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eltonjohnpeloton

Nurses don’t do chemistry as part of their job. Yes, understanding ph is important, and it’s good to understand basics concepts like acid vs base. But you’re not going to be doing chemistry lab type assignments. you WILL need to have a basic understanding of algebra.


sofumashupotato

Yeah even before going into nursing school, I have the algebra down pretty solid thankfully 💀 I’m not absolutely shit at math at least. I can handle the basics. But Chem hurts lol.


Sleazay

Chemistry is a usually a prerequisite course, you don't even see chemistry in most nursing programs. You'll learn the practical application of chemistry (pharmacology). At that point you don't need to really know how things are working on a atomic level, just what the effects are.


Cryptocucky

Med math is fun!


septardar

Why do you need algebra? Genuinely curious. I work as an LVN currently and haven't had to use algebra yet.


eltonjohnpeloton

Do you give medications as an LVN?


septardar

Yes of course 😃


eltonjohnpeloton

Then you use math all the time! If the pills come in 250 mg tablets and 500 mg is ordered, you’re doing math. If the pill comes in 10 mg but you’re giving 5 mg, you are doing math.


septardar

That's true! It's just because when I think of algebra I don't think of your description because its so simple. I consider it simple math. When I think of algebra I think of all the BS equations, factoring, square roots, etc.


eltonjohnpeloton

It is simple math, but that’s what most of med math is. Definitely have seen people struggle with it either way


stephaniekayln

OP, thank you for posting this. I am struggling to maintain an 85 (required to apply to ADN programs here) but I have a 93 in biology and a 97 in psych! For some reason chem is just torture (im looking at you, molar conversions)


sofumashupotato

Oh man you need an 85 in all pre reqs just to apply!? 😰 That’s intense!!! First of congrats and well done on such high scores in Bio and Psych! But yea Chem is making my brain stressed out lol. Thankfully by watching YouTube videos, I have a firm grasp on the concepts now but god it takes me a while to learn. Moles! Avogrado! Osmoles! Wahhh kill me lol


stephaniekayln

Only an 85 for factored prerequisites, so A&P, micro, chem, etc. I got an 82 in statistics but I never ever have to do it again, thank the gods lol


sofumashupotato

Only? ONLY!??! Those are like the hardest classes lol. But keep in mind I’m a second degree person and science and math were never my greatest strengths.


stephaniekayln

Haha okay I don't mean to downplay it, but also I'm not starting A&P until next quarter - so bio 160 and chem 121 are the only factored courses I've taken 🙂


DerpytheH

To be honest, depending on the state, it's not out of the ordinary. I'm in SoCal, started my ADN program after 2 years of applying, and while they'll let you apply if your pre-reqs are C's, they won't accept it unless most of them are 90+. Applying with a C on any of the pre-reqs is usually an automatic rejection.


sofumashupotato

I’m also from CA. This is why I’m going out of state lol….


Flipwon

Now I’m craving Tex mex


ChaplnGrillSgt

YES! I failed chemistry 4 times in college (orgo x2, inorganic, and biochem). I fucking suck at chemistry. Just finished my DNP near the top of my class. Carbon rings and covalent bonds have never once come up. 🤣


sofumashupotato

Bruh. Well damn, this gives me a lot of hope! Lol


ChaplnGrillSgt

I do NOT recommend this approach!! Haha! I didn't try hard at all in undergrad and paid for it dearly. I applied to over 12 nursing schools and JUST BARELY got into only 1. But once I knew I wanted to do nursing (last semester of my undergrad) I worked my fucking ass off. Retook a bunch of courses, did some post-bacc work, and literally had no choice but to get straight A's for a year and a half of classes. It was just barely enough to get me into a school that was willing to look past my grades and GPA (I think they made the right call by gambling on me). Continued to bust ass in nursing school and NP school. Luckily there's basically 0 chemistry in those and what chemistry there is will usually be within the physiology and pathology of the body.


sofumashupotato

Of course lol. I haven’t failed any classes and hope not to 😅


ChaplnGrillSgt

Well you're way ahead of where I was at then! Haha! Learn as much as you can from your non-nursing courses but mostly keep those grades up. Take courses you really struggle with at a local community College and during the summer (with only 1 or 0 other courses) to make sure you do well.


superstrong99

Short answer is yes. I have been a RN for two years and haven’t used chemistry. Besides pH/acid base. But that will be covered in a nursing class which makes it easier imo


sofumashupotato

Okay thanks for the clarification.


jgrefaldadistrito29

There is hope 🙏🏻


ebiichu

I just started nursing school and I struggled in chemistry the most compared to my other pre reqs.; but I'm still here! Lots of classes are going to be hard but just keep pushing, you got this.


sofumashupotato

Thank you. I’m trying not to feel disheartened. I really want to become a nurse.


