Biochemistry is the study of the molecular basis of life and biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. It examines several key principles including that cells are highly organized units, living processes involve thousands of chemical reactions, certain reaction pathways are found in all organisms, and instructions for growth are encoded in nucleic acids. Understanding biochemistry is significant for nursing as it can help identify alterations during disease, facilitate treatment by understanding normal processes, and maintain homeostasis and electrolyte balance which is important for organ and tissue function. Biochemical tests also help diagnose diseases and assess patient needs.
2. Biochemistry
• The study of molecular basis of life.
• BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids
gives rise to different chemical processes in the living cell.
Several principles that are central to our understanding of living organisms:
1. Cells, the basic structural units of all living organisms, are highly organized.
2. Living processes consist of thousands of chemical reactions.
3. Certain fundamental reaction pathways are found in all living organisms.
4. All organisms use the same types of molecules.
5. The instructions for growth, development, and reproduction are encoded in an
organism’s nucleic acids.
5. Significance in Nursing
• Hypoglycemia- is a serious condition in day-to-day life if not taken care of, as it may
lead to life-threatening complications affecting the cardiac and central nervous
system. There is also a chance that the patient may go into a seizure and coma.
• So, a thorough understanding of the biochemical processes taking place in the body
will help the nurse to have a patient-centered approach to the treatment.
• Knowing the normal processes that occur within the body will help us to identify the
alterations that can occur during disease conditions so that effective medical
treatment can be facilitated.
6. Significance in Nursing
• Biochemistry teaches about homeostasis and electrolyte balance, and a nurse should
understand its importance in the body.
-All the organs and tissues in the body function to maintain this homeostasis.
-Certain disease conditions may create an imbalance of one or more electrolytes,
a severe illness.
-Biochemistry teaches about the standard and abnormal metabolite levels, and
this knowledge helps the nurse to take special care of the patient by maintaining the fluid
and electrolytes.
Homeostasis–The ability or tendency of a living organism, cell, or group to keep the
conditions inside it the same despite any changes in the conditions around it or this state of
internal balance.
7. Significance in Nursing
• The various biochemical tests like blood tests, kidney function tests, liver function tests,
and lipid profiles, will help the nurse diagnose diseases, and the test results will help in
assessing the needs of the patient to pro
• Every drug has a biochemical action; this knowledge will help select the appropriate
doses and the duration of treatment a patient requires. Vide effective care.
• Nutritional biochemistry teaches the relation between health, diet, and disease.
-It focuses on how each nutrient functions metabolically and biochemically.
-Using biochemical tools, nutritional deficiency diseases can be diagnosed.
