Summer Science

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I really need to take a science over the summer. Of course, it's a little accelerated because summer is shorter. I will also be taking my communications (speech) course which won't be much to study for, but will be a little time consuming with writing speeches, etc. I need to take either Physiology (we do the split A&P and I'm in Anatomy right now), Microbiology, or Chemistry. All of these are 5 credit hours and include labs. Which one would be "easiest" to take over the summer???

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Specializes in Emergency.

I found microbiology to be pretty easy, and it's fun to boot. It's really dependent on what you enjoy, though; take something that you actually have an interest in.

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I found microbiology to be pretty easy, and it's fun to boot. It's really dependent on what you enjoy, though; take something that you actually have an interest in.
Agreed. I succeed much more easily in the courses I truly enjoy.
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I think I'm going to rule out Chemistry because I feel like Chemistry is more of a math than a science (I know it's science... but I loved it in high school and it always felt like Math to me). I'll be taking two sciences this fall, so I think I'd like to do Chem along with my last science. So it's either micro or physiology. Physiology may be good because I will have just completed Anatomy and that will be fresher in my mind. Honestly, it will probably all come down to what time the classes are offered lol. I have to go in the evenings. My school has a lot of campuses, so whichever one is offered in the evening near my house I'll probably take.

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I took Anatomy and Chemistry together last summer, it was hard, but I loved it. A summer class is so short and condensed you don't have time to forget things or procrastinate. I would recommend Physiology since you are taking Anatomy now. It will be hard, but it goes by so fast, you'll be glad you did it :) Good luck!!!

P.S. Are you from California? I thought the schools around me were the only ones to do Anatomy and Physiology as two separate classes :)

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I don't want to take too many sciences at one time, and also plan on taking a science this summer. I was thinking of Micro too. I took a Micro class years ago (but it was for a Vet Tech program, so non-transferable). I really enjoyed the class, and think it will be the easiest for me to do.

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I took chemistry during a summer. I hate chemistry but it is doable. I have many friends who took microbiology during the summer & enjoyed it.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I took micro over the summer. I couldn't imagine doing a 5 unit class AND another at the same time. As it was, I was dreaming about streaking plates, looking through microscopes, and taking exams every night! The nice thing with those condensed summer classes like that is that the overall grade average is usually higher, since you're really able to focus on everything, and don't have a week to forget content, or longer before an exam (according to the department head there).

Physio would be great- I found that to be the hardest of the sciences, but really fascinating, and as you said, being fresh out of anatomy, you may do better not having to remember the anatomy of the kidney while learning how the tubules work and such.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I really felt like I did myself a disservice when I took an 8 week accelerated A&P I class. Sure I made and A and it turned out fine, but so much of it has been lost because I studied to do well on the exams and not really understand and retain - all of it went to short term memory. I am really enjoying my traditional semester of A&P II because I know I am learning to understand and retain - learning for long term memory. I feel that our sciences are important and something that as nurses we will need in the future not only in nursing school but beyond.

I think chemistry is something that will show up in all the other sciences so you will have time to reinforce what you learned quickly and repeat some of the info in the other science classes. I think it would be the best class for the summer. I hope all that makes sense.

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My advice is microbiology, but most importantly I'd say research your teachers first. I took physiology over summer because I knew it would be the hardest one and I'd have the whole summer to focus on it, basically it was a huge mistake. The teacher at my home CC was incredibly difficult, and I ended up getting an undesirable grade and retaking it this past fall. Good job for planning ahead.

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I would say Chemistry. Only because Micro labs require you to be there more than just your scheduled lab time and this will be really annoying in the summer. I had to be at my Micro lab 5 days a week sometimes. Chem labs are in & out. You do the lab, you're done for the day. Also, chem is easy if you read your book. A&P Learn well! I am in my 1st semester Nursing program and we are expected to know that stuff like the back of our hand. Esp for Pathophysiology/Pharmacology. Just heads up. Good luck. :)

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I am in Missouri. Most of the bsn programs near here require separate a and p. Thanks for the advice everyone!

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