Need advice

gal220RN, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

You are right. Micro is a great subject that will build on gross anatomy and physiology. I'm not sure you will be able to assimilate all the information from Micro without the building blocks from A&P. If you can separate them, you really should consider it. You will have much greater understanding and appreciation for both subjects.

If you can't, you will survive with hard work.

fUsi0n86 · Jun 20, 2008

You are right. Micro is a great subject that will build on gross anatomy and physiology. I'm not sure you will be able to assimilate all the information from Micro without the building blocks from A&P. If you can separate them, you really should consider it. You will have much greater understanding and appreciation for both subjects.
If you can't, you will survive with hard work.

Would it be better if I just substitute Microbiology with Intro to Chemistry then? I guess I could just swap the classes.

JohnnysGirl · Jun 20, 2008

Would it be better if I just substitute Microbiology with Intro to Chemistry then? I guess I could just swap the classes.

I've taken all those classes except for Micro which I will be taking next semester. I agree that you may want to swap Micro with intro to chem. Chem will help with both A&P and Micro. My recommendation is to grab the coloring books for Anatomy and the other for Physiology and spend your time coloring them in. I had used them while in class and it gave a different way of presenting the information and really helped me. I am taking my time with the microbiology coloring book this summer and have learned a lot from it already. It's a good intro/overview of what you will be learning in Micro. Goodluck.

al7139, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2008

I did A&P II with Micro, and I did OK (got A's in both), but it's not for everyone. It helped that the classes were fun and interesting, and the teachers were really good.

I advisetrying to find someone who has already taken the course and getting a syllabus from them to see where you will start. Also get a really good anatomy atlas (I had two: Netter's and McMinns as well as an anatomy coloring book) for reference since the pics in the textbooks aren't that great. I am a hands on learner, so the coloring book helped, and if I was really having a hard time I got a sketch pad and some colored pencils and drew it out (for example the circulatory system for a particular part of the body like an arm or the stomach) which helped me reinforce what I had learned. Start with basics like terminology and go from there. For Micro it worked the same for me, except that I had to use flash cards.

Also most textbooks come with CD's that have quizzes, and supplemental learning excersises onthem. Mine for A&P was awesome for stuff like the actions of muscle fibers and kidney function.

Hope this helps!

Amy

fUsi0n86 · Jun 20, 2008

Thank you all for the ideas. I especially like getting a coloring book and I also asked a friend that took A&P I for a copy of her syllabus. I looked into swapping Micro with Chem but my school only offers one class for Chem and not only does it mess up my whole schedule, I hear the teacher is not that great either :cry: Fortunately both teachers for A&P I and Micro are really good so maybe I should just stick with that? I really don't know.

Harparia · Jun 20, 2008

I did Anatomy, Physiology, and Micro (along with some other GE courses), and let me tell you, it was pretty rough. I managed to get all A's, but I did get a head start in learning the bones and muscles. I grabbed a couple of boxes of flashcards and memorized about 5-10 a day.

Anatomy is very fast paced, but it will be much easier if you do some simple memorization now. I would recommend focusing on bones, muscles, and the cranial nerves (what the do, where they are, etc). If you finish that, you can work on memorizing the Sliding Filament theory.

If you haven't taken chemistry yet I would recommend taking that instead of Micro. Many of the basics that you learn in chem, will come up again in Micro. I found Micro to be the hardest class, of the 3 core sciences. I often put in 10+ hours a week (outside of class) studying for Micro. It can be done, but you have to be a very dedicated and organized student.

If you do decide to move forward, I recommend recording the lectures and forming a good study group.

You can do just about anything you put your mind to.

Good Luck!

fUsi0n86 · Jun 21, 2008

Ok so I decided I'm just going to roll with both A&P I and Micro in the fall semester. Does anybody think I'm crazy? I never took a single science course in my life so it's going to be a challenge but I'm determined. I actually looked to swap Micro for Chem class but it just messes up my whole schedule and switches up my instructors. Anyway, I have all the time to study in the fall so I think I should be fine. Any more advice would be certainly welcomed. Thank you.

RhodyGirl, RN · Jun 21, 2008

fusion86-

If you feel you have complete and total motivation to do this, than go for it. Microbiology is a very, very tough course. My college does Anatomy and Physiology separately in two 4-credit courses. Both difficult also. When I took Anatomy, I was working over 40 hrs a week so I decided to take it by itself (no other classes). I worked so hard and still only ended up with a high B.

Take a peek at www.doctaj.com .....I took Anatomy at a different school than the one I'm at now. My professor was amazing. His site will give you lots of practice stuff, and tools to help you in a way that's not intimidating.

I took a general chem and an organic/bio chem....both tough but doable as long as you practice and do homework problems.

Micro is my lowest grade on my transcript....B-.......I took it with 3 other courses. It is completely time consuming.

But, it can be done. Good luck.