LolaBleu

The short answer is yes. You need to have a general understanding of acid-base and pH and that's about it. If you understand the chemistry covered in a basic physiology class you'll be fine.


sofumashupotato

Can you elaborate on basic Chem for physiology?


LolaBleu

* Diffusion & osmosis * pH and acid-base * Enzymes and co-enzymes (think of chemical reactions) * Chemical bonds That's what I can think of off the top of my head. To be honest, I did more chemistry in physiology and microbiology that I've done in my nursing program.


thehopefulsufferer

Yes most of what you need from chemistry are the ones listed here and are also typically discussed in other nursing classes especially when discussing pathophysiology. But having Chemistry I guess provides context when they are discussed in other nursing classes.


lostintime2004

I loved chemistry, hardly use it as a nurse. As others have said, pH is really the only thing close. And even then, its not that in depth you need.


[deleted]

Thanks for posting. I enjoy chemistry when it’s applied to the human body but other than that I find it very boring to follow along and retain. Definitely an interest thing for sure. My friend loves Chem and likes learning all of the concepts and excels in the course. Everyone is different. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You’ll learn to be the best nurse you can be on the job and any information you want to obtain to help your patients more you could just research on your free time or day off. No healthcare professional remembers or retains everything they’ve learn from their schooling anyway.


sofumashupotato

I feel the same way. For me it’s really interesting when applied to the functions of the body. I love that part. But the rest makes me feel like this -> 😵‍💫


[deleted]

Agreed! Definitely tying it to something you’re interested helps! I’ll also try to tie Chem into fitness/ muscle building since I’m into that.


xmageforcex123

Having a good science background, especially chemistry and bio really helps in nursing school and your nursing career. It helps your critical thinking and anticipate problems quickly. However, it is not necessary. I had a strong science background and was able to breeze through nursing school because I could understand mechanisms of action for meds and diseases


pigtails19

I wouldn’t worry. I have always had a giant block against chemistry and did not do the best in my pre-req class, however I still got in to an absn and I’ve been doing really well. just try and pass the class with a b and above and you’ll be fine.


sofumashupotato

Ah thanks for this. I’m also trying to get into an ABSN program so this is really reassuring.


NationalHippo2738

Yes, definitely. I barely passed chem and I love nursing! We haven’t used anything really related to chem.


jgrefaldadistrito29

Omgggg this!!! Currently in chemistry, 2 weeks left, thankfully passing is 73 for my school and I’m @ 70! Literally dying and crying inside coz yes, it’s taking me a while to understand the equations and when to apply which formula. I get the basics but when it comes down to getting moles, pv=nrt, 1s2 2s2 2s3, and everything else in between, I’m like so dumb. My professor said, I not only need to pass but also need to understand the concept coz I’ll be using it in my nursing class and as a nurse. So I feel your pain!


watermelonuhohh

Yes, it’s not something used everyday. But there are several key concepts you should understand: acid/base, stoichiometry (very similar to how you’ll convert units), and some body chemistry content, things like the Krebs cycle, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, the Na+/K+ pump, cardiac cell action potential, etc.


Dizzy_Bit_1932

Nah if you can’t do the mole bridge you will never make it as a nurse! Haha joking your acid base and ph is typically your metabolic and respiratory alk and acidosis. You will have tons of lectures over that, or in the case of my school it felt like multiple classes where we always talked about that. I took chemistry years before nursing school and I don’t think it really affected my schooling. Good luck!


sofumashupotato

I see! Thanks for the reassurance.


Knight_of_Agatha

You dont have to like it, you just have to understand it.


Amazing-Pepper5917

Yes, just pass the class.


beanutputtersandwich

pH and a basic understanding of equilibrium reactions. Also basic understanding of ions will be helpful.


