Will I use my knowledge from prereqs in nursing?

righteousjenn · May 22, 2013

I'm guessing the A&P stuff will be all the time. Chem would be useful knowledge for understanding pharmacology and different chemicals. Micro to understand the bacteria and diseases and why they act and how they act the way they do.

Shorty11, BSN, RN · May 22, 2013

I just finished my 3rd (of 5) semesters in a traditional BSN program. You will mainly use your A&P. For example, in the MedSurg 1 class that I just finished, when we were doing a unit our teacher would say "You already had A&P so I'm not going to re-teach the A&P for (this system).. You can do that on your own time." Then we would jump right into diseases, syndromes, etc for that body system. To understand what is occurring when "things go wrong", you must have a grasp on when things are working "normally." It really helps to have firm grasp of your Human A&P so you aren't spending time learning it later. (You wont have time to be learning A&P, except for some reviewing here an there!). So far, we honestly haven't had too many topics that have required a lot of chemistry or micro. Like the PP said, it does help to understand microorganisms and how they affect the body, but we haven't gone into too much detail on any of that (so far anyways.) As far as chem, it helps a little when you get to Pharm, but you wont be balancing equations or anything like that. I have a previous degree (BS in Biology with a minor in Chem). I can say I don't recall having used anything I learned in Gen Chem at this point. Biochem helped a bit with Pharm, as far as knowing about RAS system, electrolytes, acid-base imbalances, etc. (I don't think many programs require Biochem though). I wouldn't stress about having to know "everything" about chem and micro In detail for nursing courses. While the main concepts in those classes are important, A&P is the stuff that will be coming up again and again. Best of luck!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 23, 2013

Most nursing schools require the A&P's, chemistry, micro. How much of this knowledge will a nurse use on a regular basis?

That would be .... all of it. Why would there be any doubt in your mind? Did someone give you the impression that nurses "just follow doctor's orders" without any responsibility for autonomous assessment and diagnosis based on their own good education? That person (or that TV show) is dead wrong.

This is precisely why you take prerequisites. Furthermore, unlike the classes in history and English and whatnot your high school classmates are taking on the way to their AS or BA in somethingorother, you cannot plan on cramming for the exam, passing, and then putting the subject out of your mind as you move on to the next semester. You will be held accountable for that content, and you will need to understand it well enough to integrate into what you will learn in that next semester, and the next, and the next. All of nursing school is like that. It gets harder as you go along. As it should. Because, well, nurses don't "just follow doctor's orders."

pixiestudent2 · May 23, 2013

My school doesn't require chemistry, but I took it anyways. I am finishing up my first year and can honestly say it has never come up. Maybe next year.

avaloncar, BSN, RN · May 23, 2013

ALL. lol You think it won't but then you are sitting in class and go "Ohhhh, I remember this from Micro". And if you took A&P, it is everyday you will apply that information.

ER(notso)n00b, ASN, RN · May 24, 2013

All of it. Everything you learn in nursing school builds on the knowledge you gain in pre-reqs and previous nursing courses. A&P is critical - you will be learning all about various disease processes, and there isn't time to go over the basic anatomy/physiology - nursing instructors will expect you to know it already. Infectious diseases have their foundation in micro. Everything has a foundation in chemistry, if you think about it. Learn as much as you can in your pre-reqs. It will make your life in nursing school much easier.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · May 31, 2013

You can take something from anything. I did an ABSN at Marymount University with my first degree from the Univ. of Nebraska. You are an experienced student so you should know that you can "use" anything from any situation. In nursing you have to adapt to constantly. Even if you think a class is "worthless"..is it? It is how you view it. You can use to to challenge yourself. You can use it to refine study techniques. The most important part is it builds character and you know you earned your degree. You have to take the pain to get to the big time. That is the bottom line. So many people whine about prereqs and guess what..those are the LAST nurses you want to work with..they will whine about schedules, difficult patients, patients that should not be on the unit..

So.I would say as a nurse only since 2005 yes you will use it. Is it this or is it that?...it just IS. you do or don't do.

Melodies of Legend · May 31, 2013

Yes.

Questions in nursing school exams are written as if you got at least a B in A&P and remember ALL of it. The nursing professors don't have time to review so don't cram in A&P now, study it as if you will remember it the rest of your career, because...that's reality.

kaydensmom01 · Jun 1, 2013

Yes they are all very important in nursing school and for an actual nursing career. I'm not sure why you would think that you didn't need it? It all builds on the material that you learn in pre-req's, and is expected to already be known, there is no going back over it with nursing professors.

RHill9919 · Jun 1, 2013

Never said I thought it was useless. I was asking a simple question looking for others thoughts....

sosopretty08 · Jun 2, 2013

Not at all, nursing school will give you tons of more information that you must learn in a short time period. I feels as though my prereqs were weed out classes!