A&P - Droppin' Like Flies

allnurses Guide · Oct 22, 2003

My anatomy class was the same way. We had a great but hard teacher. People dropped like flies and whined big time.

I proctored his classes after that and saw the same attitude every semester. We finally gave the teacher, "Doc"a party and had made up some "No Whining" t-shirts with the logo on the front "Doc's Emotional Support Group".

People aren't used to working hard anymore. Good way to weed out the ones who won't make it in the nursing program. I know I sound mean but . . . I hate to be mollycoddled by a teacher just so her/his record looks good.

steph

Paleobug · Oct 22, 2003

Well, some of us do work very hard in the class and still do the average or worse. So what are we supposed to do?

iliel · Oct 22, 2003

Lot's of elbow room in my class now too!! I don't hear anyone wine so much in class, but I'm sure it happens.

IMHO..do the work and don't complain. It bothers me when ppl expect a teacher to work out questions on a test that will only require memorization. That's not what the class is about!

Some ppl can handle it, some can't!

Carolanne · Oct 22, 2003

A&P is very tough, for sure. When students don't do well they lash out at anyone in their path, i.e. the teacher, for their failure. Sometimes people do study as they should, but it's still not clicking. It's so much material to absorb and can be overwhelming. I've seen perfectly rational and calm people turn argumentative and resentful within a matter of weeks. But as anything else, the more effort you put into it, the better. Kudos to all who are hanging in there and keeping their head above water!!

AmyLiz · Oct 22, 2003

I had a really easy A&P I instructor and am currently in A&P II with a really difficult instructor. I actually like how he lectures & honestly, he is the best lab instructor I've ever had (I've got him for lab too, obviously). BUT...his exams are very tricky. People whine & complain all the time in class. One girl actually left in the middle of the first exam. I don't mind working hard in the class, but I do wish that all of the instructors tested at the same caliber so that all students would have the same level of competancy. He tests us at a very high level. The questions are worded in ways that you really have to read them carefully and concentrate or else you can easily make a mistake. People whine. I tell them they may as well get used to difficult tests that make them think, because that's what they're going to be faced with in nursing classes.

Only thing that irritates me is that I've got a 4.0 right now & it's looking like I'm going to end up with a B in the class. Grrrr.

Lorus · Oct 22, 2003

The bottom line with A&P is that you have to put the time in if you plan on doing well. Loving it helps a lot too.

Seems like there are two types of people in A&P. Those that put the time in and those that dont. Even if a proff spoon feeds you every last bit of info, (impossible) you are still the one who has to come up with the answer. I agree with stevielynn- this is a great place to weed out certain folks. Those who want to 1/2 a$$ everything or have it all handed to them do not belong in A&P -or in nursing for that matter. Better to get out while theres still time to change your major.

On the other hand, (as paleobug brought up) what if you are putting the time in and your grades still arent where you want them to be? There are lots of things you can do to try to get a better grade. I found that having someone to practice with in the lab made a huge difference. We would identify structures together, then try to present them to each other, then quiz each other. Then repeat. A little friendly competition helps too. Talk to your proff, he/she may have suggestions for you that might help. If possible pre-read the material for the next day's class, and review it again soon after class. ( what do you mean 'yeah right'? ) The last suggestion i can think of right now is to just do a little A&P every day. A few minutes here and there adds up. Even if you dont get an awesome grade for your hard work, chances are you learned something that will help you or your patient later on = worth it. -Lorus

colleen10 · Oct 22, 2003

Sue and Stevie,

What you said is oh so true. A&P is a "different" kind of class. It is both understanding (Physiology) and also memorization (Anatomy). And it is a TON of information in a short periord of time.

It isn't the kind of class where you can go in and just expect to be spoon fed the material and then regurgitate it for quizes and exams.

So much of it you absolutely must study and attempt to understand on your own and in your own terms. Many people are not used to that and start blaming the instructors, exams, etc. for their failure - just like Caroleanne said.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Oct 22, 2003

Originally posted by Paleobug
Well, some of us do work very hard in the class and still do the average or worse. So what are we supposed to do?

Then you need to re-examine "how" you are studying. If something is not working then its not working right? I dont doubt that there are some people who do study but still do badly but they have not yet learned how to study for science which is *totally* different than studying for anything else.

I had this myself when I had Anatomy last semester. The first test I bombed so I had to re-examine what I was doing, what her tests were like, how I am studying etc And I ended up with an A in the class!

I don't buy into that "some people just test bad" theory. You either know the material or you don't, you either have critical thinking skills or you don't, you memorized things instead of really learning them, you either put in the time or you did not. I have taken a lot of classes and have yet to meet anyone who bombed a test because they just "test bad"- no they just didn't know the material. I am not speaking about nursing classes here, just pre-reqs BTW.

You CAN do it Paelo!

Marilyn

Born2BAnurse · Oct 22, 2003

there are a lot of people in my class failing in A&P also... You have to put the study time in for this course or you will not pass. Everyone ***** and Moan including me sometimes I wont lie... But I have several college courses under my belt. There are a lot of students in my class where is this the first time that they've taken any courses at all and for them it is very difficult...

agent · Oct 22, 2003

I like when ppl drop like flies.. clears the room for those of us willing to put in the work..

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2003

My A&P II instructor was an MD. He was tough on us, really tough. But- it was because he wanted us to work hard and excell, not because he was on a power trip or anything like that. I loved A&P. I ended up being a tutor and loved that, too!