Anatomy and Physiology

[claritasd]

For those of you who have already done A and P, was dissection required? I'm vegan, and I'm really uncomfortable dissecting animals - humans who have donated their bodies to science, ok, but animals didn't have a choice. I mean, I'll do it if I have to (it's a sacrifice for a larger goal, I guess), but I'm just wondering so I have a heads-up.

And no, for anyone about to say vegans care about animals more than people, that's not the case. While I'm aware of the ways animal testing and whatnot has benefitted us, I feel like it's unfair to use them for our own purposes when they can't make the choice. But I'm ok with the idea of dissecting a person who has donated their body for the purpose, haha. They made an informed decision.

Anyway, please let me know so I can start mentally preparing!

[LMD2013]

I did A&P I online and they mailed each student a cows eye and a sheep brain. The same in A&P II online...sheep heart and kidney.

[nursinghopeful2013]

In both of my a&p classes it was just an option on the days dissectiond were done if anyone had an issue with it you could leave the room it was not for a grade just the experience

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Didn't do any dissecting in college but in high school, I dissected a frog in biology and a cat in Anatomy.

A friend of mine had the same comments about human dissection in medical school. She said after seeing the way the bodies were treated, she'd never donate her body to science.

[Jeepchick97]

I took A&P I and II from the same instructor and we did not do disection in either class. When I was in 7th grade, we were put in groups of four students and, as a group, disected a frog.

[Jeniele, ADN, RN]

Ugh! Lauraline, I am so sorry that was your experience. Sounds like your department and instructors did a poor job of ensuring that respect was maintained. During my undergrad I had an A&P class with cadavers and our first class section was literally a full-on lecture of appropriate treatment and handling of our subject and how absolutely necessary respect was for the person who had donated their tissues for our edification. The policy was if you were found to be disrespectful or not handling/storing the tissues in the proper manner then you were dropped with the class with an F, first time, no warning/excuses. Harsh, yes but I felt totally appropriate. I think it gave pause to a couple of my 19 yr old prankster classmates.

OP, Now taking A&P again (gotta love those 7 year expirations) we just finished cats for A&P 1 and the muscles. We had 1 cat per group of 4 students. I would say at least one person in your group will be the "hands-on" type and willing to do the cutting. We have one person in our group who would rather not be there for this so we allowed them to turn the pages of the book and read instructions (worked well to prevent contamination) so they did not have to work on the animal and still got their credit for class and saw the structures once we had them exposed. HTH

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

I'm not sure how I will handle dissections myself. While I don't want to see any creature die, plant's (who are also a form of life) are not given a choice either.

Hopefully the creature that I will be asked to dissect will have died a good death; and hopefully, I will not be too squeamish to follow through with the dissection.

Thank you.

[Pets to People]

If it makes you feel any better, the cats you dissect are those that shelters were unable to find homes for and were thus euthanized, but so as not to be a total waste, their bodies are donated for educational purposes. The same with cow eyes, brains and pig hearts and fetuses...these are parts left over after the animal is slaughtered for public consumptions. Atleast as much of the animals is used as possible.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

Yep, cats that had been euthanized in shelters. Made me cry. I agree with you, humans have a choice, the animals are there because of irresponsible pet owners letting them breed randomly all over the neighborhood and therefor end up in shelters. Sad. Give me a human cadaver any day.

[nursingstudentjess]

In my school we did a rat, sheeps brain, cows eye, and a fetal pig. It broke my heart to do the fetal pig but I sucked it up and did it.

[amberella123]

My online class did a sheep brain and eye for a&p1. I'm a vegetarian, so I know your pain. You just have to focus on the ultimate goal of wanting to be a nurse. I prepped myself by looking a pictures of the stuff everyday online through google to get over my fear and nausea. And ap2 I had to so a fetal pig. It sucks but it does end and the end result will be worth it. Have someone help you! It would be easier with help. I was expected to do it by myself, at home. I'm glad it's over. And what helped me get an a in both classes was the thought of having to do that again. *shiver*. Made me kick my ass in gear everyday.

[Tinker88]

I took my A&P I & 2 (with labs) online through the University of Memphis. We had to conduct experiments involving chicken bones. We had to dissect the bones so we could analyze the marrow and cartilage. Weird at first, but I did learn a lot by doing it. It brought the text more to life. Your professor and university should respect your beliefs though. If an uncomfortable situation arises, maybe you could ask for an alternate experiment or ask to look at videos. Look at your syllabus or ask your professor when the course first begins. This way you both can make arrangements. I wish you the best!!!

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

My nursing school required a lab (with dissection). We used cats, sheep's eyes, etc. We each got our own cat and used the same one both semesters.