Maybe Nursing isn't for me???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone!! I am a pre-nursing student finishing up my last two pre-reqs. One of which is Anatomy...the problem one. I've been struggling with this class...not with the "what is the foot bone" but the "what is the cell membrane of the muscle cell called?". Basically I'm getting the big stuff, but the little detailed things aren't catching for me. Maybe I'm not cut out for nursing??? I'm passing the class with a C and set to start clinicals in August but now I'm worried!! Any advice? Are all of these detailed, cellular level things important in the grand scheme of things?? Should I maybe try taking this class over again??

Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

A&P is not easy. Hold on if you want it. In physiology, I think the big stuff is more important than the detail. Know the big stuff. How stuff works.

I found reading Asimov Isaac : Human Body (Mentor) (Paperback)

by Isaac Asimov (Author), Anthony Ravielli (Illustrator) helped me some last year when I wrote my US boards after being a nurse for twenty years.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

I'm on the don't give up boat too, I got a C in A&P I but turned around and pulled an A in A&P II, part of it was the 2nd instructer made the information easier to retain because he enjoyed the material while my first instructer, well let's just say I took A&P I from the rain man, literally lol

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Specializes in post-op.

Do not give up because of A&P. I had taken it 2 yeasr before I got into my nursing program and there was a lot I did not remember. But, someone else said it too, you will go over it and over it in your nursing classes. You will be fine!!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

Something that helped me with "invisible" stuff was to study the models in lab and then draw out your own diagrams and label them. It really helped me to sketch the stuff in pencil, go over it in colored pencil and label using a black ink pen.

Example, if you don't see the difference between microtubules and myofiliments find the diagram in your text or online and draw it out. It may sound weird but if you're like me and have to do something before you can understand it, this could help you.

It took me about 6 months to figure out the Krebs Cycle, but when I drew out the diagram, I finally got it.

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.
Hi everyone!! I am a pre-nursing student finishing up my last two pre-reqs. One of which is Anatomy...the problem one. I've been struggling with this class...not with the "what is the foot bone" but the "what is the cell membrane of the muscle cell called?". Basically I'm getting the big stuff, but the little detailed things aren't catching for me. Maybe I'm not cut out for nursing??? I'm passing the class with a C and set to start clinicals in August but now I'm worried!! Any advice? Are all of these detailed, cellular level things important in the grand scheme of things?? Should I maybe try taking this class over again??

If you are going to start the clinical this August, my recommendation is you do not really have to take it again..."cellular level things!" My opinion...nice to know it....but in reality....I don't think about it when it comes to patient care...you are going to be a nurse...not a biomedical scientist.

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Don't sweat it! Everyone has something in nursing that comes harder for them than others!! There are always some parts that are more confusing. Ask your instructor for some helpful hints et do not let this make your decision to quit nursing. Honestly, how many people do you think remember everything they learned in nursing school? At one point, I remember thinking that if I could just memorize something to pass the test et not worry about actually understanding it then I would be ok et I was! Good luck!!

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We lost about 75% of our class after the first semester of A&P and Chem 101. My first test grade was a C then after that I knew how hard it would be and just studied more. I've been an RN for 18 years and worked several areas. I've thought about going back and taking another A & P class again. I now do endoscopy and realize how much I just do not remember. Much of it is what you memorize for the test.

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Thank you thank you thank you for posting this! Every day in Physiology I sit there and have anxiety attacks that 5 yrs from now when I finally finish the program I won't remember a thing about sodium ion channels in the cell membrane.... I got an A in Anatomy and I'm getting an A- in Phys... but I feel like it's just memorization and once I'm done with the exam out it goes.... There is only so much room in my head for so much information....

I've wondered many times how much of the "micro" information I'm suppose to retain.... The BIG hands on info I can grasp... but some of the smaller stuff I have a hard time with...

Good post... Keep up the good work! The more and more you go over it the more it will stick I'm sure!

Take care,

Jennifer

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Keep a'goin'.

And there are A students who are great nurses with great personalities.

As for getting it all down before clinicals - sure, that would be nice but you will have to review anyway before clinicals. Or should, anyway.

The licensing board doesn't care if you got an A or C or what. All they care about is you passed. Do study hard, though. You owe that to your future patients and yourself and the profession you are entering.

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