Pre-Nursing student STRESSING PLEASE HELP

ixchel · Apr 13, 2015

My poor GPA of 2.38, The fact that this is my fourth year of school and I am just now completing the prerequisites, I have failed Chemistry 3 times and I am taking it a fourth time this summer.
I need realistic views and answers! Thank you all in advance

Love, I hate to say this, but I do think the advisors did give you realistic feedback based on the above. Do you know what is preventing you from performing better in your classes? Perhaps getting to the root of that can change the big picture for you. It's not that I don't believe you are capable (I don't know you, so this isn't meant to be taken personally). It's that you're competing with a seemingly endless supply of 3.5-4.0 students. Some programs won't consider you over a certain number of retakes on sciences/pre-reqs.

There are other avenues into healthcare besides nursing. What interests you in the field? What specialty do you like?

ixchel · Apr 13, 2015

OP, you seem to say in one of your posts that ADN is easier to get into than BSN. That isn't necessarily true. My area has one of each. Both get hundreds of applications. The ADN accepts (I believe) 48 students, twice per year. The BSN, ~75, and fall start only. Both are very competitive.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

If you cant hack chemistry, how are you ever going to hack nursing school? Chemistry is a very small hump to overcome compared to the mammoth monsters later on like pharmacology. And then you have NCLEX ...

As much as I'd like to see you succeed in nursing, I don't see it happening with your track record, sorry. You're facing way too much superior competition right now.

Being straightforward and realistic, but I do hope you can prove me wrong.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

RNtobe17 · Apr 13, 2015

Are you kidding me? Strawman at its best.

I don't have time to teach you.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 13, 2015

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.

I can comprehend just fine. There is chemistry in nursing. If you can't get the basic understanding of chemistry from the basic chemistry class, how would the OP understand chemistry in nursing??? That makes zero sense.

Obviously the OP had multiple chances to over come such hurdles, but hasn't. The first time you fail a class you should realize what problems you have then fix them. The OP, had many chances to change but hasn't.

ixchel · Apr 13, 2015

Yes, a basic understanding of chemistry is part of nursing. That's why it's required by some programs. I do think you could be bad at chemistry and do okay in nursing, but it would be really helpful if you "get it".

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 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.

I agree, while chemistry is fascinating the class itself is more theoretical vs applicable sciences like pathophysiology or pharmacology. I agree math is at the center of passing chemistry and it is used as a weeding out tool. Some schools require organic chemistry and biochemistry and some don't. I'm sure those are interesting, but I didn't need those particular classes to become a nurse.

I enjoyed the chemistry class I took and fortunately I did well in it and practiced the math. I had already learned to use a solutions manual in algebra to understand and be able to do the necessary math. I'm all for using all the tools available to you, whatever works. Like another person mentioned we have so many more study tools at are disposal than other generations did between study guides, solution manuals and free tutorials on the internet and you tube like Khan academy and even world class Ivy leagues offering free college class lectures on the internet. While they won't give you college credit they can be used to study and pass your own class or to test out of class for college credit!

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 14, 2015

Chemistry is more than math, don't you learn the periodic table? I assume learning the periodic table of elements & about the elements might come in handy as a nurse.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 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.

The only nursing school program that thinks chemistry is "useless" is a program that puts out graduates that don't know as much as they should to be good nurses. Yes, you can argue that, and yes, this attitude both p***** me off and scares me, and yes, you can quote me, and yes, I wear flameproofies.

Understanding dynamics in shock, metabolic derangements, fluids and electrolytes, acid-base balance, renal and hepatic function, neurological function, and a host other physiological systems all require a working knowledge of chemistry, and every day to boot. It isn't really necessary, I guess, if all you think a nurse will do is "follow orders" and be free of that pesky independent professional responsibility to know what is going on, though.

I do not want anybody in my family cared for by such an ignorant automaton. Actually, I don't want anybody cared for by someone like that.

RNtobe17 · Apr 14, 2015

The only nursing school program that thinks chemistry is "useless" is a program that puts out graduates that don't know as much as they should to be good nurses. Yes, you can argue that, and yes, this attitude both p***** me off and scares me, and yes, you can quote me, and yes, I wear flameproofies.

Understanding dynamics in shock, metabolic derangements, fluids and electrolytes, acid-base balance, renal and hepatic function, neurological function, and a host other physiological systems all require a working knowledge of chemistry, and every day to boot. It isn't really necessary, I guess, if all you think a nurse will do is "follow orders" and be free of that pesky independent professional responsibility to know what is going on, though.

I do not want anybody in my family cared for by such an ignorant automaton. Actually, I don't want anybody cared for by someone like that.

I want to "thank" this 100 times. Thank you. I feel the same way.

AshleyyW92 · Apr 14, 2015

Maybe you should ummm...try a LVN program? Failed 3 times?? That's crazy. In my chemistry class I got a B because I never looked at the assigned videos until the middle of he semester. YouTube will be your BESTFRIEND and the online component that comes with the book. Although schools say you can retake a science course, most schools still use the FIRST grade received when considering your application. For example, LAHC considers a W your first attempt.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Apr 14, 2015

The only nursing school program that thinks chemistry is "useless" is a program that puts out graduates that don't know as much as they should to be good nurses. Yes, you can argue that, and yes, this attitude both p***** me off and scares me, and yes, you can quote me, and yes, I wear flameproofies.

Understanding dynamics in shock, metabolic derangements, fluids and electrolytes, acid-base balance, renal and hepatic function, neurological function, and a host other physiological systems all require a working knowledge of chemistry, and every day to boot. It isn't really necessary, I guess, if all you think a nurse will do is "follow orders" and be free of that pesky independent professional responsibility to know what is going on, though.

I do not want anybody in my family cared for by such an ignorant automaton. Actually, I don't want anybody cared for by someone like that.

I want to love the post. Squeeee!!!!