Did taking Chemistry really help you become a good nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm looking at nursing programs and it seems only about 2/3 require Chem/organic Chem. To me, that seems like a lot of material that some nurses will have, while others won't.

Does knowing extensive Chemistry help in nursing school or in the hospital setting?

Specializes in being a Credible Source.

It depends, I suppose, on how you view a nurse.

If you think of a nurse primarily as a task-oriented technician whose job can be thoroughly documented in standard policies and procedures then perhaps not so much.

If you think of a nurse as a critical thinker, a problem solver, an analyst, a first responder, and as another brain trying to figure out what's happening with patients and how best to treat their individual presentations then yes, it's quite helpful.

Personally, I'm in the latter camp. I'd actually require basic physics, too.

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My CC ASN program is one of those that does not require Chemistry and it is a *huge* mistake. I have taken Chem and plan to take Organic for my own advanced education, and it is enormously helpful. People in my class are absolutely floundering pharm-wise, and go to pieces with electrolyte balance and shock. The organization of problems in Chem also helps with the math- nursing math should not be difficult, though sometimes a problem has many steps. The people who've had inadequate math and/or chem are painfully lost and don't understand why they can't use calculators.

I second the reply "all the science courses are the foundation..." as I'm practicing NCLEX questions, I see that the things I need to brush up on (though I have a year to go in NS) are from A&P and Micro, not nursing courses. If a program works as mine does, and most students have completed sciences as pre-reqs to get in, continue to review that material.

Thanks to all those who have validated my belief that Chem is going to be useful even though it's not required for my program. :up:

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I'm looking at nursing programs and it seems only about 2/3 require Chem/organic Chem. To me, that seems like a lot of material that some nurses will have, while others won't.

Does knowing extensive Chemistry help in nursing school or in the hospital setting?

Yep you need to know chemistry to be able to understand disease processes and medication reactions.

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Specializes in ED, Clinical Documentation.

yes i do!

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Specializes in Wound care, Surgery,Infection control.
I went to a BSN program that did not require chem . . . big mistake. If you want to get any respect and know what the hell you're talking about with physicians and other staff, get all the education you can. Nursing is one of the only healthcare professions that doesn't require a masters degree. We really shouldn't be eliminating courses from the curriculum on the chance that "maybe I won't need to use it everyday."

Dear raininghere : If you want to get any respect and know what the hell YOU are talking about , please do a little research before you post . " Nursing is one of the the only health care professions that does not require a masters degree " is absurd . What about Respiratory Therapist , CNA , LPN , OR Tech , Registered Nurse Associates Degree , X-Ray Tech , Wound Care etc..... I am not debating the fact that chemistry is a relevant , essential part of nursing , but your high and mighty BSN attitude is much more ignorant and harmful to the nursing profession than any weakness in chemistry .

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Dear raininghere : If you want to get any respect and know what the hell YOU are talking about , please do a little research before you post . " Nursing is one of the the only health care professions that does not require a masters degree " is absurd . What about Respiratory Therapist , CNA , LPN , OR Tech , Registered Nurse Associates Degree , X-Ray Tech , Wound Care etc..... I am not debating the fact that chemistry is a relevant , essential part of nursing , but your high and mighty BSN attitude is much more ignorant and harmful to the nursing profession than any weakness in chemistry .

Dear warmblanket: no need to jump all over me . . . I didn't say that nursing WAS the only profession that didn't require a masters degree, just that many others require more education (pharmacists, physical therapists, wound and ostomy nurse specialists, etc.). I also didn't attack any diploma/associate degree program - don't take it so personally. If you feel like it's a problem that you don't have a BSN, no one else does so get over it. You could make the argument that associate's degree programs have more hard science class requirements than do BSN programs who get lost in nursing theory nonsense. However, nurses have NOT done a good job promoting our professionalization. How many med students complain about having to take chemistry? Having more educated/smarter nurses (WHATEVER DEGREE YOU DECIDE TO GET) is only going to promote more evidence-based nursing care. And whatever you think my attitude is, I don't really know how that could be a bigger problem than a nurse who doesn't understand metabolic acidosis.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Um..not that I know of. I don't remember any of it anyway.

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Specializes in Neurovascular, Ortho, Community Health.
Dear raininghere : If you want to get any respect and know what the hell YOU are talking about , please do a little research before you post . " Nursing is one of the the only health care professions that does not require a masters degree " is absurd . What about Respiratory Therapist , CNA , LPN , OR Tech , Registered Nurse Associates Degree , X-Ray Tech , Wound Care etc..... I am not debating the fact that chemistry is a relevant , essential part of nursing , but your high and mighty BSN attitude is much more ignorant and harmful to the nursing profession than any weakness in chemistry .

Most of them would be considered paraprofessionals except for the RN, maaybe the RT. And WC is a nursing specialty so I'm confused as to why that's listed..

And I agree with everyone. As a professional, it is beneficial to have a liberal educational background. As a nurse, chemistry is so necessary. Acid-base balance, elyte imbalances, muscle contractions, principles of diffusion in relation to cell function, respiration, and elytes, kidney function, and pharm is basically a branch of chem. Come on. How are you going to explain to a patient what's going on in their body if you don't know?

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Yes, chemistry really will help you become a good nurse.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
It depends, I suppose, on how you view a nurse.

If you think of a nurse primarily as a task-oriented technician whose job can be thoroughly documented in standard policies and procedures then perhaps not so much.

If you think of a nurse as a critical thinker, a problem solver, an analyst, a first responder, and as another brain trying to figure out what's happening with patients and how best to treat their individual presentations then yes, it's quite helpful.

Personally, I'm in the latter camp. I'd actually require basic physics, too.

Ditto with the physics. When I worked with high-frequency vents--oscillators---you had to put on your physics hat and do it correctly to avoid popping little lungs.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I concur on some points some of the nurses make.

I find it ridiculous that pre-nursing students want to avoid CHEMISTRIES and MATH at all costs.

Why become a nurse? Nurses think, they don't just DO.

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I dont know. My ASN program doesn't require chem, but almost all of the basic chem concepts mentioned were reviewed in my Human Physiology class.

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