Bad at chemistry

lalajenn · Nov 26, 2005

Nope not crazy at all. I am currently taking Chemistry and have never had Chemistry before. I can't wait till this semester ends just because of Chemistry. At times it is really confusing but the tutors at the school and fellow classmates are a big help. I know if I wasn't in a study group, I wouldn't be doing too good. Don't let Chemistry scare you from doing nursing! :) Good luck!! It really is an interesting class and the labs are a lot of fun.

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

I made a C in high school Chemistry and failed college Chemistry with a D the first go-around. However, I passed it with a high B the second time, as I had no other courses to take that same quarter...and had the TIME to study, that this course demanded. I've never been any good at grasping abstract concepts, but if I can do it, so can you! :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

Don't let it intimidate you. People go into chemistry with such fear "I'm no good at Math" and "I'm no go in Chemistry" that their fears overwelm them.

Good luck.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

In high school chemistry, I won an award one 6-weeks for "highest grade point improvement".

....We won't talk about what that grade was the 6-weeks before. :chuckle

Even with just not 'getting' in in high school, I just passed an 8-week General Chemistry college course with an A.

Don't let chemistry scare you away. :)

Good luck & welcome to AllNurses.com!

stpauligirl · Nov 26, 2005

I was wondering if anyone started thinking about getting into the nursing program not knowing chemistry very well. I really want to become a nurse, but I am weak at chemistry. I bought myself chemistry books and all I am doing is reading those books, hoping to learn it well enough to be able to pass the pre-entrance exam.
Please tell me what you think. Is it too crazy?:uhoh21:

Same here, always struggled with math. After not being in college for a few years jumped right into Intro to Chem and did good. Find a tutor if necessary.

Laura77598 · Nov 27, 2005

Hi ,

I was VERY bad at math and sciences of all types. What got me through Chemistry was a Intro to chemistry class. I took an Introduction to Chemistry class. It had no lab, It was a 1310 class, and all the teacher focussed on was putting electrons together to make atoms, and atoms to make compounds, how different compounds react together and so on. This really helped me understand the nuts and bolts of how chemistry worked. I AM NOT A MATH PERSON!!! I have a Husband for that (electrical engineer at NASA)!

Anyway, The way I understood chemistry was by thinking of it as a cooking class. Focus on what you are putting together, look at how their charges work to either stabilize or upset one another, and see if you can predict how they will react when you combine them. You know how to work a puzzle? a cardboard puzzle-you see how the pieces fit together and decide if they have the right shape to go to another piece, that is how you look at atoms of different elements. First you learn about electron shells, how many electrons each shell has, and how many electrons each element needs to become stable. Then you figure out which element can give you what you need to become a stable ion, compound, or whatever. Many elements need each other to stabilize each other ( a symbiotic relationship) That is how water works. Hydrogen is a very unstable element, combine 2 atoms of Hydrogen (an unstable element by itself) with one atom of oxygen (another unstable element) and the atoms fill each others missing electron shell. Once the electron shells become filled, they are a stable compound called water H2O Really if you understand how atoms of elements work to stabilize each other (the give electrons sometimes, and accept electrons at others) you will understand how the basics of chemistry works.

I highly recommend getting the Chemistry Book for Dummies!!!

I have used the For Dummies series ever since I have been in college, and it really helps!!! I have the Anatomy and Physiology For Dummies book; it's great!!!

The way to take charge of a difficult course is to show it who's boss! You are the student here, you will master the class! Take that attitude, show your professor that attitude (it helps him look favorably on you if you show a little confidence) and read the For dummies series, and get on the internet and look for Chemistry help sites, other students here will probably offer you suggestions. Also see if your college has a tutoring program for Chemistry. Other than that, Relax, Chemistry is merely the science of how atoms of elements combine to make other compunds. Can you cook? Do you know that if you combine eggs, water, sugar, and flour with baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate chips, you get cookies, right? just pay attention to how much of each ingredient and put it in in the right quantity at the right time for the appropriate cooking time at the appropriate temperature, and you get cookies,Right?

