Should I take chemistry?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Chemistry is not required for the ASN program I am applying for, however if I (and I plan to) go further and get my BSN I will need to take Chemistry or a Biology series.

My question: would it be beneficial to take chemistry? Helpful for my upcoming A&P classes, my micorbiolgy classes? Helpful for my TEAS exam? Helpful for nursing in general?

I didn't take Chemistry in highschool, and I'm not excited about taking it. I do want to do what is best, and if it would be beneficial for my future coursework, testing, and nursing school then I'll take it.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

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Hi :).

I was wondering the same thing. I've scheduled it for the fall semester, but I'm not sure if I should or not. It doesn't look like I will make it into the BSN program just yet, so I may have to apply to the ASN program first. I plan on taking both my AP 1&2 labs over in the fall. I got C's in both labs. but B's in lecture. Putting chemistry ,and the lab that goes with it may not be a good idea. Anyway, I've taken AP 1&2 and micro. I encountered a bit of chemistry toward the end of AP2 with the urinary and acid-base stuff. Like you, I don't have a chemistry background and high school was a loooong time ago. I had dropped my chemistry this past spring because it scared me half to death and I took it online (not a good idea). But it would have come in handy toward the end of AP2, that's when chemistry finally became interesting to me. I would take it as long as you don't have too many other sciences at the same time. It would help to brush up on basics though. Maybe review some chemistry books @ the library. It seemed like it was already "assumed" that I had prior knowledge (which I didn't).

Good luck to you!

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It is on your list of things to do for your future BSN. While possibly helpful for classes like micro and physio, not really necessary, as any required chem concepts will be gone over in class and in the first couple of chapters of the texts. Before you tackle chem, I would advise that you review your math, or take the required math course. Being proficient at basic math skills is required in chem.

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That surprises me. Chemistry is a pre-req for all the nursing programs in my area (and there are several). At my school, chem is also pre-req for physiology so there's really no getting around it. So I'm thinking it would be a good idea to take it even if you don't have to. And yes, chemistry is mostly math (at least intro to chem is). Make sure you're math skills are in good shape and you should be fine. I didn't do well in my high school chem class, but I managed to do really, really well in college. It's not how excited you are about, but how much work you're willing to put into it.

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While chemistry wasn't my favorite class at the time, I definitely felt it was beneficial in physiology. Later, in pathophysiology, I'm not sure I would have truly understood the material well if I didn't have a good grasp of basic chemistry.

If you know you will need it eventually, it would be best to take it now, before physiology and micro. Even if you don't need it, but have room in your schedule for it, I would recommend you take it. You will simply understand micro, physiology, patho, and pharmacology much more thoroughly if you have taken chemistry.

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Great advice everyone! I am really leaning towards working towards my BSN while I can...so I should just go ahead and take the Chemistry. I'm afraid if I get my ASN, start working, and with 5 children...I just can't imagine having the time to go back to school.

It sounds like Chemistry will be useful.

I am frightened of it, but will definitely put in the work to understand it and make a good grade.

Thanks!!!

Traci

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

Chemistry is so important I think. It will definitely help you in the long run. It's weird to be how its not required, even for an ASN. My school provides a Chem for Health Sciences. It includes General, Organic, and biochemistry. I can't imagine doing well in NS without it...

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I am enjoying your comments, they are making me feel much better about taking Chemistry even though it isn't required for the ASN. I really didn't want to waste time, or risk lowering my GPA for something that wouldn't benefit me in any way. I am going to get through my Algebra class, and then take Chem before A&P and Micro.

I will be that much closer to a BSN, which is encouraging to me as well.

Here are the descriptions on the chem. courses I'm planning to take... obviously they will both have the lab component.

CHEM 1151 - Survey of Chemistry I

The first course of a two-semester sequence covering the elementary principles of general, organic, and biochemistry. This course is designed to meet the core requirements - Area D or F - of a variety of students including allied health majors. Topics covered normally include elements and compounds, chemical equations and reactions, nomenclature, atomic and molecular structure, the periodic table, solutions, and the physical states of matter.

CHEM 1152 - Survey of Chemistry II

The second course of a two-semester sequence covering the elementary principles of general, organic, and biochemistry. Topics to be covered normally include acids, bases, buffers, functional group organic chemistry, nomenclature, isomers, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

That sounds really good and complete. I took chemistry after anatomy and physiology and before microbiology. My micro professor is not even going to cover the chemistry chapter because chem is a pre-req anyway.

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YES! Take Chemistry. I'm always amazed at nursing programs that don't require it since it is so basic to the understanding of how medications work, acid/base balance, electrolyte balance, etc. I would be lost if I had not completed chemistry courses.

I would caution against taking any sort of "survey" course, though, since a course with that title is less likely to transfer as a "real" chem course if you do go on to transfer to a BSN or MSN program that has chemistry as a required pre-requisite.

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YES! Everything helps in nursing school! A growth and Development class, or Death and dying class, sociologu of the family. It's amazing how bits and pieces from each of those classes really helped me.

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There are a few other courses offered, but if I remember correctly they require those as a pre-req???

I'll need to go back and look at it again, any recommendations for what type of chemistry course I'm looking for?

Thanks!

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