how important is chemistry ?

Hotflashn · May 22, 2008

I have to say that I think it is very helpful in understanding the reactions that happen in the body. If you have already completed your prereqs that have chemistry components - physio, micro, nutrition and did ok without it, you might be ok. It is helpful for pharm as well. Intermediate chem was a prereq for physio and micro at ADNs that I applied to, but not really a prereq for the program. So, there was no getting around it, unless a person took those classes at a school that did not require it and transferred in. Chem and O chem/biochem were also prereqs at the BSN program, I applied. Just finished up - thank goodness - so glad to have that behind me. I did not love chem but I do think it is helpful and interesting. I think having a basic understanding of chemistry will really help.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · May 22, 2008

chemestry is the key to reactions, medicine are chemicals that react to your bio system, salts and other

AtomicWoman · May 22, 2008

I adore chemistry, so I am prejudiced. :)

Here's why I think it's helpful:

1. As Hotflashn said, it will help you understand other courses better: A&P in particular and Pharm in nursing school. Right now, I am taking microbiology, and understanding chemistry is helping me a lot; I feel like I get more out of the micro class. Overall, you will understand the processes of the human body better if you understand the chemistry that's going on in it.

2. Chemistry teaches you to think in a very orderly, step-by-step way. This will help you with critical thinking skills, and it also teaches you to instinctively know when an answer just isn't "right", even if if you're not sure why yet. The problem-solving approaches and methods are definitely transferable skills -- and important ones.

3. Chemistry emphasizes the method of dimensional analysis. I'm not in nursing school yet, but other nursing students have told me that being comfortable with dimensional analysis is a big help with medication calculations in NS.

But that's advice from someone who is fond of saying, "Chemistry is everything!". :lol2:

Sunset87, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN, CNM · May 22, 2008

Chemistry isn't required in my school for the ADN, but it's required for the BSN completion program. I see how it could be helpful because I took A&P I last semester and I'm taking A&P II now and the chemistry parts confuse me. I understand everything else, but have a hard time with anything involving chemistry.

Does anyone know any good chemistry study guides for people who haven't taken chemistry?

I took a dimensional analysis class last semester.

l_wheat · May 23, 2008

HI, Chem is very helpful in that it gets you to think about things in a molecular level

which for me was a WHOLE new thing. You learn to take things apart and analyze them. Plus you will be a whiz at dimensional analysis which you WILL be using throughout nursing for meds, measuring treatment effectiveness and just everything. So take the class, and try to enjoy it. Lloyd

Pinkster · May 23, 2008

I love science, and am really good at math.... I bomb at chemestry. I know the basics, but I just can't get into it, bones and muscles are way more interesting because they are tangible. Molecules, eh not so much.

But even I agree as much as I hate it, some of it is essential to nursing, you have to know how everything works at the molecular level to understand how it works at any other level. And any BSN program I have ever seen, requires Chem.

js408 · May 25, 2008

chemistry is a very hard subject, even for people who like dry sciencey stuff.

if i were in a hospital, i would want the nurse injecting medicine into me to know exactly what this medicine will do and not just blindly follow the doctor's orders.

i'm amazed at how many nurses really don't understand what the medicines they're injecting are doing even on a biological level (not even on the chemical/molecular level).

can you be an excellent nurse without knowing every last thing about the chemistry and pharmacology of what you're injecting? absolutely. but i would rather be under care of a nurse who knows exactly what he/she is doing.

hi! the nursing program that i am really hoping to get into doesn't required chemistry as a prereq but all the other schools in the area do. my question is chemistry really a vital part of the nursing program should i go ahead and take it just to have the extra knowledge and maybe as a backup in case i don't get accepted into first choice or skip it and see what happens? any advice helpfull. thanks

msdizzydolores · May 28, 2008

I know all of the programs that I am looking into require Chemistry. My question is this: I just spoke with a friend I've known for the past 8 years (we worked at my last employer together for 6 years-started on the same day!!) and she just graduated from the BSN2 program at my current POE.

She advised me to take Chem Summer II of this year because EVERYTHING will not be broached in the 6 wk class. I know some people say not to take it during the summer because it's soooo condensed, but she makes a great point about not everything being able to be taught like in a regular 13-15 week course. She said the basic Chem class is fairly easy and not as intense at more advanced Chem classes.

What would you all suggest? I've never taken Chem before and I am scared to death.

js408 · May 29, 2008

I don't know about the school you want to get into, but mine makes their acceptance decision based on the TEAC score and the GPA of the most recent 30 credits taken. So it would be a very bad thing to get a low grade on the class you take right before applying to nursing school.

She advised me to take Chem Summer II of this year because EVERYTHING will not be broached in the 6 wk class. I know some people say not to take it during the summer because it's soooo condensed, but she makes a great point about not everything being able to be taught like in a regular 13-15 week course. She said the basic Chem class is fairly easy and not as intense at more advanced Chem classes.
What would you all suggest? I've never taken Chem before and I am scared to death.

msdizzydolores · May 29, 2008

I dont know what to do. I had planned on taking the Chem class this fall with Nutrition and API in the spring, then APII Summer I and Microbiology in Summer II 2009. I wouldn't start NS until Aug/Sept 2009.

Any suggestions? I've never had Chem and I want to get it out of the way. My sister is a chem/physics freak...Im the biology freak/master.

She is willing to help and taking it alone this summer would help me to concentrate on one class and one class only.

Plus the professor who is teaching it has great ratings from all of his students on www.ratemyprofessors.com

TELL ME WHAT TO DO lol