Can you succeed in BSN programs without Chemisty?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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I am awful at it and want to know if I can be successful without it. The programs I am applying to do not require any Chemistry.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I was a Chem major until I barely passed 2nd semester inorganic. Have a BS in Biology and my BSN. I got enough from what I did and it is valuable, bit you will be allrightwith out it. Think ahead though-you might need it somewhere down the line.

Of all the things I took away from various chemistry classes, the most valuable was how to do dimensional analysis. Use it all the time for medical math exams. I am horrible at remembering formulas.

Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown, PCU.

I am only in an ADN program, but Chemistry is not a requirement of it. However, three of the BSN programs I am looking into also do not require it. I know other programs though that have required it. I suppose it just depends on your state and your school.

Dimensional Analysis is the most valuable thing I ever took out of high school Chem. You can learn DA without taking chem. I learned DA through my nursing program's dosage calc class, and the most chem I've ever needed to know was involved the human body and that I learned in A&P. Never really used the rest of it.

You do not have to be great at chemistry to be a great nurse but it is really very helpful to at least take a college level chemistry. Even if you struggle through it, to at least get an understanding of what you do not know is an invaluable tool late on.

Specializes in ICU.

My BSN program technically required chemistry, but I placed out. I last took chemistry in high school in 2005, and took the AP exam then which got me credit for two semesters of chemistry. By the time I went to nursing school from 2010-2013, I didn't remember a dang thing about chemistry. I still graduated with honors. I would say a lack of chemistry knowledge is not going to break you!

I am an ADN, and I was required to take chemistry. I'm really surprised to hear that some BSN programs do not require it.

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

There was some basic chemistry in my A&P. Was not required for my ADN; of course that was in the previous century. My RN to BSN didn't require it either and I finished that 18 months ago. My graduate program is not requiring it either but I don't think most do except perhaps I imagine most CRNA programs might.

I am an ADN, and I was required to take chemistry. I'm really surprised to hear that some BSN programs do not require it.

Me, too! My ADN program required it, why would a BSN program not?

Did my course in chem give me some special edge in nursing? Not in the least. But at least I don't have to take it again if I keep continuing my education ;)

Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

I didn't have to take it at my college, and I didn't, but I hear others say it helped with understanding algebra and acid base balances in nursing school.

It definitely helps build a foundation of understanding how chemicals interact in the body, not just in terms of acidosis and alkalosis.

my ADN program didn't require it, but my BSN did. I had to google "dimensional analysis" because I had no idea what it was, and that is because it was called the factor label method at my school. I did learn it in my chem class (that I took before my ADN program) and I really struggled with it. When I found out I needed it for my med calc class at my ADN school, I was very worried. But for some strange reason I had no issue with it in nursing school. Go figure.

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