Do you recommend taking Chemistry before nursing school?

[LadyLamp]

Hi everyone,

I'm a pre-nursing ABSN hopeful, who is currently taking prereqs. I know this forum is for students already in nursing school, but I really wanted to ask you all your thoughts on taking chemistry before nursing school since this would be applicable to your studies now.

The top program I am interested in recommends chemistry but does not require it as a prereq. I am willing to take it if it helps me in nursing school, and for nursing in general, but it would entail my postponing my application for a semester. Do you think it's worth it?

We have covered a good bit of what would fall under the umbrella of "Chemistry for Biology" in A&P 1 this semester, but I know this is just the tip of the iceberg. I really want to be a good nurse someday, and have a solid base, not cut corners. But I'm wondering how important putting an application on hold is for a prereq that is not required.

What do you all think? OK to skip or foolhardy to omit?

Thanks!

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

I would take it. If you go on to further your eduction, a lot I schools will require it. I know you have to have it for all the NP and CRNA programs in my area.

[Malorymug]

Yes. Other than the obvious reasons, Chem really helped me with fluids and electrolytes and drug calculations.

[BusiestBSN]

I say take it, especially if it is recommended... that means they would probably prefer for you to do so.

[Brownbear1]

Biology and Chemistry go hand in hand certainly if you want to really master your study material chemistry will be valuable in your studies. I have never heard any student say Wow I think I know to much!

Good luck in your studies

[christina731]

I would take it if it's recommended. They probably want to make it a prerequisite some time in the future if they're recommending it. My program doesn't require so I didn't take it and I'm doing fine and dandy without it. But there has to be some reason for them to recommend it.

[gardenfan]

I spent a whole year to take prerequisite courses. chem was not required but I took it anywAy. I am so glad I did. it is the foundation of your patho and pharm.. Algebra and basic biology are essential too. the knowledge is built on one another .

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

After years doing patient care and having to really understand what was going on inside that skin to do it well, I find it incredibly depressing that some people can get through nursing school without every taking a chemistry course. This question should never be asked; it should be a requirement, without discussion.

It's all chemistry in there. Chemistry also gives you practice and understanding of things outside the body that you might be putting in: solutions, electrolytes, osmolality/osmolarity, proteins; rationales for why things work in there; and last, practice in the math skills you'll need in other areas.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Count me in with Chem. It is VERY helpful when you take Pharmacology, understanding acid-base balance, electrolytes, hypotonic/isotonic/hypertonic solutions, etc. Plus, the familiarity you'll get with dimensional analysis goes a LONG way when you do your dosage calculations.

If you want to go on to NP, CRNA, etc., you'll need Chem.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

As some people here have said,or make that pretty much everybody, taking chemistry should definitely be a prerequisite to any nursing program. If chemistry is not a prerequisite for your program, you should take it anyway because if you wish to further your education later, most likely you will be required to have it for that educational program anyway. Also, there are only a couple of ways that we do med calculations, dimensional analysis is one of them. If you take the right chemistry course, you will become very very familiar with dimensional analysis and be able to apply it during med calculations. Although I can do dimensional analysis, I generally prefer ratio and proportion. I just find it easier to wrap my brain around that.

In short, the answer is: take the Chemistry course. Make sure it's not a survey course, but a full-on Chemistry course because that course is more likely to transfer to other colleges and universities without much difficulty.

[LadyLamp]

Wow, we definitely have a consensus here! Thank you all so much for taking time out to respond to my post with your wise words. It really helped that you provided practical examples from your clinical experiences: That sealed the deal for me. I really appreciate it.

I was leaning toward taking chemistry, but now I have no doubt. There are so many good points here that I'm definitely going to reread your posts when/if I get tempted to take a shortcut with my prereqs.

GrnTea: I really see what you mean about the fact that this question should not be asked...as it is, I have been wondering since the beginning of my A&P class why chemistry is not a prereq for it, let alone for nursing school. :-/

Thanks again for all your responses.