why is chemistry a foundational course for nursing

Nursing students are typically required to take one or two semesters organic chemistry with a laboratory section. General chemistry

is a prerequisite because organic chemistry focuses on a specific type of matter that contains carbon atoms. In particular, it is the study of the structure and properties of organic compounds and organic molecules.

Full Answer

Why is general chemistry important for nursing students?

General chemistry is a prerequisite because organic chemistry focuses on a specific type of matter that contains carbon atoms. In particular, it is the study of the structure and properties of organic compounds and organic molecules. Organic chemistry is useful for nursing students because they work almost exclusively with organic matter.

What types of chemistry courses are required for nursing school?

The types of chemistry courses that nursing students must take vary across programs, but many require students to take course in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology.

What is the importance of organic chemistry in nursing?

Organic chemistry is useful for nursing students because they work almost exclusively with organic matter. In this class, students learn about the properties and behavior of organic matter as well as its chemical reactivity.

How many semesters of organic chemistry are required for nursing school?

Nursing students are typically required to take one or two semesters organic chemistry with a laboratory section. General chemistry is a prerequisite because organic chemistry focuses on a specific type of matter that contains carbon atoms.

Why is chemistry a prereq for nursing?

Nurses must study chemistry to understand processes that take place in the human body at the cellular level. Chemistry courses introduce prospective registered nurses (RNs) to the structures and properties of atoms, ions, molecules, and biological substances and mixtures (both inorganic and organic).

Is chemistry essential for nursing?

Chemistry often is viewed as an essential foundation for the health professions, not just for doctors but for nurses, paramedics, technicians, respiratory therapists, waste disposal professionals and many others who handle the wide and still growing range of chemicals in modern healthcare.

What is General Chemistry in nursing?

Course Description A study of the basics of general and organic chemistry at an introductory level, including atomic structure, bonding, acids and bases, organic functional groups and selected organic reactions, with an emphasis on health science professional applications.

Why is knowledge of chemistry important to healthcare professionals?

Figure 1: The chemical sciences can help to improve global healthcare from basic research that helps to understand the mechanisms underlying disease, through the development of improved means of diagnosis and through optimising the development of effective drugs.

How is math used in nursing?

Nurses are called upon to use math for reasons other than medication administration. They must calculate intake and output of their patients, which means adding up every ounce of fluid taken in by any route and the amount voided or otherwise released from the body.

How is physics related to nursing?

Nurses use physics to deal with advanced technology, electrical measurements, sound waves and radiography; nurse anesthetists must learn how the gases they use work and how flow rates affect overall patient outcomes; and surgical nurses rely on certain aspects of physics to operate equipment and perform calculations ...

Why is the study of chemistry important?

Chemistry is essential for meeting our basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health, energy, and clean air, water, and soil. Chemical technologies enrich our quality of life in numerous ways by providing new solutions to problems in health, materials, and energy usage.

How is biology related to nursing?

Biology helps nurses understand content related to the lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, and more. Nurses also need to understand biology to maintain homeostasis in the human body. Disease and illnesses arise when the body is not in a balanced state.

What is a prerequisite in nursing?

Prerequisites introduce students to a particular area of study, giving them background knowledge before pursuing more advanced classes. Nursing pre...

Are nursing prerequisites hard?

The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as a professor's teaching style, the number of assignments, and the level of interest...

How do I start nursing school?

The very first step is to get a high school diploma or GED certificate. Once you make up your mind about becoming an RN, you should investigate the...

When do you take nursing school prerequisites?

Nursing students typically complete English composition and some science and math requirements while in high school, but others may have to take th...

Do nursing prerequisites transfer?

Many colleges accept transfer credits from similar schools, allowing students to receive full or partial credit for previously completed academic w...

Why is organic chemistry important?

Organic Chemistry is especially crucial in understanding certain concepts in nutrition. It also helps put the missing pieces together when you're learning some parts of biology and genetics.

Do you have to take chemistry to be a pre-nursing?

requires pre-nursing students to even take chemistry I and II. I've heard it from nurses

Is a basic understanding of the human body and how it interacts chemically with its environment vitally necessary to?

Not everything that gets covered in a standard O chem course is vitally necessary to nursing, but a basic, general understanding of the biochemistry of the human body and how it interacts chemically with its environment, is vitally necessary to nursing, same as a general understanding of A&P.

Is chemistry important in nursing?

