Failing A&P

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi everyone. My name is Nicole. I'm 27 and ADN is my major...

This is my 2nd semester and I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology I. Not doing well at all. First of all, my instructor is a MATH TEACHER. She's never taught A&P before. She follows a lesson plan given to her by another teacher and is constantly getting things wrong. She tells us incorrect ways to spell things, bounces all over the place, when we have a question, she can't answer it....the list goes on and on. A group of students want to go complain, but I don't see what good it will do. The school is getting their money and the teachers are getting paid. It's a community college.

I studied like never before for my first test and I flunked it REALLY bad. I want to cry. It's like I'm having to teach myself, which is almost impossible when I don't understand what I'm reading. When I ask her a question or to explain something, she doesn't explain at all. Some guy in class today kept asking her to explain about Osteocytes and he finally threw his hands up and said "forget it". I feel so dumb, but I know I'm not!

I HAVE to pass this class. I do NOT want to take it over again. And forget study groups....all they do is sit around talking about guys, going out, etc. I have been out of school for 9 years, married and don't care about the "cute guys on campus", and can't afford to go out. Becoming a nurse has been my dream since I was a little girl. I'm finally getting a chance to make that dream come true and I feel like it will never happen.

We're currently on the Skeletal system. I've printed a ton of worksheet off the class website, but there is just SO MUCH to learn! How will I ever do this?! I study probably 3 hours a day off and on. I have 2 children, so I have to get studying in at various times of the day.

IF I can't get my grades up, should I withdrawl from the class or just fail it and take it again? About half of my class is in it for the 2nd time around. I'm beginning to think that this college is a waste of time and money.

That's another thing. I have grants. If I fail, will I lose my grants? I don't know what to do and I've cried so much that I can't cry anymore! :crying2:

I have an appointment this Thursday with my advisor. Is there any advice on what I can do or should ask my advisor?

Nicole

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.
This thread is moving off topic, but i'd like to mention the topic and the side topic

A&P

memorization, memorization, memorization. since you have seen teh first test, does that help? maybe you know what kinds of things she asks? does your book have a study guide that helps? do you know anyone in any other A&P class you can study with? Find out the drop date at your school, and if you aren't passing by then, withdraw from the class to save your record from having a bad grade, which would negatively affect your gpa, and your chances of getting into the nursing program. Go ahead and complain-if you really feel she is unqualified and unprepared. Type a letter, use specific examples of why you think she's not good "When Mrs X was asked about osteocytes, she was unable to give us the correct answer" not just "she's a math teacher, she shouldn't teach this stuff". Turn it into the head of the math/science department. If you can find anyone else in your class who agrees with you, they can sign the letter too. It won't do you any good this semester, but it may help future semesters.

community colleges/financial aid/etc

why am i seriously getting a vibe from this thread that you all think community college students are lazy and out for money? "its just a community college" "my class is full of delinquents" "they are just going to college to satisfy their parents". Judgemental, no?

I go to a community college, graduating from the nursing program (ADN) in 3 short months. I took all of my prereqs there. Sure there are lazy ppl in classes, but in my nursing geared classes, there are a heck of a lot more people out there willing to work their orifice off to do well. I could have gone to the university for nursing school, but it is a bit far away (CC is in town). my CC also has a higher NCLEX pass rate than the university, too. Plenty of lazy "delinquents" go to universities, too.

and the money? Yes, I get a lot of money in pell grants. I would not be able to afford to go to college wihtout that pell grant. It pays my tuition and my books, then I have about 500 dollars left. I have 2 kids, bills, etc so im not blowing it on anything. And unlike loans, you dont ask for a certain amount when you apply for pell grants. they just give you what they think you need. so one is not being greedy by having that money, it is what the school decided to give them.

loans? so what if someone takes out the max? that is their business, adn they'll have to pay it back.

sorry, i just dont like hostility towards CC students

I have to say, that I've did about 1/2 of my pre-req's at a CC also. I'm now attending an expensive Catholic college, and I have seen JUST AS MANY lazy students as there were in the CC. There are many young students whose parents are paying for their education, and they don't care if they pass or fail. Many DO care, but there is a lot who don't. It's sad - no matter what school they're attending, that they can waste money like that.

On the other hand, I had a lot of students in my classes at the CC who were paying for college themselves, and wanted to get everything out of it they could.

I'm a non-traditional student, in my late 30's, and it's really important to me that 1) I get everything out of my education and 2) that my 4 children SEE me getting everything out of it, and appreciating any loans and scholarships given to me.

Hi Nicole,

I'm finally knocking out my last pre-req. I just got done applying to nursing school and will find out something by the end of May. A/P-1 was definetly the hardest for me. All I can tell you if you decide to retake A/P again ask some other students about the instructors. You can go to a website http://www.ratemyprofessor. You will find a listing of feed backs provided by other students that have taken certain instructors. Don't give up. Believe me I know where your coming from. I have three kids and have to wait till everyone falls asleep before I can get any quality studying done. Its pure memorization. But the most important part is understanding what your reading. Of course the lab section of your A/P is memorization of all the different parts. Just hang in there. You'll be fine

Hi Nicole,

I stand corrected the correct site is http://ratemyprofessor.com.

