1) Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes within living organisms and is essential for nurses to understand basic body functions. 2) Nurses need a solid understanding of biochemistry to properly comprehend human physiology and disease development, calculate appropriate medication dosages, and determine a patient's progress through clinical tests. 3) Biochemistry allows nurses to monitor patients' conditions through tests like kidney and liver function tests and determine treatment effectiveness through biomarkers like blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

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SHAILAJA MOHANTA
M. Sc. Biotechnology
Visiting Faculty (Biochemistry)
ITM University, Gwalior
IMPORTANCE OF BIOCHEMISTRY IN NURSING

2. The term "Biochemistry" was coined by Neuberg in 1903 from Greek words, bios (=
life) and chymos (= juice). The study of biochemistry is essential to understand basic
functions of the body. Biochemistry is of great use within the field of nursing, with many
practical applications that can assist you in becoming a better nurse. Biochemistry is the
study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. The knowledge of
biochemistry is very important to Nursing professional, because, the understanding of
biochemistry helps them to properly understand the human body, the development of
diseases, etc. In Nursing, a significant amount of knowledge essential for professional
practice is derived from the basic sciences such as biology or chemistry. Too many students
aiming to be health professionals, however, the relevance of some of these basic science
courses to their education toward professional practice is far from clear. Nursing students
must have a solid knowledge of basic/fundamental sciences such as Biology and
Chemistry. Otherwise, students will not able to follow the basic concepts which are
required to understand the biochemical processes taking place in human body. So, only
sound knowledge of biochemistry will serve this purpose.
RELEVANCE OF BIOCHEMISTRY TO THE NURSING PROFESSIONAL 2

3. Nevertheless, prospective nurses need to understand the fundamental principles
of Biochemistry for different reasons:-
1. Physical health and growth depend on biochemical processes in the body
(metabolic pathways).
2. Life-saving medications work through physiological reactions, and prescription
doses must be calculated carefully so as to yield therapeutic results and reduce
potentially dangerous side effects.
3. The study of biochemistry helps in the understanding the actual chemical
concepts of biology.
4. To describe the physical and chemical properties of water as the most abundant
molecule in the body. To know the diseases associated with alterations in the
water and ion metabolism.
5. To know the pH concept and its physiological implication.
6. To distinguish levels of protein structure, and to analyze the three dimensional
structure of these biomolecules.
7. To establish the relationship between the structure and the function of proteins as
the main molecular machinery for the development of cellular and intercellular
physiological functions.
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4. 8. To describe the role of blood proteins and their alterations in certain pathologies.
9. To know the characteristics of biological catalysts, their functions in the body and the most common
pathological conditions related to alteration of enzymes.
10.To understand the meaning of the kinetic parameters of an enzyme.
11.To understand the basis of enzyme therapy and protein markers.
12.To identify the main characteristics of carbohydrates and the diseases related with their metabolism.
13.To describe lipids composition, their function in the human body and their properties in the cell
membranes.
14.To establish the nature of different transport mechanisms through membranes.
15.To differentiate the structure and function of hormones and neurotransmitters.
16.To recognize the basis of signal transduction cascades.
17.To know the nature and function of nucleic acids.
18.To explain the denaturation and re-naturation process of nucleic acids.
19.To know the characteristics of telomeres in the lineal eukaryotic chromosomes.
20.To describe the concept of mutation and to enumerate the DNA repair mechanisms. To explain the
pathologies related to genetic material.
21.To explain the general concepts of nucleic acid metabolism.
22.To describe the characteristics of the genetic code in detail.
23.To study the clinic applications of molecular biology.
24.To know the role of the ATP in the energetic metabolism.
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5. 25.To understand the concept of metabolism and the main mechanism involved in its regulation.
26.To understand the principal pathways related to glucose and other monosaccharaides and their
regulation.
27.To know the role that the TCA cycle plays in the interconnection between different metabolisms.
28.To be familiar with the cellular respiration and oxidative processes that produce energy.
29.To get an overview of lipid metabolism.
30.To learn the process by which the lipid produces energy, which the body uses to carry out its metabolic
functions.
31.To get an overview of the metabolism of nitrogen compounds: amino acids, nucleotides and urea.
32.To connect the metabolism pathologies with common diseases.
33.To recognize biomolecules for their use in the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of diseases
34.To use the findings of scientific research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for the interpretation
of pathological disorders.
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6. Using biochemistry can be helpful in the nursing profession, allowing nurses to determine how
much medicine should be prescribed or given to each patient they encounter. It ensures that nobody
gets too high of a dose for their body and that people recover in as little time as is possible. Modern
day medical practice is highly dependent on the laboratory analysis of body fluids, especially the
blood. The disease manifestations are reflected in the composition of blood and other tissues.
Hence, the demarcation of abnormal from normal constituents of the body is another important
application of the study of biochemistry for nursing students.
Biochemistry is perhaps the most rapidly developing subject in health care or medicine. Therefore,
No wonder, the major share of Nobel prizes in health care or medicine has gone to research workers
engaged in biochemistry.
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In nursing, the importance of clinical biochemistry is priceless and very helpful. When a patient
is in the hospital nurses, need to keep a watch on how his condition is progressing through
clinical biochemistry. That is the treatment for helping him recover from said condition etc.
Almost all diseases or disorders have some biochemical involvement. So the diagnosis of any
clinical condition is easily possible by biochemical estimations.
• Kidney function test:- For example in kidney disorders, other chemotherapy treatment, etc.
urine test help understand the extent of excretion of drugs or other metabolites, the change in
pH, the color of urine, etc.
• Blood test: - In diabetes, biochemical analytical test for blood glucose level (above
150mg/deciliter) helps one understand the severity of diabetes disorder. Another biochemical
analysis for ketones bodies in urine also indicates the stage of diabetes. The appearance of
ketone bodies or ketone urea is mostly the last stage of diabetes.
Example of importance of biochemistry in nursing: -

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• Liver function tests: - help understand the type of disease or damage to the liver, the effect of any
medication on the liver, etc.
• Serum cholesterol test: - Evaluation of blood cholesterol level and other lipoproteins helps to
understand the proneness of the patient to cardiovascular diseases.
Thus the importance of biochemistry is to help the nurse monitor the patient’s condition
regularly during the treatment.