Pointless? Far from it. Like elkpark stated, not everything in a chemistry course is vital to nursing. However, the concepts you learn in the course helps you gain a deeper understanding of normal physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. I can't speak for other's nursing programs, but my instructors drill fluid and electrolytes in our brains like nothing else. If there is one thing I'll remember when I graduate, it will be fluid and electrolytes. With that being said, understanding and treating fluid imbalances, electrolyte imbalances, and acid/base problems requires a solid foundation in chemistry. Also, dosage calculation looks similar to the math problems in a chemistry course. At least, they do to me.

What is a chemistry course in nursing?

Nursing programs require students to take general chemistry to develop their understanding of the elements that make up our world and prepare them for upper-level nursing courses. This course is typically two semesters long and includes both lecture and laboratory components, introducing students to the theoretical and the practical aspects of chemistry. Most introductory chemistry courses cover topics such as the periodic table of elements, states of matter, thermochemistry, bonds and chemical equations.

Why is organic chemistry important for nursing students?

Organic chemistry is useful for nursing students because they work almost exclusively with organic matter. In this class, students learn about the properties and behavior of organic matter as well as its chemical reactivity.

What are the prerequisites for biochemistry?

Two common prerequisites for biochemistry are general chemistry and an introductory class in biology. Nursing students often take this course concurrently with organic chemistry.

What classes do nursing students need to take?

The types of chemistry courses that nursing students must take vary across programs, but many require students to take course in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology.

Why is general chemistry important?

General chemistry is a prerequisite because organic chemistry focuses on a specific type of matter that contains carbon atoms. In particular, it is the study of the structure and properties of organic compounds and organic molecules.

What do you learn in pharmacology?

In pharmacology, students learn the effects of both synthetic and natural drugs on the body and how drugs alter the disease process. General chemistry is a common prerequisite for pharmacology, but many programs also require students to take organic chemistry prior to taking pharmacology.

What are the topics covered in introductory chemistry?

Most introductory chemistry courses cover topics such as the periodic table of elements, states of matter, thermochemistry, bonds and chemical equations.

Why is chemistry important in nursing?

Chemistry in nursing is very important, for it sets the basis for understanding the medications that are being administered to certain patients.

What is the science focusing on the composition and properties of a variety of substances?

Chemistry is the science focusing on the composition and properties of a variety of substances. Including different forms of matter and their interaction with each other.

Why is it important for nurses to have the skills to take care of their patients emotionally?

It is vital for nurses to have the skills to take care of their patient emotionally, but it is also important that the nurse have the necessary knowledge to interpret data regarding patient condition to treat the physically and possibly mental symptoms accurately and in a timely manner.

Why do nurses need to study chemistry?

Chemistry. Nurses must study chemistry to understand processes that take place in the human body at the cellular level. Chemistry courses introduce prospective registered nurses (RNs) to the structures and properties of atoms, ions, molecules, and biological substances and mixtures (both inorganic and organic).

How many semesters of English composition are required for nursing?

English Composition. Most associate and bachelor's programs require two semesters of English composition or a similar writing course. These courses are usually taken in the first two semesters. For nursing students, mastery of writing and communication skills forms an important part of their training.

What is a BSN degree?

Traditional and online BSN degrees typically include prerequisites in humanities, advanced science, and college-level reading and writing courses. While both the ADN and BSN degrees prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the more competitive BSN, which incorporates clinical experiences and training, seeks applicants who wish for a broader academic background.

What are the prerequisites for nursing school?

Prerequisites for nursing school provide the foundation for advanced level college courses. They usually consist of general education and science courses taken in high school, a minimum GPA, and other requirements. Students who plan to enroll in either a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) ...

Why do nurses need statistics?

Knowledge of statistics helps nurses to apply evidence-based practice to patient care delivery. The course prepares students to identify patterns in vital signs and symptoms, adjust dosage of medications, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments. Statistics courses also introduce students to the science of collecting, analyzing, and making conclusions from data. Nursing students gain a working understanding of terms such as mean, median, and mode and concepts such as "validity" and "reliability" which are necessary to evaluate research.

How long does it take to become a nurse?

Some schools only accept current prerequisites that have been completed within 5-7 years.

What are the topics covered in the advanced course?

The advanced course covers the human cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems.

Who wrote the study of factors related to success in nursing chemistry?

Mamantov C. B. and Wyatt W. W., (1978), A study of factors related to success in nursing chemistry, J. Chem. Educ., 55, 524.

What is chemistry 102?

