Pre-Nursing student STRESSING PLEASE HELP

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 12, 2015

If the OP can't pass chemistry in 16 weeks (3x) how can (s)he pass in 8? OP has more time to study, less material crammed on the tests & quizzes & lab tests.
I don't know of any accredited school that would accept the OP. The OP can probably get in if (s)he pays a hefty amount & goes to a school like ITT Tech (for profit school). But if OP can't grasp a science, it's best (s)he goes a different direction. It's not that the OP isn't caring, nursing is very heavy on the sciences & if the OP can't grasp the basic sciences (s)he probably wouldn't do well in nursing school.

You consider chemistry a basic science? It might technically be classified as one but its mostly math. When was the last time a nurse ever used chemistry on the job? Chemistry is basically useless as far as nursing school goes. You will learn simple medication equations in nursing school. Its a hard class used to weed out those who cant handle the stress. The sciences that matter in nursing are biology, micro, and A&P.

The OP has plenty of time to get her grades up before applying for programs. Her problem with not being able to pass are likely due to non-acedemic reasons ie. stress, anxiety, frustration, or lack of help.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2015

You consider chemistry a basic science?

Any science course offered in most American high schools is a basic science, IMHO.

Chemistry is basically useless as far as nursing school goes.

In chemistry I learned about acid/base balance, lipids, hemoglobin, myoglobin, electrolytes, and other topics that were pertinent to the human body.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 12, 2015

You consider chemistry a basic science? It might technically be classified as one but its mostly math. When was the last time a nurse ever used chemistry on the job? Chemistry is basically useless as far as nursing school goes. You will learn simple medication equations in nursing school. Its a hard class used to weed out those who cant handle the stress. The sciences that matter in nursing are biology, micro, and A&P.
The OP has plenty of time to get her grades up before applying for programs. Her problem with not being able to pass are likely due to non-acedemic reasons ie. stress, anxiety, frustration, or lack of help.

Yes, chemistry is a basic science. Just like all the rest of them. That is why most nursing schools make you retake your sciences after X amount of years. If you don't think you ever use chemistry in nursing, that's scary & sad. It is not a useless class used to "weed out" students. You're a nurse & you don't realize how chemistry is used in nursing???

If the OP hasn't figured out how to fix her problem after the first or second time, that's the real problem.

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 12, 2015

In chemistry I learned about acid/base balance, lipids, hemoglobin, myoglobin, electrolytes, and other topics that were pertinent to the human body.

I learned all of that as it pertained to the human body in A&P. Then I learned it again in nursing school from a nursing standpoint. Chemistry never helped me understand any of those topics as it relates to the nursing world.

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 12, 2015

Yes, chemistry is a basic science. Just like all the rest of them. That is why most nursing schools make you retake your sciences after X amount of years. If you don't think you ever use chemistry in nursing, that's scary & sad. It is not a useless class used to "weed out" students. You're a nurse & you don't realize how chemistry is used in nursing???
If the OP hasn't figured out how to fix her problem after the first or second time, that's the real problem.

Taking the required chemistry course did not prepare me for the science needed in nursing school. The other science classes were highly relevant. Yes, concepts in chemistry appear in nursing but what was learned in the class itself is largely useless. One of the only things I remember from taking chem is that surface tension of water is created by covalent bonds between hydrogen molecules. I also remember watching videos of things exploding. In a chemistry class you do tons of mathematical equations, memorize the periodic table, and draw pictures of molecules. How does that translate into nursing? I'm not saying I regret taking chemistry. It made me look at the world differently but it was just another obstacle on the way to nursing school. It is a "weed out" class for sure!

Every aspect of chemistry used in nursing is explained taking the biology courses. Sucking at chemistry does not mean you wont excel in biology or make a good nurse.

dedicated_2b_RN · Apr 12, 2015

Do not take chem in the summer it is twice as fast and twice as difficult

RNtobe17 · Apr 12, 2015

Chemistry is in EVERYTHING you do. The more you know chemistry, the better you will understand EVERYTHING because it's in everything AND the reason everything is what it is.

ESPECIALLY nursing. You're dealing with the human body. Everything that makes up the human body is because of chemistry. Just like in your beginning biology classes you didn't think you needed the info, the first couple chemistry classes seem useless because it's the ground work. If you went a little further you'd find out that chemistry is not just mathematical equations and bowling things up. That's RIDICULOUS.

Nursing wouldn't even exist without chemistry. Medication wouldn't be possible without chemistry. Understanding how the body works wouldn't be possible without chemistry. You wouldn't have a job if someone didn't learn and appreciate chemistry and know that it's more than math and blowing things up.

If a&p went a little deeper you'd find out that every single thing you learned has a chemical relationship going on that made it happen. So wouldn't it be good to know what chemical things are going on so that you are more educated on the profession you chose.

