Wrong chemistry for nursing program?!

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Hi, I'm retaking chem this semester because my past credit was too old to be applicable for the CT community college program system. I was in class this evening and for some reason the fact that I was in Chem 121 struck me as odd. I rechecked the prerequisite listings in the info packet and noticed that the requirement to apply is high school chemistry or college Chemistry 111 or equivalent within the last 5 years. Please tell me that I didn't make a major mistake and accidentally take the wrong class! That would set me back so much. (I know 111 is "Concepts of Chemistry", and 121 is the first of 2 "General" courses (it's followed by122). 121 seems like it's more advanced than 111 (going more in depth), but is it enough because there is a potential second semester with 122? I intend to email or call an advisor to clarify, but I figured I'd throw this out there and hope for a quick response. Thanks!

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Definitely contact an advisor at your school. Every school is different, so what may be okay at my school may not be at yours, and vice versa.

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Most state nursing BSN program's want Chemistry 1 and sometimes Chemistry 2. Again check with the school.

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I took HS Chemistry, in nursing school, (Diploma Program- 1973- 1975), we took Chemistry don't know which one, when I went back for my BSN at CSULB, we took Chemistry 100 (Inorganic), and Chemistry 200 (Organic).

If you were planning on going to a professional school (Med School, Dentistry, Veterinary), you had to take

Chemistry 111 A & B.

Hope that helps.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN, (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.

I am currently enrolled in Capital CC and starting my pre-req classes for nursing. The class I've enrolled in is Concepts of Chemistry, which is a pre-req for A&P. Definitely check with an advisor if you need both Gen Chemistry to cover the equivalent material in Concepts of Chemistry (which I'm sure is a much easier course). My thought is, I'm not trying to jump beyond what I need for minimum requirements, because I want to ace my grades as much as possible to have a good chance of getting into Nursing school on my first attempt. Good luck!

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It's fine. CHEM 111 is the minimum requirement; you're certainly allowed to take a higher course. I took CHEM 121 because I was looking at multiple programs, some of which required General Chem. I got into the CC nursing program no problem having taken Chem 121 and not 111. You absolutely do NOT need to take General Chem II.

So, rest assured you haven't messed up by taking the wrong course. That said, General Chemistry is a harder course, so you'll have to do more work to get a good grade. The admissions criteria looks at grades alone, and doesn't weight them for a harder class. An A in Chem 111 will count for more than an A- in Chem 121, even though you'd probably have learned more and done more work for the A- in 121.

The other thing to keep in mind is that since so many more people take Concepts of Chemistry, you might have a hard time getting help if you need it. I found that the Chemistry peer tutor was helpful for about half the semester, but after that I had to go directly to the professor because what we were learning in Chem 121 was more advanced than the material the peer tutor had learned in Chem 111.

That said, I really enjoyed Chem 121. It definitely gave my brain a workout, but I had a great feeling of accomplishment at the end. Good luck!

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Thanks turtles. That's what I was wondering -- Chem 121 in relation to 111 as a prerequisite. I'm going to be double checking with an advisor tomorrow on Monday, just in case. (Honestly, I'm not too concerned about doing well in course...I've done well in it before (a couple of times), it's just that my credit was too old, so it's a refresher.) Thanks so much for easing my mind a bit!

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I meant that at CSULB, the nursing program requires Chem 200 (inorganic), and Chem 300 (Organic), for the BSN program. Chem 100 is a general chemistry class. What I took in my Diploma program.

Also required was Pathophysiology.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN, (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

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Yeah, every school is different in their labeling and requirements. In the CT community college system, for their AS nursing program as a prerequisite before applying, they only require high school Chem within the last couple of years or the community college system Chem 111 - Concepts of Chemistry (which covers all topics briefly). The other courses available for registration are Chem 121 - General Chemistry 1 and Chem 122 - General Chemistry 2 (both go much more in depth into the subject matter, hence why it's 2 semesters to cover the same material that's covered in only one semester of Chem 111). That's why I was concerned...that taking General 1 would only cover half of the required concepts that "Concepts" consists of, even if it is harder and much more in depth.

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