Many students (including the author) take a one-semester fundamental chemistry lecture and laboratory course (CHEM 102) that surveys the basics of organic chemistry and biochemistry (Van Lanen et al., 2000). It is organized around topics of organic chemistry, but with some biological perspective (Miner, 1948; Isom, 2006). This course is often required for students in health-oriented programs, especially the nursing program (at the University of South Carolina, Chemistry 102 is required in the nursing curriculum, as shown here ), and it may also serve as a laboratory science for students in other fields of study (Price, 1976; Mamantov and Wyatt, 1978). Emphasis for this course is often placed on selected principles relevant to the understanding of human biological functions and related medical aspects. However, this course is often seen by students as a difficult and professionally irrelevant barrier in pursuing a career in medicine or nursing. Moreover, even though knowing detailed chemical properties of organic molecules is not a main objective for this course, students are required to comprehend some basic organic reactions, especially those closely related to biochemical processes of the human body. Some typical examples are the oxidation of an alcohol, the formation of a disulfide bond, carboxylic acid and amine dissociation, esterification, and amide formation. However, learning organic reactions for non-science major students has often been unpleasant (Rowe, 1983; Burgess and Bino, 1988).

Why is the amide reaction unfavorable?

However, unlike ester formation, the amide reaction equilibrium is highly unfavorable for the synthesis of products because a competing acid-base reaction occurs between a carboxylic acid and amine. Many methods are thus used to drive the reaction to the right.

What happens to the esterification reaction when it is catalyzed by an acid?

Interestingly, when catalyzed by an acid, the esterification reaction establishes equilibrium where the reverse reaction (ester hydrolysis) also takes place. During hydrolysis, the ester linkage (represented by the carbonyl-oxygen single bond) is broken. The elements of water contribute to this reaction as the –OH is attached to the carbonyl carbon to form a carboxylic acid, and the –H is attached to the alcohol oxygen to form an alcohol (Scheme 4). In study groups and tutoring sessions, students often say, “During ester hydrolysis, the –OH from the water and the –OR’ from the ester swap places.”

Why is oxidation important in organic chemistry?

Alcohol oxidation is an important organic reaction because more than 90% of the ethyl alcohol that enters the body is metabolized by oxidation to acetic acid (Peters and Preedy, 1998). In terms of oxygen and hydrogen transfer, oxidation is a process of gaining oxygen or losing hydrogen atoms while reduction is a process of losing oxygen or gaining hydrogen atoms. We find this easy to remember using the acronym “OIL RIG:” Oxidation Is a Loss (of hydrogen atoms), Reduction Is a Gain (of hydrogen atoms). Although these are old definitions that are not used very much in current texts, we often will come across them in organic chemistry. As Scheme 1 shows of primary alcohols, removal of two hydrogen atoms (one from the hydroxyl group and another from the hydroxyl-bearing carbon atom) results in an aldehyde. In the presence of water, the aldehyde will transform into aldehyde hydrate, from which two hydrogen atoms are removed (one from the hydroxyl group and another from the hydroxyl-bearing carbon atom) to result in a carboxylic acid. The net effect for the second oxidation from the aldehyde to the carboxylic acid is the insertion of an oxygen atom. In the human body, this process happens in the liver and is mainly catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), respectively (Xiao et al., 1996).

Where does water come from in esterification?

It is necessary to remember that the water comes from the carboxylic acid –OH and the alcohol –H. Hence, one can say, “ It is like the –OH from the carboxylic acid and the –OR’ from the alcohol swap places. ” Students often find this statement helpful in simplifying the reaction mechanism of esterification.

Which gene is responsible for alcohol flushing?

Xiao Q., Weiner H. and Crabb D. W., (1996), The mutation in the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) gene responsible for alcohol-induced flushing increases turnover of the enzyme tetramers in a dominant fashion, J. Clin. Invest., 98, 2027-2032.

What did Chamberlain students and graduates report that courses in transcultural nursing and religion were particularly eye-opening and?

Chamberlain students and graduates reported that courses in transcultural nursing and religion were particularly eye-opening and changed the way they practiced.

What leadership skills do nurses need to be able to learn?

Among the leadership skills that nurses will pick up in the RN to BSN Option is the ability to communicate more meaningfully by strengthening written, oral and non-verbal skills. Courses like Advanced English Composition help students write at a higher level and build presentation skills, Dr. Mason-Jubb said.

Does Chamberlain offer RN to BSN online?

The curriculum for the RN to BSN Online Option at Chamberlain incorporates liberal arts courses that can help nurses grow these competencies – and ultimately improve patient outcomes.