Chemistry works the same way

Those are my pearls of wisdom,

Hope they help,

Laura

hospitalstaph · Nov 27, 2005

I was wondering if anyone started thinking about getting into the nursing program not knowing chemistry very well. I really want to become a nurse, but I am weak at chemistry. I bought myself chemistry books and all I am doing is reading those books, hoping to learn it well enough to be able to pass the pre-entrance exam.
Please tell me what you think. Is it too crazy?:uhoh21:

Hi!

Chem was so difficult for me!! I was not the only one though. Our class started out with 60 and only 22 finished the class.

My advice:

1) Cry if you need to and then get back to work!

2) Let your instructor know that you are struggling. If they are very good at their job, they will work with you to help you succeed.

3) Buy more than one chem book such as Chem for Dummies etc. I used two of these type of books in addition to my text and I did find it to be helpful.

4) Know that it s*cks but you will make it!

Tracy

olanurse2be · Nov 27, 2005

:flowersfo Thank you very much for all your advise!!!!!!!!

I feel so much more confident. I CAN do it!:chuckle

Fun2, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2005

:flowersfo thank you very much for all your advise!!!!!!!!
i feel so much more confident. i can do it!:chuckle

yes you can!

Annabelle57 · Nov 28, 2005

adding my $.02 of motivation:

i sucked big-time in both high school chemistry (c-) and my horrible, horrible "chemistry of life" course in college the first go-around (d). ugh. also did sucky in all my math classes: my best was a semester of algebra (b-) and the worst was a semester of trig that i nearly failed (d). i had convinced myself that i was not a science or math person - i actually decided not to do med school because even though i was passionate about healthcare (still am) i never thought i could survive all those science courses.

since i started on the nursing path (a career i find more attractive than md - another story) i have not made anything but an a in my science and math courses. wow! years of convincing myself that i was not equipped for science and math suddenly turned on their heads... and i'm signing up for chemistry for the spring semester (last prerequisite). i'm confident about it - and you should be, too! chem ain't easy, but i'm arming myself with lots of notecards, a periodic table (copied, shrunk, and laminated) from a chem book, the aim to find good study partners, and a great professor to start with (so i'm told).

also, nursing isn't extremely chemistry-heavy, though a basic understanding of chemistry is essential for understanding the chem portion of the other sciences (a & p, micro, etc). don't stress out too much over it.

good luck! don't let past struggles and roadblocks dictate your future success. i have confidence in you, too! :) :)

stpauligirl · Nov 28, 2005

adding my $.02 of motivation:
i sucked big-time in both high school chemistry (c-) and my horrible, horrible "chemistry of life" course in college the first go-around (d). ugh. also did sucky in all my math classes: my best was a semester of algebra (b-) and the worst was a semester of trig that i nearly failed (d). i had convinced myself that i was not a science or math person - i actually decided not to do med school because even though i was passionate about healthcare (still am) i never thought i could survive all those science courses.
since i started on the nursing path (a career i find more attractive than md - another story) i have not made anything but an a in my science and math courses. wow! years of convincing myself that i was not equipped for science and math suddenly turned on their heads... and i'm signing up for chemistry for the spring semester (last prerequisite). i'm confident about it - and you should be, too! chem ain't easy, but i'm arming myself with lots of notecards, a periodic table (copied, shrunk, and laminated) from a chem book, the aim to find good study partners, and a great professor to start with (so i'm told).
also, nursing isn't extremely chemistry-heavy, though a basic understanding of chemistry is essential for understanding the chem portion of the other sciences (a & p, micro, etc). don't stress out too much over it.
good luck! don't let past struggles and roadblocks dictate your future success. i have confidence in you, too! :) :)

the two chem classes that are required for our nursing programs are specifically designed for nursing majors, so they are different than the regular chem classes. lots of conversions, dealing with the metric system etc.