A&P Instructor Is Trying to Take US Under!

WV_heart_RN · Oct 19, 2003

sounds normal to me, unfortunately. I am taking nursing 100 and A &P at the same time. Both classes will throw it all at you at the same time.

It may not seem fair but they can do it. Hang in there though

mitchsmom · Oct 19, 2003

My A&P was challenging and I think it should be, as someone else mentioned, you are really going to need the knowledge later.

At the same time, if you are saying that the instructor is giving you endocrine *and* reproductive systems both in *one* week, after *one* lecture, I don't think that is good teaching... those are two major systems that need a week each at least. If she isn't teaching well in class, read up on it in a good text - the Marieb or Tortora texts seem to be two good standard A&P texts.

J. B. · Oct 21, 2003

Perhaps consider becoming a Dental Hygenist. Theu pull in 60K a year in Colorado Springs working 3 days a week no weekends no hol;idays no Call days and a heck of a lot less stress and health risks exposures.

Ruylupez · Oct 21, 2003

I have a friend who is the Dean of the Engineering school at a local university. He once told me that virtually all programs have what he called a "Wash out class" early in the program. This class deliberatley tries to overload the students to see how they handle it. The idea was to catch those students who would not or could not do the work required for the program and wash them out before they took up too much time and resources. I think in many programs A&P would count as a Wash out class.

LydiaGreen · Oct 21, 2003

A&P is definitely a wash out class, or a weeding out class. Our pass was 70% in A&P I and A&P II. I managed to squeek out an A - hated every moment of it... thought there was no one on earth who could live up to their expectations. Then, I talked to a friend taking the EMT course through the same college... their PASS was 85%. I would not have even passed their course with my 82.

I have no idea about the states, but in Ontario there is a required math course in first semester. The pass was 90%. The number of med errors that are committed are because of poor math skills. This was a tough course, but I can more than understand the importance of the high percentage needed just to pass. One of my fellow student failed (less than 50% on the final exam). She couldn't figure out that if a client required 50mg of a med, and the med is available in 20 mg oral tablets, how many should you give? She said 5 and could not believe she was wrong. Would you want HER to be your nurse? The courses are tough for a reason. As a nurse, you do a lot of what could potentially be life and death care. I know a three year old kid who received 10 mg of lorazepam in the ER and was sent home because the nurse couldn't do the math. He lived because his mom got the neighbour to come over and look at him... she was an RN. She didn't say a word, just scooped him up and threw him in her car and drove like a banshee back to the ER. He spent two days in the peds ICU.

I'm glad the courses are tough. As a third year diploma student I am accountable for ALL of my actions. I wouldn't want to be there if I didn't have the background required to be competent.

I'm not saying you shouldn't complain. I understand what you feel like. I still pull one all-nighter each week and get only three or four hours of sleep on most other nights. What's expected of us is insane but necessary. No college or university wants to graduate a nurse who cracks under pressure. Nursing is a huge pressure cooker. Think of it as preparation to perform well, competently, and calmly when all hell breaks loose. That happens quite often when 99% of hospitals are short-staffed.

Mandylpn · Oct 22, 2003

after two years of school, the only thing I can relate the nursing program to is "boot camp", and I have never been in the service. Hang tough:chuckle

CarVsTree · Oct 22, 2003

Wanted to add, my lab instructor told me he was told by the nursing department to "weed 'em out." He was told not to help anyone. That if they can't make it, they don't want them in the nursing program.

He however is very helpful and will tutor if anyone asks.

LisaRN2B · Oct 22, 2003

Originally posted by Carolanne
Anatomy and Physiology Made Incredibly Easy is also a good book. I'm one of the #1 fans of the whole Incredibly Easy series - those books have helped me so much.

Yes! I was going to suggest that book. It IS wonderful. I also have the A&P for Dummies, but don't like it as well.

I have found A&P to be a lot easier than I thought it was going to be (No, I am not saying it is an easy class!). I tape the lectures and use resources such as a website we can access through the company that published our A&P text. I also bought the study guide book that goes along with the text, though it is not required by our instructor. It, too, has been a help.

A lot of the students in my class are failing, or have dropped already. Not sure exactly why, we have an incredibly helpful and intelligent prof (the man must have been born to teach this!!!)

I wish you the best.

Lisa :)