How much chemistry is involved in nursing

Nursing students will learn how important organic chemistry is to daily living. Organic chemistry is very complex but important to human existence. Organic chemistry is part of medications, foods, chemicals, plastics and much more. These atoms make life convenient and they support human life. Organic chemistry is important to improving current medicines and products and discovering new ones. It is also vital to understanding the human body and its many functions and abilities.

Nurses use organic chemistry on the job to understand the science behind the many processes that happen in the human body. Nurses use organic chemistry to understand the processes that take place at the cellular level. For example, nurses need to know how oxygen travels from the lungs to the locations where it is needed so that they can determine treatments for patients.

Many patients depend of medications before they enter a hospital or clinic, and they have to take additional medications to treat the current medical issues that they are experiencing. And a pre-req to this class is General Chemistry. My nursing program doesn't require any chemistry pre-req classes, although I already have 6 credit hours worth. I don't think chemistry would ever play a big part in nursing, although I techincally havn't started nursing school, but that would be my best guess.

The way I figure it, better to know some chemistry concepts than to know none at all. And if I ever plan to get my master's degree later on and specialize in a certain field, maybe those chem classes will help out there, or something.

I can see having a chem requirement for gen. I don't agree with that. But hey, I've already got mine out of the way, so woot! What helped me just a little bit from Inorganic Chem was the constant application of algebra helped me when I got to Statistics and what helped me in Pharmacology in nursing school Organic was being familiar with terms like 'benzene ring' and 'beta lactam ring' not essential to know, but nice to have an idea of what they were talking about.

Knowledge about these combinations is essential because a wrong combination could result in the death of a patient. There are typically four different types of chemistry courses that are offered in any nursing programme. These types include:. General level chemistry : The basics of the subject are usually spread over two semesters or so. In this subject you will learn about the various elements and compounds.

The periodic table is usually the most basic and fundamental topic that is covered during the course. Most chemistry courses also cover various chemical equations as well as thermochemistry and states of matter. You have to know how electrolytes interact. You need to understand acids and bases as these things are critical to the functioning of the lungs. The heart depends on potassium and calcium. Chemical bonding goes on all throughout the body.

Most college programs require a course in organic chemistry that is specifically tapered to the needs of the healthcare professions. Specializes in LTC, Other.

Has 6 years experience. Mar 20, Basic chemistry is probably what you should know but I never took any for either my LPN program or my RN one and now that I want to get my BS I am almost considering one in health sciences rather than nursing because I am afraid to take chemistry. Hang in there and if they offer the class for free I'd take it. Good Luck to you. Specializes in Emergency, Trauma.