Aspiring nursing student .. Please help :/

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I may be jumping the gun here but I just took my first exam in chemistry and I hardly passed.. I know that I need chemistry as a pre requisite for other very significant courses for the nursing program. I know I still have time to improve my grade in chemistry being that it was my first exam, usually I'm not one to put my bad grade on the professor but she hardly taught the information that's on the exam, she spent so much time teaching us information that she says "we won't really need to know" on top of that you can hardly understand her when she speaks. So I guess what I'm trying to figure out is considering that nursing is a competitive field especially in New York would getting a B or C in chemistry ruin my chances of getting into a good nursing program? If I get a C should I retake it ? Thanks so much for your time and your help in advance :/

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Chemistry is HARD. Trust me, I have a bachelor degree in Chem. My very first chem test I FAILED. Like flat out got a 40 on it. Being that I had never gotten anything less than a B in my life up until that point I was completely devastated. Get help. Find a tutor, camp out in your professor's office, watch youtube videos (I hear Kahn Academy is great), work problems from as many different sources as possible. Learning chemistry is not like learning biology - you can't just memorize things. It's like learning a new language. You learn concepts and then apply them to new scenarios. Once you "get it" you will be set, it's just getting there that takes some time. You can PM me if you have any trouble or need specific sources.

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Good luck to you! I'm almost done with NS - thank God. I wouldn't sweat it. My nursing program accepts anyone who meets it's requirements, a 2.75 in pre-reqs. Then, you just have to pass an extremely rigorous program! I hated chemistry, I got a B or C, but self-taught. You couldn't understand the teacher, so I just looked at his ppts and was okay. I'd focus on getting good grades in A&P, micro, etc...personally.

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I failed my first Chemistry exam when working on my BSN. I learned how the instructor tested, I got another resource than the required text and I wrote notes during the lecture times. My lab partner and I would study together which definitely helped. Don't sweat the first exam, probably most of the class failed. Get another resource, get a tutor, set up time with the instructor if you do not understand what is being taught. Keep up with your studies because Chemistry builds on itself and if you do not understand the early sections the later sections will be harder. Just do better next time!! Good Luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I know that I need chemistry as a pre requisite for other very significant courses for the nursing program.
It dpends on the program. Many of the nursing programs in my area do not require chemistry as a prerequisite or corequisite course at all. All I needed was A&P I, A&P II and microbiology as far as science coursework was concerned.
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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
It dpends on the program. Many of the nursing programs in my area do not require chemistry as a prerequisite or corequisite course at all. All I needed was A&P I, A&P II and microbiology as far as science coursework was concerned.

SaMe here. Of 4 local programs only 1 required Chem.

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I wouldn't freak out yet over one exam. Now you have a better grasp of what the professor's exams will be like. Take the time outside of class to focus on the info that you think they are most likely to test over....and look up info in other sources (youtube videos and khan academy were huge for me through chem)....you will likely find someone who explains things in a way you understand.

and if you need to retake it there is no shame in that......

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Chem. is hard. I had to take it twice. But yes, it can ruin your chances in Nursing school options. Some schools want grades of only A or B, so it all depends. Study as much as you can. Use all your resources. Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

You'll have to look at programs in your area to see what grades cut it. They changed my school to requiring a B in chem around the time I applied with my C (thankfully I was able to get in).

Even being a C chem student, I did fine with everything. I understood enough (and it had been a good 8 years since I'd taken that chem class) to get me through pharm and such, but I think it did make physiology a bit harder than it would have been had I had a stronger understanding of chem (still got a B).

When you get into nursing school, you'll find that a lot of the learning is independent. Your teachers won't teach you everything you need to know. A lot of it falls on you. Start this practice now, as it will serve you well when that time comes.

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