Do I need Chemistry?

nrselisa · Aug 19, 2002

The policy at my school is that you had to of taken chemistry in the last 5 years. Check with your school, they should be able to help you :)

Good Luck!

Lisa

Love-A-Nurse · Aug 19, 2002

at the school i am attending for my asn, we did not have to take chemistry. i will take it because i am going to get my bsn soon after the asn program.

you can always take the class over for a better grade or you can (audit it) if not for any other reason than to help "refresh" youself in this course.

sfsn · Aug 19, 2002

Hi, Hidi74.

I agree with your friends. Do you have to take microbio and physiology, or have you already? I'm only in the 3rd semester of my BSN program, but so far I think those are the only 2 classes that require any understanding of chemistry.

When I started my program, I hadn't taken chem in 6 years, and I have been fine. I can't think of any time I've had to use it, and from what I see in clinicals, nurses don't either. Any chem you might have to know, you'd learn in nursing classes or on the job, not from a chem class. I don't think anyone expects that any of us actually remember chemistry.

This is just my experience so far--hope it helps!

colleen10 · Aug 19, 2002

Hi Hidi,

I have a BS in Agricultural Science so I have taken a lot of Chem, Organic Chem, and Molecular Chemistry and would you believe that I practically failed every single one of them and don't remember a single thing about any of them. I didn't even understand it when I was taking it!!!!

I just don't get Chem at all. Anyway, I go to Community College and they have 4 different campuses. At the first campus I went to register the advisor said I didn't have to take Chem over again because my Chem courses have been completed within the last 10 years. At the second campus I went to the advisor there told me that I did have to take Basic Chem over again plus Algebra.

I am defering to the First Advisors advice. I have allready completed Anatomy and Physiology and this semester I will take Microbiology. I did very well in A&P, even the "chemical" aspects of it. Not to toot my own horn but I got an "A" in it and I took it in 10 weeks during the summer.

I did think about taking Chem over again, so that I at least was refreshed in the subject matter but so far, what I know about it from the past 10 years has done me just fine. If I end up having a really hard time in Micro then I'll consider taking it again. But my school only requires the most basic 100 level Chem course so, I figure I'm not missing much anyway.

Of course, I haven't embarked yet on my actual Nursing courses and Clinicals so I can't say if much Chem will be used in those classes. But so far, for Pre and Co-requisites I haven't had problems not having chemistry fresh in my mind.

Take some of your classes where Chem is a pre-requisite and if you have trouble with the Chemical Mechanics in those classes take the Chem.

Good Luck to you!!!!

Col

nursing 101 · Aug 19, 2002

My school requires you take Chem if you didn't have it in the last 3 years! On top of it you have to take a Chem prep class in order to advance to the actual Chem class that is required. Because of that I have to take Physio during the summer... Bummer!

Rena RN 2003, RN · Aug 19, 2002

my ASN program requires organic chem. and if you haven't had high school chem within 5 years, you have to take intro to chem before they even let you in to the organic class.

i hated chem.

Mkue · Aug 19, 2002

Oh ya.. they make a lot of $$ off of those Chem courses. The last college I attended, required about 5-6 Chem courses for the BSN..UGH..they labeled everything chemistry.. nutritional chemistry, bio chemistry, organic chem.. etc.. :eek:

studentOH · Aug 19, 2002

We had to take one class for the ADN and it was a joke...she would flip through the teacher's addition and say "They told me not to worry about teaching this to you people" when she came across certain subjects. In high school chem and bio seemed to complement each other for me. If they said you don't need it don't bother--you'll learn how to be a nurse at your first job and nowhere else.

Bri

dianthe1013 · Aug 20, 2002

The only reason I see for you to take it is if you plan on completing an RN-to-BSN bridge after you graduate. Most BSN programs will require it.

Donna :)

jschut, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2002

Hmmm....I would suggest a refresher course if you feel you need it.

I am going to take one with Algebra this spring, I think...

disher · Aug 21, 2002

I agree with SFSN any chemistry you need to know you will learn in your other nursing courses. I did not have high school chem and was able to complete a diploma nursing program and have almost completed a BScN. I can't really see how chemistry as a prerequisite is justified. The main detereminent is how much effort you put in to studying the courses your are already enrolled in.