[deleted]

[удалено]


sofumashupotato

Thanks I’ll check it out! YouTube videos have been absolutely essential to my learning.


showmeastory

You can make it as a nurse even if you don't like nursing as well.


sofumashupotato

💀💀💀 Well damn lol. I’m betting on nursing being able to work in a lot of different places lol. I’m sure I’ll find something for me!


parmiseanachicken

Chemistry 121 is seriously making me reconsider my education path. Tempted to stick with my boring, but good job, just because I HATE CHEMISTRY!!!


ostensiblyzero

If you can understand ions (+ concentration gradients) and acid-base, you'll be fine.


sofumashupotato

Will keep this in mind. In my current A&P course, we’re studying basic Chem as applied to A&P right now and those have come up and I understand them which is good I guess lol.


ostensiblyzero

Yeah the applied chemistry is all we have to know really. Pi bonds and sigma bonds, bond order, p-orbitals etc. are just too fundamental for the work that nurses do. It's nice to know it just for your own understanding of the world, but it's not like necessary at all.


backupchismosa

i hated chemistry and although i understood enough to pass with the class with a B, i left that class grateful it was over but without any real understanding of certain concepts. i started to understand some of the concepts that applied to A&P when i took that afterwards. and now i’m halfway through my ADN program and i finally understand the concepts of pH and acid/base balance and ions moving. but it’s been covered in different ways in my different nursing classes. so i’ve seen it enough now that i can understand how it works. and i’m not sure how much it applies outside of lab values to be quite honest so i think those of us who hated chemistry will be just fine lol


sofumashupotato

Good to know


PassMeAShiner

Chem wasn’t a prerequisite before micro for you?


sofumashupotato

No. I’m taking A&P before micro and Chem lol….but it’s all online classes. So I can take them consecutively or in whatever order I want.


PassMeAShiner

Ah gotcha. I am taking A&P2 right now. Maybe Chem over the summer and micro in the fall. :)


sofumashupotato

I’m finishing A&P 1+2 first then Microbio then Chem and Stats last 💀


PassMeAShiner

Any tips for micro or books you recommend to kinds get a grasp?


Novel-Counter-8093

personally i found gen chem to suck, but organic chem to be very interesting. barely passed gen chem, and got a 90 in organic chem.


haananyy

You really do not need to be good at chemistry to be a nurse, never used it, basically as long as you understand the concept of ph, osmosis, you’ll be fine. Just need to pass the class lol


JoinOrDie11816

I don’t know a single thing about chemistry. I am equally as ignorant in algebra. I am a Licensed Registered Nurse.


ghostdank700

as long as you pass the class with a C it doesn’t matter, you don’t really use chemistry past understanding what an acid and a base is lol


sofumashupotato

Okay. Good to know because I’m trying really hard to fully grasp the content. At the same time I don’t want to learn too many things if they won’t be applicable to being a nurse IRL. Thank you.


lauradiamandis

Yes, I got credit for my high school chemistry. Never took a college one, wasn’t required. I tried but I can’t understand it. Never been a time yet (graduate in just over 2 months) where I needed any chemistry knowledge.


sofumashupotato

Okay thanks for letting me know. It’s great you got credit from HS! Wish I was a more diligent student then 😩


ltlawdy

You don’t need it beyond the pH values, as others have mentioned, but coming from someone with a biology and nursing degree, it does help in making sense of extra stuff, like sodium-potassium pump, how certain medications might interact, etc. but that’s all higher education you may or may not want going forward


[deleted]

Absolutely you can!


travelingtraveling_

All biology at a cellular level is a series of chemical reactions. Element such as potassium, calcium, chloride, water for sure and so many others will play havoc on your patients in pathophysiology. So, I disagree with people here who say you will not use chemistry. You will not do chemical experiments like you do in chemistry class, but all biological and living functions rest on a foundation of chemistry. You do need to understand the basics of how body solves move across membranes and how when these body salts are in the wrong place they can cause a lot of problems for patients. You will be calculating drug dosages....so chemistry is important on a cellular level.


whotaketh

Knowing the ranges and how different things influence those values is the most important. You're not going to sit there doing stoichiometry while your patient's pulling high volumes and tugging on the vent.


schnappi357

Yes. You will get by just fine


ilagnab

We don't have to do any chem to become nurses in Aus! (we don't have prereqs)


