A & P 2

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm currently taking A&P2 for the second time. I took it half way in the fall but had to withdraw or else I would've failed the course. This time around although I started off really confident and ready I failed the first two tests and there is one more and then the final. I'm not sure if its worth staying and trying or if I should just withdraw and switch majors because if I'm struggling with prerequisites imagine in an actual nursing program. Or if anyone has any study tips or if you have been a similar situation.

If you don't mind sharing... how are you currently going about studying? I can give broad study tips, but I always like to see what is being done now to give the most strategic plan.

Have you tried the free quizlet stuff. Just google for example 'A&P 2 Digestive system quizlet' it will give you sample test questions. It has helped me a lot.

First, you want to see the highest possible grade you can get at this point and figure out what type of grades you'll need going forward to get a good grade. You're going to want to try to get at least a B to help you be a competitive candidate for programs. If you can't really get a B at this point due to failing the first two tests, I'd drop the course, figure out what issue you are having, and only then do a third retake (which I believe might be the final retake you get before the price skyrockets? But that might just be state-specific).

Starrynite is right in that specific tips kind of depend on what you are currently doing and even what you know type of studying works for you (visual, auditory, tactile, etc learning). I will say that I've found some students try to memorize the information rather than learn and understand it. I had a better grasp on information when I rationalized it and understood why the structure was this way or that or why the system worked a certain way. I also tried to connect information together. For instance, I remember that the right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two lobes because they match the number of cusps of the atrioventricular valves in the heart (bicuspid valve on the left side of the heart, tricuspid on the right).

For the first test I did quizlet and then the second test I did quizlet and studied with a group which helped a lot and now I'm doing flash cards and trying to understand the information and I'm going to study with a group again this week.

I'd suggest figuring out what type of learner you are. Specifically, do you learn best when you write down the information, when you when you create visuals or see a video, when you hear it being said out loud, etc? There are some online quizzes out there to help you. It can be a mixture of those, but knowing exactly what helps you retain the information and understand it will help you modify your notes and studying. Things like audio lectures, concept maps, videos, detailed notes.

Consider using the numerous video resources on Youtube or A&P podcasts. There's also lecture PowerPoints and notes you can find via a Google search. There might even be some specifically tailored to your textbook (I know I found some for my textbook).

Quizlet can be a great tool so I would say continue using it, and I personally used the Learn portion of that for most of the anatomy information.

For your group studying, you can always assign certain sections or chapters to each person, have that person spend more time on that portion, and then teach the rest of the group about that information.

For me specifically it depended on what the material was that determined how I studied it. For example, when we were doing the Urinary system I could read about it and write it all day but until I drew a nephron on a white board and labeled all the parts individually. I had to SEE it and DO it myself (if that makes any sense). I even named it "Nelly the Nephron" :p. A&P is tricky because some of it is pure memorization and definition while the other parts are putting a puzzle together. Before you study anything just sit back and look at what it is you are being required to learn and then what YOU think would be the best route to take in order to get that information in so that you can ultimately explain it to someone who doesn't know. I also loved boucing info off my husband and kids to keep me on my toes.

Good luck and don't give up!

Alicia

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