Honestly, just how helpful is o-chem?

[Rhon1991]

I ended up auditing o-chem (for obvious reasons!) but know that I will most likely have to at least get a C in it before applying to CRNA schools. For you CRNAs and SRNAs out there, honestly, how is o-chem helpful to know? I understand that you have to have an extensive knowledge base concering the anesthetic agents you use but dont you get all the info you need in the core classes concerning the drugs you deliver? I have heard CRNAs laugh and say "I remember this much about o-chem" as they hold their two fingers like 1 centimeter apart.... what agony to go thru, and for what? I realize each school have their specific requirements, all i can say is, i will be keeping my eye open for the one who might not require o-chem, if there IS even one... but then again, I will be going for a Masters of Science in Anesthesia, right?... i think i may have no choice here! please shed some light on this so I can take the o-chem with a purpose in mind! (other than obtaining my CRNA!) Thanks

[WntrMute2]

Organic chem dealt with topics such as pKa, krebs cycle, glycolosys, enzymes, antagonists (competitive, non-competitive), solvents, cellular membranes, 1st messenger, 2nd messenger proteins, G-proteins, a variety of cellular membrane pumps, electron transport, ADP, ATP, NAD, etc. These are all topics that one needs to be familiar with when deciding on drug choices. Why pick Inocor when coming off pump vs. Dobutrx for instance helps if a little O-chem is understood. Sorry if I came across harsh.

[Brenna's Dad]

I agree with all the above responses. I did not take O-chem, but wish that I had. It is a must to understanding pharmacology. In fact, pharmacology is ALL about organic chemistry.

Instead, I learned O-chemistry as i went along my pharmacology course. But it would have been immeasureably helpful.

If I had it to do over again, I would take it and ensure that I did well in it. Not only for the grade, but also for the knowledge.

[London88]

I took biochem in the past, and it made a big difference when I took pharmacolgy. Pharamcology is not the easiest of classes, and I don,t know how some of the students survived without biochem or organic chem.

[dianacs]

What about o-chem lab? Important or not so important? I ask because in this case the lecture is a separate course from the lab, as opposed to gen chem where lab + lecture are all rolled into one course. Timewise, I'd rather do the o-chem lecture only. Thoughts?

[keermie]

I had taken organic I with the lab. Then, I elected for an organic II coorifice in the summer. It was too intense, and I ended up dropping the lab. Granted they are considerably different coorifices their structure was exactly the same, and I was able to grasp plenty from the classes (sometimes not so much ). It also depends on how you learn. For some people it really helped to put things together, but for some (like me) it was a painstakingly difficult task in that, "just give me the right precipitate already! I don't care how at this point"! Needless to say, I know little of the application of coorifice material to the lab. I would just contact the schools to which you are applying to find out for sure.

[Brenna's Dad]

I would just take the lecture

[dianacs]

OK, then, 2 semesters of organic or 1?

[SCHMEGGA]

O-chem is somewhat helpful for pharm (as stated). Other than that you will not use it much at all. One semester should be plenty.

[kevro1013]

For my BSN i had to take 1 semester of inorganic, 1 semester of organic with some biochem mixed in. Does anyone think this is enough for CRNA school? I have heard by some that the schools will teach you all that you will need provided you have some background.

Questions? Comments? Snide Remarks?