Question: To organic or not to organic?

[ufmatt]

To all you SRNAs/CRNAs:

I am at that critical point where I am sending appy's for quickly upcoming programs. I have not taken organic/biochemistry. I am definitely not a chem wizard, but rather average with the stuff. Having said that, how critical is it that I take organic chem? I know some programs have much more need for an organic background, but am applying to only one that i know is like that. At this point, I am REALLY uninterested in taking another class. What do you think?

[lml33]

I took organic chem at night, while I was is nursing school full time during the day. Needless to say, I got a D in organic. I was spending too much time with the man who is now my husband. I was head over heels in love. That really messed me up. I also worked as a nursing assistant on my school nights off. Anyway, organic chem is much easier than inorganic chem. That's my opinion anyway. Even though I got a D, it wasn't too bad, I even remember some things. Think of organic chem as putting a puzzle together. Also, make sure that you remember your alcohols, how many bonds hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc. contain. The CRNA program where I was accepted did not require organic, believe it or not, I took it to challenge myself.

[yoga crna]

Take organic chemistry. It is imperative that you understand the scientific basis of anesthesia pharmacology and procedures. I personally think biochemistry is more interesting, but having the organic background made bio easier to understand.

Yoga

[London88]

I took biochemistry 10 years ago. I am now taking an advanced pharmacology class, and I can assure you that a lot of the stuff i learned in biochem is resurfacing in understanding how drugs exert their effects on the body. I am glad that I took biochem.

[New CCU RN]

I say take it!!!! It can only help you. It also will show the admissions committee that you are dedicated to learning and furthering your education. Not to mention, the background information you will learn can only help once you start getting into the hard core anest courses!!!! Good luck. It will take lots of studying, but most of it is more time consuming than actually difficult!!!!!