Panic attack over Chemistry

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2005

I took Chemistry and it is a pre-requisite for A&P here. There was a lot of biochemistry in A&P. We did math/algebra in Chemistry but our test on that chapter was thankfully a take home! Chemistry is a fascinating subject. The students who bought "Chemistry for Dummies" understood more. I got a B in the class and I'm really proud and so glad it's over. Now I'll never have to take that one class again. The girl who was more concerned about getting an "A" did herself in and dropped the class. What's the point in that? She just had to take it over!

Just get in a good study group and you'll do fine. Good luck!

vikkilclar · Aug 7, 2005

Hi All,
I was so excited registering for my classes, Now I am freaking out. I just picked up my books for classes starting on the 23rd.
I started reading and began to lose it! I have no idea what I am reading !!
I am also taking History, Math, and a humanities class. Is it going be as bad it looks.
Please share.....:chair:

Chemistry-it's about me-history. Isay this because it want you to try to look at the word Chemistry from a different view. Chemistry represent all the elements that make you and me. Chemistry is everywhere and without it we as living organism could not exist. I am a single parent of seven very busy kids, I work and go to school. I just returned to school after eighteen years and I am also taking chemistry. The key is to think is not to make a situation difficult without trying it out and there is always more than one way to skin a catfish. Instead of looking at the name of the subject, apply it to your life. If i can do it anyone can. Now how can you panick or get scared when you have not suck your toe in the water to check out the temperature. You will be okay. Whatever you believe will be your outcome.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 8, 2005

Other than the great advice you've already gotten, all I can say is that you can't learn it on your own. If you are browsing through the book you are definetly going to panick. It is fine for another class but for Chemistry all I can say is leave it alone, and wait until the instructor walks you through it. Very difficult class for me but definetly doable. Good luck to you. :)

allthingsbright · Aug 8, 2005

Hi! I am also taking Chem-and it looks hard but doable. In all my science classes I try to really stay on top of the reading-like read BEFORE lecture and have questions you need answered by the lecture already prepared. Like if something is SUPER unclear, jot it down and look for an answer in class. Also, take good notes and use your lab partner as a study-buddy if they seem relatively with it! NEVER leave lab early-use the extra lab time to ask questions, study, make note cards, discuss stuff with the prof, etc. (Exception: if you are the only student sitting in lab by yourself and the prof looks like they really want to leave-then leave-haha! :rotfl: )

You'll do great! :)

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 8, 2005

Definately find yourself a good study group.

Also what I found helpful is I kinda thought of it as more of a math class. That made it kind of fun.

gerry79 · Aug 8, 2005

As others have stated chemestry is a tough class. Almost kept me out of nursing school! It took me several years to gather the courage to take chemestry and I survived (B-) The math portion was the hardest for me, but I had a great instructor! Good luck!

catlover72 · Aug 13, 2005

I took chemistry over the summer. It was an 8 week class. I was very worried, and anxious during the whole class. I am very bad at math, and it had been a long time since I had algebra. I got through it though with a lot of hard work! I couldn't take any sort of break. I ended up getting a B, and was shocked. There is mostly algebra involved. What I didn't like about my chem class is the professor didn't relate any of it to the human body. I also had a great tutor, my dad who has his degree in chemistry. He is 61, so some of it had changed, but most was the same. I think you will do just fine. Good luck.

Student_Nurse_WV · Aug 13, 2005

Hi All,
I was so excited registering for my classes, Now I am freaking out. I just picked up my books for classes starting on the 23rd.
I started reading and began to lose it! I have no idea what I am reading !!
I am also taking History, Math, and a humanities class. Is it going be as bad it looks.
Please share.....:chair:

hi

I had chemistry this summer and I must say it was not as bad as I was preparing myself for. I really found it interesting. I hope you get a good instructor b/c I had a great one and that made a big difference. I worked very hard and got an A (final was yesterday) and I was very concerned b/c I had never had it before. You will do fine as long as you are determined and prepared to study. One tip: always keep track of your signifigant figures!

Good Luck :)

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2005

Chemistry was freaking me out before I even got to class. It was even worse when the prof pointed his finger around the room on the first day of class and said, "Half of you won't make it to the end of the semester." :eek: How about that for encouragement? It made me more resolved than ever to get through it. I ended up aceing the class. Here's how I did it. When we were told that we needed to memorize the symbol, atomic numbers and weights of the periodic table I didn't waste any time. I made flashcards that evening which I went through all the time. When we had to start memorizing and learning the different ion combinations (radicals?, can't remember 'cause it's been a long time) I flashcarded those too. It's the painless way to memorize. That was the biggest thing. If you get behind on that you're doomed because each new subject builds on the previous one. My prof focused on the mathematical computations, so I kept looking until I found a very handy little supplemental text that thoroughly explained how to work with valences and moles and all that there kind of stuff. That little book just said it differently than my textbook and cemented it in. I also invested the time to read and re-read paragraphs in my textbook until I understood them. I always tried to have the chapter the prof was lecturing on read before class. Then, when he gave us the one and only chance to ask questions about the chapter, I was ready. When he saw that I was making serious efforts to learn the material he lightened up with me a lot and would answer my questions even when they weren't on the chapter he was lecturing on. This guy was a real SOB. :devil: I forgot to mention. . .he wrote the textbook. I doubt you'll have that problem. :yeahthat:

Princess74 · Aug 13, 2005

I'm taking Chemistry too. I just got my text book and lab manual yesterday. I really don't know if I can do it. I don't know algebra, at all. I am taking pre-algebra this semester. I would have liked to take algebra first but that would have meant not taking chemistry until next fall. I have so many classes that I have to finish in the next two years to get into my BSN program. Almost every class has a pre req so I had to squeeze in the chem where I could and that ended up being this semester. I'll manage some how. I hope!

Oh, my chem class is health science chemisrty 1 (gotta take II at some point) Its basic, organic and biological. Darn book cost me $200.00 New book so no used available.

Good luck to all of you.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2005

I've taken both the health science chemistry and college chemistry. You should be OK with pre-algebra for health science chemistry. The math is very basic addition/subtration/multiplication or division to find "x" which you are going to be doing almost right away in pre-Algebra. The biggest thing to keep track of will be the labels that go along with the numbers (ex: moles, milligrams) and making sure you set up your equations so certain labels get factored out. Your instuctor should explain that to you when you get into it. For reference in your pre-Algebra text, it would be under the chapter on ratios.

Princess74 · Aug 13, 2005

I've taken both the health science chemistry and college chemistry. You should be OK with pre-algebra for health science chemistry. The math is very basic addition/subtration/multiplication or division to find "x" which you are going to be doing almost right away in pre-Algebra. The biggest thing to keep track of will be the labels that go along with the numbers (ex: moles, milligrams) and making sure you set up your equations so certain labels get factored out. Your instuctor should explain that to you when you get into it. For reference in your pre-Algebra text, it would be under the chapter on ratios.

Thank you, that gives me so hope. I am going to brush up on ratios right away. I remember a little bit about them from high school. (a very little bit:stone)