Question about nursing requirements in college.. Please READ

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2005

The human body is very complicated, you need to understand hemodynamics, cellular level interactions, how medications interact with each other and how they are excreted. The liver and kidney funcions are very complicated as are the actions of many drugs. Neurosynapsis are also a consideration with many medications. Do you need to understand most of this for med/surg or home care, yes. For ICU/CCU/ER/Trauma, yes. For most areas of pediactrics, even more so...small equations and small fragile bodies. Burns and trauma utilize body surface calculations along with body volume rehydration. You need to understand those calculations to find how much fluid you need to give in the next 60 mins to keep your patient alive. When in ICU you might have to do CVVHD, a venous dialysis based on body pressures and calculated hourly on how much output versus input.

I hope that helps a bit.

Maxs · Mar 28, 2005

The human body is very complicated, you need to understand hemodynamics, cellular level interactions, how medications interact with each other and how they are excreted. The liver and kidney funcions are very complicated as are the actions of many drugs. Neurosynapsis are also a consideration with many medications. Do you need to understand most of this for med/surg or home care, yes. For ICU/CCU/ER/Trauma, yes. For most areas of pediactrics, even more so...small equations and small fragile bodies. Burns and trauma utilize body surface calculations along with body volume rehydration. You need to understand those calculations to find how much fluid you need to give in the next 60 mins to keep your patient alive. When in ICU you might have to do CVVHD, a venous dialysis based on body pressures and calculated hourly on how much output versus input.
I hope that helps a bit.

I think you got it backwards because you're referring to chemistry and physiology. There is no need for physics in nursing. I define physics as algebra put into practicals.

Maxs

James Huffman · Mar 29, 2005

If nurses are professionals, there's a need for us to be liberally-educated. Physics is generally thought to be one of the components of a liberal education.

We're not technicians. Technicians only need to learn what works, and what will do the job. Nurses need a well-rounded, fully-orbed education that allows us to see our work in the context of the world.

In short, that's why physics. Or Latin. Or a lot of things.

Jim Huffman, RN

avery · Mar 29, 2005

Hi,

My school does not require physics!

Avery

smk1, LPN · Mar 29, 2005

The human body is very complicated, you need to understand hemodynamics, cellular level interactions, how medications interact with each other and how they are excreted. The liver and kidney funcions are very complicated as are the actions of many drugs. Neurosynapsis are also a consideration with many medications. Do you need to understand most of this for med/surg or home care, yes. For ICU/CCU/ER/Trauma, yes. For most areas of pediactrics, even more so...small equations and small fragile bodies. Burns and trauma utilize body surface calculations along with body volume rehydration. You need to understand those calculations to find how much fluid you need to give in the next 60 mins to keep your patient alive. When in ICU you might have to do CVVHD, a venous dialysis based on body pressures and calculated hourly on how much output versus input.
I hope that helps a bit.

isn't this learned in chemistry and A&P? I am not a nurse yet but have taken chemistry already and am in the last quarter of a year long anatomy and physiology course and most of those things are what we are focusing on. I can see where physics could be helpful, but chemistry and biology are more pertinent in mho. Not saying it wouldn't be of some benefit though, as some of the study of physics would overlap into chemistry.

prmenrs, RN · Mar 29, 2005

A lot of Physics comes into play in Respiratory care, esp. understanding how ventilators work, gas laws, things like that. Even drawing up medications has a basis in physics: why do you inject air into a rigid walled container before you add diluent or w/draw the med? To replace the volume--makes it easier to do. Why do you NOT need to inject air into a soft sided container like an IV bag? Because the air pressure outside the container will collapse the container around the liquid, making that step unnecessary.

All that being said, IMHO, a very abbreviated course in Physics will suffice most RNs; many schools do not require it. Just your luck yours isn't one of them!

elkpark · Mar 29, 2005

Hi,
My school does not require physics!
Avery

Ditto. Each school sets its own requirements -- although the general content is the same, different schools require courses with different names.

My program (many years ago) included a year of microbiology, a year of A&P, and a year of organic chemistry -- BUT the org chem was team taught, and one of the profs was a physics professor, so there was a lot of physics incorporated into the chem course.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2005

well I took physics in my school, not sorry I did.

If you dont think you need it then go to a school that dosent require it.

Antelope · Mar 29, 2005

The laws of physics apply to everything in nursing. I believe my physics background is very helpful in nursing. I think everyone would benifit by knowing physics better, not just nurses.

megamoo1979 · Mar 29, 2005

My school doesn't require it either. And just because a nurse didn't take physics, doesn't mean he/she's any less professional than a nurse that did.

Megan

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 29, 2005

My school does not require it, either.

I are a stoopid nurs.