken was done a few years ago. I'm one of those students who, before this class, never really had to try hard at school. I guess I learned through this that any biology class requires a lot more time to study. I think I may have overloaded myself a bit.
Thank you, professional. Reading your message was pretty encouraging. I think that I just have a rough professor in combination with my life situation. I plan on re-taking the class. I really want to be a nurse. I was just so afraid that this meant I couldn't be one. I refuse to give up!

Trust me a Nutrition class does not defy whether you would be nurse or not. We just have to take this class because in nursing school from what I heard some of the material involves some nutrition.

meeep, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2013

If you don't have the time, you should retake the class when you do have the time.

LaceElaine · Mar 31, 2013

I'm in the similar situation. Don't be so hard in yourself. Nutrition is an easy A class. Or it SHOULD be. The thing is, every now and then, you come across a professor that feels the need to make an easy class more challenging than it needs to be. I took it last semester and it was extremely easy. Now I'm in intro to ethics and I feel the same way. The tests are Much more difficult than they need to be. My professor is a very smart man, but he doesn't understand that not all of his students are quite as smart. All the questions are trick questions and have words that are beyond me. It's not your fault, it's the teacher. I'm not saying that the teacher is a bad teacher either. It may only be that you're not compatible or that you've had more important things to concentrate on. Don't beat yourself up. It is what it is. It's not the end of the world to fail a class. It happens to the best of us. Just pick yourself up and try again with another teacher. You can do this.

Irish_Mist, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2013

Lace, thank you for the word of encouragement. I thought nutrition would be a breeze. I honestly think it is the professor. Most of the test questions are trick questions... Even on multiple choice! Some professors think they're challenging a student when really, they're setting a lot of them up to fail. Thank you for putting things into perspective. I was beating myself up about this but have decided to "dust the dirt off" and try again. I want to be a nurse so I need to work hard to get there and not let obstacles like this get in the way.

maddiem · Apr 1, 2013

Her tests are outrageously hard, riddled with trick questions, AND... she recommended I study 8 hours a week! I am in over my head here. I don't have time to study 8 hours a week for ONE class and I already am under so much stress with all my other obligations.

I don't mean to be rude...but 8 hours is really a reasonable amount of time to be studying for class like nutrition. Its going to be a very important asset to have when you are in nursing school/when you become a nurse. You need to be able to assess people's dietary needs and make meal plans for them. Someone may have diabetes and you need to know how to make a meal plan for someone with that disease. Nutrition was a hard class for me too, but I managed to get an A because I did study 8 hours a week. That's only 2 hours of studying 4 days a week. And when you get to nursing school, you will have a lot of classes that require more than 8 hours a week of study time.

Irish_Mist, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2013

Maddiem,

I don't take what you said as rudeness at all. I welcome feedback because it will help me. I definitely plan to buckle down and do the recommended 8 hours plus. I agree that nutrition would be an asset to a nurse so it is important to understand.

morte, LPN, LVN · Apr 3, 2013

Frankly, nutrition is under taught. it should not be an easy A. It truly is the basis for human wellness.

queserasera, RN · Apr 3, 2013

My nutrition class was far more challenging that what I was expecting. It was actually a lot of physiology and chemistry. I got the bare minimum for an A.