Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry for Nursing

CH 117 General, Organic & Biochemistry: A Foundational Chemistry Course for Nursing

This comprehensive course at Sacred Heart University provides nursing students with a strong foundation in general, organic, and biochemistry, essential for understanding healthcare. You'll build a solid understanding of chemical principles and their direct relevance to patient care.

The course begins with general chemistry, exploring the fundamental building blocks of matter. Key topics include:

• Matter Classification: Differentiating between pure substances and mixtures.
• Atomic Structure: Understanding atoms, protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• Periodic Table: Learning to navigate and utilize the periodic table.
• Chemical Bonding: Exploring ionic and covalent bonds, and their impact on molecular properties.
• States of Matter: Examining the behavior of gases, liquids, and solids, including gas laws and intermolecular forces.

Next, dive into organic chemistry, focusing on the structure, naming conventions, and reactions of organic compounds. You will learn about:

• Alkanes: Understanding the properties and reactions of alkanes.
• Functional Groups: Identifying and understanding the role of various functional groups.
• Isomerism: Exploring different types of isomers and their significance.

The biochemistry portion introduces the vital biomolecules that underpin life:

• Carbohydrates: Their structure, function, and role in energy.
• Proteins: Exploring protein structure, function, and importance in biological processes.
• Nucleic Acids: Understanding DNA and RNA, and their role in genetic information.

You will also study crucial biochemical processes:

• Metabolism: A deep dive into metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and ATP production.
• Enzyme Function: Understanding how enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions.
• Genetic Coding: Exploring the process of genetic information transfer.
• Mutations: Investigating the causes and consequences of genetic mutations.
• Recombinant DNA Technology: Understanding the principles and applications of manipulating DNA.

Throughout the course, you'll apply these concepts to real-world scenarios. Examples include:

• Dietary Lipids: Understanding the role of fats in nutrition and health.
• Cell Membrane Transport: Exploring how substances move across cell membranes.
• Medical Uses of Radioisotopes: Learning about the application of radioactive materials in medicine.

CH 117 equips you with the knowledge to connect chemical and biochemical principles to patient care, enabling a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of health and disease. While challenging, the lectures and learning materials are designed to provide a strong grasp of the material and develop effective problem-solving skills. This course is vital for future nursing professionals.