Hey now -

Not all the "young kids" are so bad. I'm 19, I have a 3.8 GPA, got great grades in A&P and Micro, and I'm there to learn. I'm working two jobs and going to school very full time (27 credits last term and 19 credits this term).

Not all of us are so bad...

Update:

I have an appt Tuesday with the head of the dept. I have to follow the Chain of Command and that's who I start with. I spoke with him already on the phone and filled him in on the instructor AND the way some students disrupt the class. He said that NOBODY wil be happy with what he is going to do, but that he promises he will get the problem resolved and he won't mention my name to anyone.

So, I'm anxious to see what happens. I wish he would come teach the class. He's an awesome instructor from what I hear. It's his lectures that I've been listening to since I can't understand my own instructor.

Wish me luck. I already have enemies in class, so I'm sure this will just cause more. The other day, some of my classmates wanted to copy my lab workbook and I wouldn't let them. They called me all kinds of names and got really nasty. It's just all so middle-schoolish and I'm SICK of it!

Good for you for going to the Dept. head!

Don't you worry for a minute about the rest of the class! You just do what you need to do for you and let the rest of them worry about themselves.

It's YOUR education at stake here, not your popularity... you weren't planning on running for Student Body President anyway, were you?

Keep yours always focused on the goal!

Kirbi

Specializes in Postpartum.
Update:

I have an appt Tuesday with the head of the dept. I have to follow the Chain of Command and that's who I start with. I spoke with him already on the phone and filled him in on the instructor AND the way some students disrupt the class. He said that NOBODY wil be happy with what he is going to do, but that he promises he will get the problem resolved and he won't mention my name to anyone.

So, I'm anxious to see what happens. I wish he would come teach the class. He's an awesome instructor from what I hear. It's his lectures that I've been listening to since I can't understand my own instructor.

Wish me luck. I already have enemies in class, so I'm sure this will just cause more. The other day, some of my classmates wanted to copy my lab workbook and I wouldn't let them. They called me all kinds of names and got really nasty. It's just all so middle-schoolish and I'm SICK of it!

Good for you!!! Let us know how it pans out. I wonder how the head of the dept allowed a math teacher to teach an A&P class in the first place though? Hope it all works out!

-Jess

Good for you!!! Let us know how it pans out. I wonder how the head of the dept allowed a math teacher to teach an A&P class in the first place though? Hope it all works out!

-Jess

I went to speak with a counselor after class the other day because I was so upset. She said that they have to have a masters in something along with a certain number of hours. I think that's ridiculous. They should have to have a masters in that particular subject! It's obvious that the teacher is struggling along with the class.

If the guy Tuesday can't help me, then the next person I have to go to is the Dean of Arts and Sciences. After that, the Vice President of Instruction. Hopefully I can get it resolved at the first meeting. Wish me luck....

Specializes in Postpartum.
I went to speak with a counselor after class the other day because I was so upset. She said that they have to have a masters in something along with a certain number of hours. I think that's ridiculous. They should have to have a masters in that particular subject! It's obvious that the teacher is struggling along with the class...

My gosh! What a crazy policy!!!! So, if you have a masters in say English Literature- you could teach a college level Physics class?!? That is the most bizzare thing I've ever heard. I would think that the school would be risking it's accreditation with that sort of policy. I think you should take it as high as possible within your school and if nothing get's done- call your state's board of education! Best of luck!! :)

Yeah, well tell you school administrators perhaps someone with a Master's degree in liberal arts would be good to do their next lobotomy. Point: A MASTER IN ANYTHING DOESN'T MAKE YOU QUALIFIED TO DO EVERY JOB. Document EVERY THING and send copies to the state since they FUND your school. That is some SERIOUS BULL.

Yeah, it sounded kind of weird to me too. It may not be true. It was the counselor that told me that and so far, I've had counselors, instructors, students, etc all tell me things that I find out to be UNTRUE.

I had a dream last night that my instructor got fired. If only something like that would happen. Or at least get an instructor in class that knows what they're doing!

Hi Nichole,

A&P is definately a bear - I am taking it too, though my professor is wonderful. Our textbook is Hole's Anatomy, and you can use their web site http:highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070272468/student_view0/chapter1/chapter_overview.html

If you have trouble with the address (no cut and paste here!) just do a Google search for Hole's Essentials of Human Anatomy and it will come up. The site is fantastic, walking you through everything and offering ways to quiz yourself on both definitions (oh, the difference between osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts - on my test this week!) and with diagrams to identify everything from anatomical terms (coxal anyone) to names of the bones in the skulls, to muscles etc.

Keep at it - A&P is 90% memorization, 10% understanding and you can definately teach yourself if need be.

Karen

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