CRNA Science Prerequisites

Shiner50 · Mar 10, 2013

I have actually been researching this very topic this week! I only have one college level Chem course, General Chemistry I. I am planning to apply to CRNA programs this year, so I don't have the time to take Gen Chem II and then O Chem. I am looking into taking online Biochem from either University of New England or UC Berkeley Extension. They are both completely online and you can start them at any time. Yesterday I sent emails to the CRNA program directors of the schools I am interested in to see if they will accept these courses. Keeping my fingers crossed!

commonsense · Mar 10, 2013

I have actually been researching this very topic this week! I only have one college level Chem course, General Chemistry I. I am planning to apply to CRNA programs this year, so I don't have the time to take Gen Chem II and then O Chem. I am looking into taking online Biochem from either University of New England or UC Berkeley Extension. They are both completely online and you can start them at any time. Yesterday I sent emails to the CRNA program directors of the schools I am interested in to see if they will accept these courses. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I believe you have to have General Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry I as prerequisites for Biochemistry at the University of New England. I have not checked out UC Berkely, but UNE is so ridiculously expensive. Let me know if you come across any other online courses such as this.

Shiner50 · Mar 11, 2013

The UNE website says:

"If you have a degree in nursing, you are qualified to take this course. Prerequisites are one year of college chemistry and a general course in biology. Our experience is that most nurses have an informal background in organic even though they have not had a formal course. Most of nursing chemistry is taught under other titles."

I only have a half year of Gen Chem, but the website also says to call/email to discuss your certain case. I am going to send them an email right now to see if I qualify. Yes, it is ridiculously expensive ($1320)! I have tuition reimbursement through my current RN job, so I will be fine paying it. If I didn't have tuition reimbursement, I would probably be looking at other options.

UC Berkeley Extension charges $770 for the course. If the CRNA programs I have contacted will accept these courses, then I am going to pick one and go with it. If not, I will keep searching and let you know!

Nurse_ · Mar 11, 2013

Depends on the school you are going into.

CAL. STATE FULLERTON - BSN

USC - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology

Best bet is to contact the school you want to get into so that you are clear with the requirements.

Shiner50 · Mar 11, 2013

I heard back from Baylor and UT Houston... they both will accept UNE and UC Berkeley online chemistry. I also heard back from the UNE Biochem professor and he is allowing me to register for Biochem without taking Gen Chem II or O-Chem.

commonsense · Mar 11, 2013

I heard back from Baylor and UT Houston... they both will accept UNE and UC Berkeley online chemistry. I also heard back from the UNE Biochem professor and he is allowing me to register for Biochem without taking Gen Chem II or O-Chem.

Awesome news man. Did you just email the instructor and ask if you could enroll in Biochem without taking the prerequisites?

Shiner50 · Mar 12, 2013

I emailed him last night and he replied back today asking me to call him. We discussed the course over the phone and at the end of the conversation he said I could enroll. He said that some nurses are very successful with Biochem and some really struggle. He suggested finding an old edition of the textbook and doing the objectives for chapter 5, which I believe is the O-chem chapter. He said if that is not too overwhelming then I should be fine in Biochem.

commonsense · Mar 12, 2013

I emailed him last night and he replied back today asking me to call him. We discussed the course over the phone and at the end of the conversation he said I could enroll. He said that some nurses are very successful with Biochem and some really struggle. He suggested finding an old edition of the textbook and doing the objectives for chapter 5, which I believe is the O-chem chapter. He said if that is not too overwhelming then I should be fine in Biochem.

Nice job, I really hope I'll be able to do the same thing with Organic Chemistry, maybe it's the same instructor.

Scooby-Dooby-Doo · May 29, 2013

I plan to take an intro to biochemisty and organic chemistry course (2 in 1). I already met the prereq for it which was inorganic chem. do you think this would count? I feel like it would cover both biochem and orgchem classes.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2013

I did the series at community college here. 3 gen chems to get into ochem. Took one of those as I ran out of time but the plan was take the other two to get into biochem. No one around me had an easier way to get into biochem. I assume I had needed all that to succeed in biochem I don't know. The online courses seemed to expensive at the time and I knew I would need some chem up front before the une, etc courses to understand what was going on. I have read about many people struggling in them over the years. I also took a gen physics class for fun one summer too. Good luck! I also had planned to take medicinal chem thru vcu but haven't gotten around to it yet...

JSBSN · Sep 25, 2013

Can anyone say that their completion of UC Berkeley's intro to ochem or biochem classes helped them get into their Nurse Anesthetist Program? I know those classes are not at the level of science classes required by, for example, chemistry majors. But I also heard CRNA schools don't expect applicants to necessary have that level of understanding prior to enrollment.

I took my science classes when I was not motivated or serious about school, so I need to enhance my science GPA. My BSN is a 3.5 and recently I got an A in grad level patho.

I'm not afraid of doing the heavier classes, it will just be much more difficult from a time and financial standpoint. Any help would be appreciated.