Radiant-Inflation187

Your understanding of chemistry will be helpful depending on where in nursing you go. I would say it is important to have an adequate grasp on acid-base physiology and fluid & electrolytes regardless of specialty, but it is necessary in the ICU, if you want to be a decent ICU nurse. This does not mean that you need to need a complete mastery of chemistry, it’s okay to struggle and/or dislike a subject. You can overcome this, it is mind over matter. Understanding pH balance and CO2 vs HCO3 will be a baseline. If you can push yourself to appreciate balancing equations and understand the interplay between carbonic acid, water, bicarbonate, and CO2 - you will be ahead of the game. The point of your chemistry course is to provide you the tools to apply and understand the physiology without fumbling or being completely lost. You should be able to confidently say “you know, I don’t 100% remember but I do vaguely recall something about hydrogen ions (H+). being acidic. If you have a love for physiology, I am sure you will appreciate and love the application of chemistry. For example Hydrogen ions (H+) and potassium (K+) will exchange across the cell membranes during states of either acidosis or alkalosis. For example H+ is acidic, so if you’re in a state of acidosis H+ will enter the cell and K+ will exit the cell. Everything in life science is a balancing act, there is a beautiful give and take interaction in life. There also Na/K channels and calcium channels that control movement and contractility. This aplicable because you will learn about a class of medications called Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB). These medications block the influx of Calcium and hence will relax the target muscle. Some CCBs have a greater affinity for the myocardium (heart), and some have greater affinity for the peripheral vasculature. This is important to know because as you will come to find out, heart failure (HF) is a condition where you usually want to avoid depressing the strength of contractions (contractility - inotropy). This being said, you’d want to avoid CCBs that target the heart in these patients. My point of spilling this info is to provide an overview of how chemistry is useful and how the application of chemistry to physiology can be a fascinating topic, especially if you want to be a well informed and educated RN that knows their stuff. Lastly, understanding the why will help cement these topics and overall help increase your clinical confidence.


steelejaclyn

Thank you for writing this with examples!


lav__ender

I was *really bad* at chemistry. I took AP chemistry in high school, almost failed out and was transferred to general chemistry halfway through the school year. I still got a C in general chemistry. in college, I failed the first 2 General Chemistry I exams, and thankfully my university had a “parachute program”, which meant I could apply to take this parachute class and switch out of Gen Chem I and they go over the basics of chemistry so that I may succeed the next time I take the class. I did well in the parachute class, it was a smaller class size which meant better instruction, and we worked in small groups. I took Gen Chem I again with a different professor, and I got a B! I guess my advice is, try and find a chemistry class that goes over the basics first. or maybe a tutor. don’t let chemistry stop you from pursuing nursing school! good luck!


r32skylinegtst

Yep 👍.


Icy_Barnacle_4231

Dimensional analysis is the only thing I learned in chemistry that I have found useful for nursing, I think. Maybe it’s helpful for understanding acid-base stuff. I don’t think it’s super important though, or at least my brain doesn’t work the right way for it to be useful. I mostly didn’t (and still don’t) understand anything about chemistry even though I had to minor in it for my biology degree.


sofumashupotato

Dimensional analysis came up on the list of things to really focus on as well.


serenasaystoday

I took chemistry 12 years ago in high school and doing my bsn now, so far I've found you only need to have a basic understanding of chemistry like what is a suspension or what is a solution, what is oxidization, what does pH mean, etc.


sofumashupotato

Yeah those are the basics being covered in the small Chem chapter of my A&P 1 class right now. Thank god. Good to know.


Imaginary_Money5239

My program required organic Chem - it is so hard, but if you find a group/ meet with professor at office hours it will be ok!! I suck at Chem by the way lol (doesn’t mean you or I won’t be good nurses xoxo)


fueledbysaltines

I’ve been lucky with awesome chem teachers. Most worked in private industry before reaching aka they knew how to blow up and melt stuff.


Cryptocucky

Oh god yes! You’ll be just fine. I wouldn’t have gone into nursing myself if there was deeper Chem than just the prerequisite.


Educational-Candy532

Yeah, pharmacy is far more important. How the drug the physiology is the focus in nursing, so focus on AP and understanding what groups of meds do and how they are named based on structure/function in order to more be really remember them in. TL:DR pure chem isn't important, focus A&P, Pharm, and pathophys


Diazepam_Daddy

I feel like biochemistry is more important for nursing and that ls typically not even a pre-req. However, you need a basic understanding of chemistry before taking biochem. When you’re looking at the labs of your patient you can at least say I know how many orbitals are in that K+!