Is there any use in Studying before classes start

live4today, RN · Mar 31, 2002

Hi Lisa,

I am already a RN, but when I read your post, it took me back a ways to my old college days. I read the entire book of Pharmocology before starting my Pharm class because I heard the Professor was a tough cookie. I was told how he loved intimidating his students, so I wanted to prepare myself as much as possible for his class. He was a tough Professor, allowed no room for error, and didn't crack a smile the entire quarter I was in his class. He was even the one who wrote the Pharm book that the students had to purchase for his class. Talk about only wanting you to know HIS stuff and no one elses! :rolleyes:

I received a 93% for the class, and once a student passed his class, he would then smile in their direction. He would even talk to you in the hallway in passing, but not before you passed his class. I know for a fact my reading his pharm book in its' entirety prior to the start of class familiarized me with his method and style of teaching which made all the difference grade-wise. So, if you feel in your gut that you should at least familiarize yourself with a certain textbook before class, then follow your gut feeling. Some students don't need to do this, and some feel better if they do. It's an individual choice, IMHO! :)

Lisa1970 · Mar 31, 2002

Thanks for helping me make up my mind. Now I will start reading. I need a good A&P coloring book. Anyone know of a good one???

live4today, RN · Mar 31, 2002

It's been soooooooo long, Lisa, but I use to see them all the time in the medical & nursing book section in the major bookstores. Perhaps you can talk to one of the salespeople in the bookstores and have them look up on their system for you some A&P coloring books! I wish you nothing but the best in your schooling! :)

Lisa1970 · Mar 31, 2002

Thank you so much. Happy Easter!!!

StudentSandra · Mar 31, 2002

The one and only.......... "The Anatomy Coloring Book" by Kapit & Elson.

mario_ragucci · Mar 31, 2002

Studying is one way of looking at it. Learning how to be curious is more like it. Start thinking about what makes you tick, alot. When you sweat, find out why you sweat. When you get thirsty, find out the chemical changes that occur to promote you to be thirsty. Start becoming curious. How do my emotions cause my being to react? What part of the brain accounts for our emotions. Whats at the beginning of our spinal cord? [why does your heart squeak in the morning]

If you develop a method to inventing questions, and then finding answers, you'll have a "flight pattern" when you start school. Most people just try to memorize the anatomy books like they were scripts for a B-movie.

Also, I bought chalk pastels, and cheap drawing paper (big...3ft x 3 ft cheap newsprint pad) and just drew what lungs, heart, brain, endocrine, nervous, muscles, bones, anything I felt like drawing.

huggietoes · Mar 31, 2002

I started A&P cold and ended up with a 97% in the class. As long as you keep up with the reading while you are in the class you will do well. Also, although it helps some I am a total procrastinator and do not subscribe to the study ahead theory, it works well for me. I like to get a feel for how the instructor teaches first to see what I need to stress in my studying, also, some instructors will cover/delete certain sections depending on what they want to stress. I really recommend, if at all possible to take A&P over the summer, it is more stressful but you also get it over with, especially if you are taking nursing classes with your sciences in the fall. Just a thought, good luck. The book that I really liked, very basic and easy to remember was Human Anatomy in Full Color by John Green. I bought it at Borders and I still use it, for nursing and to show patients as a teaching method. Great pictures.

futrnurse · Mar 31, 2002

Lisa,

I don't think you should begin before classes start. The reason I say this is that you don't need to get burned out on studying before time to start. I have found with most of my instructors they want you to know what they want you to know and that is it. Good luck and btw I graduate in 4 weeks.... Keep smilin' it will be over before you know it..

Paula

Peeps Mcarthur · Mar 31, 2002

Study the names of the bones and the names of the muscles. That will get you a great headstart on the most time consuming subjects and then you can just concentrate on physiology and weak points.

I asked the same question before I started API with a different batch of posters. They recomended that I just relax and not take it that seriousely. There would be enough time for study once school starts. Although I didn't take that advice I still had no idea what to concentrate on. I was not prepared as I would have liked to be.

Major subjects:

DIRECTIONS AND TERMS

Bones,

Anatomy of a long bone

Anatomy of the bones of the body(bones of the skull being the most complicated).

Types of bones

Muscles,

Anatomy of Skeletal muscle structure from the connecting tissue down tho the myofibrils.(this will help when physiology is disscussed)

Anatomy of Skeletal muscle(naming each muscle that inserts or has it's origin on bones)

Naming the muscles from the model in lab. There will be a difference in the way landmarks look from your text, so get in there the first day and compare what you have learned to the models you'll be taking the practical from.

Insertions and Origins of each muscle(once you can name the muscles, this will be useful)

I would highly recommed you do small sections and master them rather than try to learn a little about broad subjects. As an example you can learn the stuctures of the skull all at once(broad) or you can learn the ethmoid bone(inside the front of the skull behind your eyes) and what its structures look like from outside the skull(like the Perpendicular plate) that brings it all together.

If you want an "A" start now.

I hope that helps.

Brad

Lisa1970 · Mar 31, 2002

Wow guys, thanks alot for all the advice. I tihnk I will take Brads advice and learn the bones and such. That will make me feel better. I am going to get a coloring book, and see if I can get into a summer program.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it

old-master · Apr 1, 2002

I am in fact studying A&P right now! :eek:

After I found out the classes that I would be taking for my ADN, I when to half-price books and bought my Biochem, AP-with a coloring book,Microbio, and math:o , and foundations of Nursing. :cool:

I have found to a rewarding experince! Not only have a seen a new of seeing the human body and a dept for the field of nursing. It is a way of training your brain to see the classes before you need to be in them. :rolleyes:

Test yourself and pace yourself!

Old-master has spoken...