Nutrition Class

[smtha620]

I am taking my pre-reqs for nursing school and one of them is Understanding Nutrition. The instructor is breaking this all down to a cellular level. My question is this - as an RN - how much of this do you actually use?

Thank You!

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

If anything nutrition should be included in all schools. Mine does not require it...speaking of holistic care, I wonder if all the nurses shoving fast food down their throats would benefit from a nutrition class?

[zoe92]

As a student, I felt nutrition was helpful with my later pre reqs (chemistry & anatomy) when we covered macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

[Saysfaa]

It depends on what area of nursing you will be in. Some use it very little, some use it quite extensively.

It also depends on how you look at it.... you may never need to know what vitamin A does on a molecular level but learning about how substances affect the body on a molecular level is important as background. Knowing how electrolytes affect the body is essential to many branches of nursing. Besides, it* will be covered in a miriad of ways through school - having the basics down will let you incorporate the new concepts much more easily.

*"It" being how substances affect the body on a molecular level, including but not limited to food.

[smtha620]

Thanks to everyone for their response - Saysfaa - didn't think of it that way but after re-reading this weeks chapter I can see what you're saying -