RNtobe17 · Apr 12, 2015

Taking the required chemistry course did not prepare me for the science needed in nursing school. The other science classes were highly relevant. Yes, concepts in chemistry appear in nursing but what was learned in the class itself is largely useless. One of the only things I remember from taking chem is that surface tension of water is created by covalent bonds between hydrogen molecules. I also remember watching videos of things exploding. In a chemistry class you do tons of mathematical equations, memorize the periodic table, and draw pictures of molecules. How does that translate into nursing? I'm not saying I regret taking chemistry. It made me look at the world differently but it was just another obstacle on the way to nursing school. It is a "weed out" class for sure!
Every aspect of chemistry used in nursing is explained taking the biology courses. Sucking at chemistry does not mean you wont excel in biology or make a good nurse.

Oh my gosh. My mouth dropped when I read this. How do molecules and the periodic table translate into nursing???? That's the craziest thing I've ever read. I'm saving that to make people laugh.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 12, 2015

Taking the required chemistry course did not prepare me for the science needed in nursing school. The other science classes were highly relevant. Yes, concepts in chemistry appear in nursing but what was learned in the class itself is largely useless. One of the only things I remember from taking chem is that surface tension of water is created by covalent bonds between hydrogen molecules. I also remember watching videos of things exploding. In a chemistry class you do tons of mathematical equations, memorize the periodic table, and draw pictures of molecules. How does that translate into nursing? I'm not saying I regret taking chemistry. It made me look at the world differently but it was just another obstacle on the way to nursing school. It is a "weed out" class for sure!
Every aspect of chemistry used in nursing is explained taking the biology courses. Sucking at chemistry does not mean you wont excel in biology or make a good nurse.

So there is NO Chemistry in nursing? At all? Puh-lease! There is all science in nursing. If you can't see that, it scares me!

Chemistry isn't used as a tool to "weed out" dumb students, you use it. So yes, if the OP can't get a grasp of ALL the sciences then she needs to go a different route.

A Bridge between Two Cultures: Uncovering the Chemistry Concepts Relevant to the Nursing Clinical Practice | Fiorella Olivera Venturo - Academia.edu

Maybe this can help you understand more into why Chemistry is important.

lardo · Apr 12, 2015

Sorry to hear about your struggles. My best advice is to use youtube for chemistry help. Thanks to the internet, education has changed for the better. No longer do you have to put up with teachers who can't teach. I found youtube videos when I was in nursing school, and was wasting my time going to class where I had to listen to incompetent nursing teachers try to teach subjects they obviously didn't understand themselves; youtube saved me.

Here are some great youtube chemistry teachers: thatchemguy,freelanceteach,brightstorm,teachmechemistry,robertbecker,johnnycantrell,michelvanbiezen.

Hope this helps,

Bill

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

Chemistry is in EVERYTHING you do. The more you know chemistry, the better you will understand EVERYTHING because it's in everything AND the reason everything is what it is.
ESPECIALLY nursing. You're dealing with the human body. Everything that makes up the human body is because of chemistry. Just like in your beginning biology classes you didn't think you needed the info, the first couple chemistry classes seem useless because it's the ground work. If you went a little further you'd find out that chemistry is not just mathematical equations and bowling things up. That's RIDICULOUS.
Nursing wouldn't even exist without chemistry. Medication wouldn't be possible without chemistry. Understanding how the body works wouldn't be possible without chemistry. You wouldn't have a job if someone didn't learn and appreciate chemistry and know that it's more than math and blowing things up.
If a&p went a little deeper you'd find out that every single thing you learned has a chemical relationship going on that made it happen. So wouldn't it be good to know what chemical things are going on so that you are more educated on the profession you chose.

Are you kidding me? Strawman at its best.

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

So there is NO Chemistry in nursing? At all? Puh-lease! There is all science in nursing. If you can't see that, it scares me!
Chemistry isn't used as a tool to "weed out" dumb students, you use it. So yes, if the OP can't get a grasp of ALL the sciences then she needs to go a different route.
A Bridge between Two Cultures: Uncovering the Chemistry Concepts Relevant to the Nursing Clinical Practice | Fiorella Olivera Venturo - Academia.edu
Maybe this can help you understand more into why Chemistry is important.

Clearly, you either did not read my post or you have serious problems with comprehension.

I never claimed that chemistry is not in nursing or that its not important. I claimed that chemistry CLASS (please note the distinction) was not necessary for me to understand nursing or be a competent nurse. There is a huge difference between chemistry as a science and chemistry as college course.

The OP absolutely should NOT give up this soon if the only thing holding her back from pursuing nursing is a lousy chemistry course. If she were struggling with A&P I'd be concerned. Even then, it is more likely that there are other reasons preventing her from passing than simply a knowledge deficit in the sciences. Problems such as psychological barriers, anxiety, frustration, time management, etc.