preparing for summer anatomy course... :/

keya86tiff · Jun 27, 2013

I'm also starting A&P also so I will start studying Monday after this week

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 27, 2013

I took A & P I in a five week summer session and it was BRUUUUUTAL. I got a C. That was my ONLY class. I did nothing but online tutorials all day long. You are doing the right thing memorizing the organ systems, but there is so much more to A & P I. I found it difficult. Fast forward to Fall semester and A & P II, a regular semester instead of a condensed one, and I got an A. It is alot of memorization and also understanding the body from a cellular level. Good luck, I feel your pain!

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2013

You are not crazy, just don't get too ahead of yourself. Also when you start... do not get behind!!! The arm, to me, was by far and away the most complicated with all the muscles with insertion and origin sites - I am getting palpitations just thinking about it! :confused: :eek:

Hopefully your class has a good coloring book, if not, I purchased the Netter's one and it really helped me (because the one my school used SUCKED). The Netter's flash cards helped too, however, there was a lot on the flash cards that I did not need to know, so I took a sharpie to them and crossed out what I didn't need to know.

Do you have a cadaver or other type of lab as well??

Good luck!

havehope · Jun 27, 2013

I'm taking A&P 2 now in a 5 week course. As an analogy it is like a standing in front of a full blown fire hydrate. You cannot fall behind and have to stay on track. I get ahead by reading and studying the chapters the weekend BEFORE the week of class. That way I have a pretty good understanding already and during the week I can study. Good luck.

GoodnessFlows · Jun 27, 2013

ebailey1218, SO funny I kept going over the insertion and origin points. I was crazy with trying to grasp the concept. Just when I thought I had it, I'd try to explain it to my hubby and go blank. Then, during my mini-exams, I kept touching the origin on my own body to figure out the insertion. I'm sure I looked silly.

To the OP, you are doing the right thing by getting ahead. It helps me to explain what I've learned to my hubby. Basically, I just talk each section out with him in a way that shows I truly grasp the function of each bone/organ/cell, etc.

Keep studying! Basically, tell yourself that you can't do much of anything else for 6 weeks. Take mini breaks through out the day for your sanity. I would study for long spurts and then step out with my hubby and kids for a quick dinner, or grab an ice cream. Take whatever page(s) with you when you leave the house so you can study wherever you are. Stay on point or ahead of the game if you can. The only way to do this is to study, study, study!

I am almost 1/2 way through my 6 weeks and doing well. I had a very rough start, but once I truly bought in to the level of commitment involved I turned the corner. And, once I experienced success on my mini-exam's I knew I was on to something great!

GOOD LUCK!

Hopeful0630 · Jun 28, 2013

Thanks for the tips! hope I survive this.. goodluck to the ones who r taking it.. ill keep u guys updated!

:freakingout:

Hopeful0630 · Jun 28, 2013

You are not crazy, just don't get too ahead of yourself. Also when you start... do not get behind!!! The arm, to me, was by far and away the most complicated with all the muscles with insertion and origin sites - I am getting palpitations just thinking about it!
Hopefully your class has a good coloring book, if not, I purchased the Netter's one and it really helped me (because the one my school used SUCKED). The Netter's flash cards helped too, however, there was a lot on the flash cards that I did not need to know, so I took a sharpie to them and crossed out what I didn't need to know.
Do you have a cadaver or other type of lab as well??
Good luck!

I have the kaplan flash cards that's what I've been studying with and also bought a coloring book but haven't started on that yet!... I have a lab where we have to disect a cat.. so 2 days lecture and 2 days in lab... mon - thurs... its going to be a busy 6 weeks

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2013

I have the kaplan flash cards that's what I've been studying with and also bought a coloring book but haven't started on that yet!... I have a lab where we have to disect a cat.. so 2 days lecture and 2 days in lab... mon - thurs... its going to be a busy 6 weeks

How I used my Netter's coloring book is... I would take the coloring book the school provided and take it to lecture. Then I would go home and I would study by coloring the netter's one (the pictures were better in the Netter's). This method really helped me. Don't go too crazy memorizing flash card stuff now because, unlike medical school, you do not need to know every structure now I would say that of all of the thousands of structures listed on my Netter's Flash Cards, we only had to know about a 1/3 of them! If you want to start early learn the main items... Circle of Willis (arterial system of the brain), all of the bones, Main arteries of the body that kind of stuff. Don't get hung up on minutiae!

We were lucky and our lab was a cadaver lab (we didn't dissect, just looked at the cadaver); however most labs I know to get credit on an Anatomy test you have to SPELL the word correct to get full credit, so when you are learning these structures, start making sure you can spell them correctly!

Hopeful0630 · Jun 28, 2013

How I used my Netter's coloring book is... I would take the coloring book the school provided and take it to lecture. Then I would go home and I would study by coloring the netter's one (the pictures were better in the Netter's). This method really helped me. Don't go too crazy memorizing flash card stuff now because, unlike medical school, you do not need to know every structure now I would say that of all of the thousands of structures listed on my Netter's Flash Cards, we only had to know about a 1/3 of them! If you want to start early learn the main items... Circle of Willis (arterial system of the brain), all of the bones, Main arteries of the body that kind of stuff. Don't get hung up on minutiae!
We were lucky and our lab was a cadaver lab (we didn't dissect, just looked at the cadaver); however most labs I know to get credit on an Anatomy test you have to SPELL the word correct to get full credit, so when you are learning these structures, start making sure you can spell them correctly!

I was actually wondering if everything on those cards would be covered thanks for letting me know!.. How was the muscular system covered in ur class? Because looking at the cards there r soooooo many its intimidating.

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2013

We covered plenty of muscles, most of them were in the hands, legs and butt. If I remember correctly we only had to know insertion and origin of the ones in the arm. As I said, the muscles were really hard, and it was further complicated by the individuality of everyone's anatomy. We would learn, the location of one muscle on paper, but when we looked at one of the 4 cadavers, the muscle might be in a unique place. Follow the muscle if you can on the picture, and that might give you a clue on what it does.

DalekRN · Jun 28, 2013

I would get a babysitter for specific and sacredly kept study times.... There is no replacement for the info you'll recive, the building blocks to your nursing education.