Most relevant/useful pre-nursing science class?

[bardone]

Hi all,

I hope to be starting nursing school next year, and I'd like to hear from nursing students (esp. those in BSN programs) which science classes they took that have been the most used/helpful/important in preparing them for nursing school itself.

I know A&P are very important, but are there any others you took that you value? Any you wish you'd taken?

[Jessicainsantafe]

Nursing Assistant, A&P, Algebra. Micro next semester, which some students say is hard, others say is great....guess I'll find out!

[Wrench Party]

Organic chemistry, chemistry (get absolutely comfortable with the metric system and performing conversions, because you

will need it to do medication administration), obviously biology, psych, micro, public speaking, writing, nutrition.

These are all classes I had in my past degree, or taking pre-reqs, before getting into my BSN.

Being fluent in Spanish would have helped in some of my clinicals, but that's another story.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

Which chemistry has been most useful: Gen Chem or Organic Chemistry? What about it has been useful?

Either or both, really. I took both for my previous degree.

Taking chemistry is useful for lots of reasons:

1) Stoichiometry - teaches you how to do unit conversions and dimensional analysis. You'll need this for medication math.

2) Acid/Base - most every nursing student I know or know of struggled with the concept of acid/base physiology in nursing school if they didn't have some background in chemistry. If you understand the chemistry behind it, acid/base physiology is really easy to grasp.

3) Fluids and electrolytes - osmosis, filtration, diffusion, and oncotic pressure gradients are basic concepts in chemistry, ones you're likely to learn in the first few weeks of any chemistry class. Being able to understand the way chemicals behave in solutions in varying environments from a molecular standpoint will be useful. As mentioned before regarding acid/base physiology - most every nursing student I know or know of struggled with the concepts of fluids and electrolytes if they didn't have some background in chemistry.

4) Physiology of the renal system - renal physiology, (well all physiology really, but it is most apparent in renal physiology) is all about chemistry. It combines the concepts of acid/base and fluids and electrolytes. It can be scarily confusing if you don't have some base understanding of how molecules behave.

5) All life is chemistry. It's as simple as that. The air we breathe is made up of molecules that must make their way across a semipermeable barrier. Our nutrients, being a complex combination of molecules, must be broken down by enzymes into molecular parts that our bodies can use. Our cells communicate with each other through chemical signals. Chemoreceptors sense microscopic physiological changes that inform homeostatic mechanisms. And every medication we give as nurses interacts with the human body on a chemical level.

In my opinion, chemistry should be an absolute requirement for all nursing programs.

[bardone]

Thanks, triquee, for that detailed response -- lots of useful stuff there. I also agree that Chem should be required for all nursng students. It's basic information.

Curious if anyone has thoughts about Lifespan Development psych classes... though I've taken it, I thought my DevPsych (prenatal - puberty) to be more useful in terms of outlining the fundamnentals that set the stage for psychological well-being later in life.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

Thanks, triquee, for that detailed response -- lots of useful stuff there. I also agree that Chem should be required for all nursng students. It's basic information.

Curious if anyone has thoughts about Lifespan Development psych classes... though I've taken it, I thought my DevPsych (prenatal - puberty) to be more useful in terms of outlining the fundamnentals that set the stage for psychological well-being later in life.

Lifespan Development will come in handy when you get to pediatric nursing. The first part of your peds course will likely be a review of all those developmental milestones.

[bardone]

triquee: thanks for the insight into Lifespan Development. I was under the impression that it'd actually be more useful in Gero.

The way things look now: I'm probably going to take another GenChem class and re-take Physiology (though I took it just this spring, my teacher was disorganized and emotionally volatile -- kind of a terrible experience. I did well grade-wise, but I want my knowledge in that area to be 100% solid.).

A nearby school also offers a specific Spanish for medical students course, which I'd like to take. My Spanish is pretty thin when it comes to medical vocabulary.

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

ScottE, you took pathophysiology before you enrolled in nursing school? I'm curious if your straight physio class helped with that.

I have the spring semester available to take a class or two that could benefit my time in nursing school. GenChem was one of my weaker subjects, so I may take that again. My Micro class covered bacteria (no viruses) so Virology would be useful. I've also thought about taking some courses in advanced/specialized nutrition.

I took pathophys over the summer in between fundamentals and Med/Surg I. I had every thing else completed A&P I &II general chem, organic chem, ect. I also took a human nutrition course that wasn't required in addition to Pathophys.

[bardone]

Awesome, ScottE, to hear this. Because I'm applying to ABSN programs I'm not sure if I can squeeze Patho in during the program (since it's usually one of the first courses students take), but I may try to take it beforehand if I can.

The general Nutrition course I took over the summer was GREAT. I loved Nutrition science and the material is just so important for nurses to have under their belts.

[hodgieRN]

If you aren't required to take organic for your BSN, then I think there's no reason to take it unless you're planning to become a practitioner (CRNA, NP, PA, Instructor). Chem 1 and 2 will give you all the info you need for nursing. And unless you are into chemistry classes in general, organic is not easy. Yes, there are some who like the material or who naturally absorb the info, I but I think most people don't care for it. Exam time is super stressful. My advice, hold off on organic unless are required to take it. It might add a lot of stress. You could take it over a summer semester when there's nothing else going on. And, if you don't get a teacher that gives you a template handout for the exams....it can suck. I think organic is one of those classes that you're just happy you passed! That's not something you want when trying to compete with other students applying with a 4.0

[llg, PhD, RN]

It's not a science ... but I think my father was right was he said he thought everyone, regardless of their major, should take a course in logic. Learning how to think logically, draw valid conclusions from information, recognize unclear thinking when you see it, etc. are essential skills for success in almost every field. I am glad I took a class in logic in my freshman year -- and get terribly frustrated with some of my nursing colleagues who can't tell the difference between a valid argument and "bs."

[KJM-RN, BSN]

Definitely A&P 2 was the most important, but I'm sure that's a pre-req for you. I took a class titled Principles of organic and biochemistry II, I found it to be pretty helpful once I was in my nursing program. It was a pretty tough course, but I appreciate what I learned, definitely understood certain things better because of it.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

If you aren't required to take organic for your BSN, then I think there's no reason to take it unless you're planning to become a practitioner (CRNA, NP, PA, Instructor). Chem 1 and 2 will give you all the info you need for nursing. And unless you are into chemistry classes in general, organic is not easy. Yes, there are some who like the material or who naturally absorb the info, I but I think most people don't care for it. Exam time is super stressful. My advice, hold off on organic unless are required to take it. It might add a lot of stress. You could take it over a summer semester when there's nothing else going on. And, if you don't get a teacher that gives you a template handout for the exams....it can suck. I think organic is one of those classes that you're just happy you passed! That's not something you want when trying to compete with other students applying with a 4.0

Since the study of organic chemistry involves carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen (the building blocks of all life on the planet, including human life), I have found it quite useful. I say, if you're bright enough to grasp it, then go for it. No reason to sell yourself short if you've got the chops.