Should it be this hard?

Camwill, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, LPN, APRN, NP · Jun 28, 2012

Is there a drop policy at your school. It is better to drop it and it not count than fail it and still not count. Next you need to figure out what you are doing that isn't working. If you don't know get a tutor. They can help you figure it out. You need to understand the questions your getting right and wrong. It is important. Wish I could help more. You can do it, it is all about planning.

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

Physiology is the hardest class that I have ever taken. I really had to alter how I studied to be successful in that class. First day of class my professor told us to expect 20-25 hours a week to study for that class, and I would venture to say that I studied probably close to 30 hours a week. Somehow I found the time between being a wife, mother and working full time... but it was excruciatingly hard. Luckily, for me, Anatomy was a separate semester and I could focus on phys only. I ended up with an A- and it is the proudest grade I have ever EARNED!

Do some online research into methods of "active learning". These are techniques that go beyond reading your notes and memorizing your definitions. I use methods like, stand at my desk and give fake classroom lectures to no one explaining a concept, I watch youtube lectures on subject, I create quizzes for myself, I will actually write full 2-3 page research papers on organ systems (they aren't assigned) just to do the research and fully understand a concept.

Don't give up, just remember if something isn't working, you need to change something because what you are currently doing isn't working.

IndyElmer · Jun 28, 2012

I agree with bailey. You probably can find a way to be a successful pre-nursing/nursing student but you'll need to change the way that you're working.

At least half of my science pre-reqs were taught by instructors who moved at a fast pace and gave difficult tests that required you to think about the facts that had been presented in class. The tests were still more straight-forward than nursing exams with more than one right answer -- they had just one right answer(!) but compared to other pre-req classes, you couldn't get by with just studying one night before. (I aced many freshman and sophomore biology and chemistry exams with only studying one or two nights before, but there came a point when that was no longer enough.)

tigerlogic · Jun 28, 2012

Drop the class and start from the beginning. Get involved with student services and office hours and any/all free tutoring your school offers. Consider studying also with khan academy and other free YouTube/ internet resources. If you are sure that you want to learn all this info as hard as you can and then apply it under pressure to help save people's lives-- then stay in nursing and really commit to working hard for it. If you're not sure maybe start in healthcare in a less academic role like a CNA or tech, they also touch people's lives but don't need to study so hard. So... What are you commited to?

Stephalump · Jun 28, 2012

That fact that you seem to think spending most of Monday studying is a lot really stuck out to me here. When I took physiology in a regular semester, I easily put in 10 hours of studying a week , plus cram sessions before a test. May not seem like a lot, but it's a lot for me!

You're in a summer session - it's going to take you WAY more than that. Look at this class like a full time job and commit to it. Seek out a tutor at your school. Start up a study group. Schedule study time just like you schedule class time. Read befor class, pay attention during class, review notes after class.

You can't doubt your ability, or you'll get anxious and give up. KNOW you have the ability, and find ways to focus it.

Good luck!

rubato, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I'm probably going to sound a little harsh, but this is what struck me when I read your post. You have so many excuses. I'm sorry, but there's just an excuse for everything. You need to get over all the reasons and just do it. I would drop it if you can, because there's no way you can bring that grade up to something acceptable. Then, I would just buckle down and do the work. So what if everyone knows more than you? So what if you aren't getting the concepts? Study harder and for a lot more than one day. Like Stephalump, I would spend time every single day studying for A & P. Probably a good 15-20 hours if you count the open lab. It's the hardest class I have taken yet, but I needed an A and I knew that going in. Just please stop defeating yourself before you even get going!

RedhairedNurse2Be · Jun 28, 2012

I think it would be better to drop the class now and try again in the fall. You have to make time to study. If there is a tutoring center at your school, go there and figure out what is confusing you. Also talk to the professor. Figure out your learning style (tons of info online) and how to study. Also do not cram before a big test. Study a few hours every day and you will know the material enough to not have to cram it in.

willowita, ADN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I agree with the other posters here. You need to completely own up to your failing grade. Accept it and move on to do something better.

You need to realize that this class shouldn't just be hard, it should take over your life. It sounds dramatic but the only way to master a subject that you are not good at is to live it and breathe it every day. You can't cram one day a week or right before a test. So that's a place to start. You need to adapt to the class and the instructor. Otherwise, you will continue on the same path.

Figure out a drastically new and different way of studying. Get into tutoring. Go to your professor's office hours. Ask questions in class and don't worry what anyone thinks. If you really don't understand something, you need to seek help. Don't suffer in silence. Start a study group with your classmates. Meet at least once a week to cover the material. It really helps to hear it from your peers and it helps them to have to put it into words. Google everything that you don't understand. You'll find a lot of resources online and helpful videos on YouTube. Read your textbook in full. Review your notes. Take good notes! Memorize bits of anatomy every day. Put school before your personal and social life. Life will be there after nursing school. But nursing school may not be there if you just focus on your life.

If you can make changes and become a better student, then nursing is for you. You'll make it. If you're unwilling to do the work, then I'm sorry to say, but it probably won't happen. You're at the fork in the road right now where it can go either way. The outcome is completely within your control and is your choice. So that's the good news. You can do it!

IndyElmer · Jun 28, 2012

You're in a summer session - it's going to take you WAY more than that. Look at this class like a full time job and commit to it.

SOOO true! I'm sure that I spent 10-15 (non-class) hours per week on anatomy and about 15-20 per week on physiology. Our semesters were 14 or 15 weeks long, so if I were to try to do either of those classes in a 5 week summer session, I'd need to spend TRIPLE the time studying each week (30-45 hours for anatomy or 45-60 hours for physio).

The material wasn't difficult for me, but there was a LOT of it and my instructors wrote exam questions with multi-part answers that made you think rather than immediately choose a one or two word factoid to regurgitate. They also wrote really good "distractor" answers where if it was a three part answer, the wrong answers would have two parts correct and only one very small part wrong. These questions weren't nearly as confusing as "choose the best right answer" NCLEX questions, but they still meant that I needed to know the material inside & out if I wanted to get my A.

While I agree with others that you need to step up and not try to make excuses, I know it's possible to retake and completely turn things around. My anatomy lab partner bombed anatomy the first time (also in summer session), but did very well when she started putting in the time the next fall. You can do it -- if you want to.

Chaotic94 · Jun 29, 2012

Thanks for the advice!

I didn't realize I was making excuses. I completely own my grade, I know it's my fault for not studying. I read over my post and can see how blaming it on the mutiple chapters seems like an excuse and I guess it is, but trust me, I know I have no one to blame but myself.

Also, this class isn't Anatomy and Physiology - it's Bio 181 (General Biology for Majors). It's the pre-req for A&P. That's why I need to pass this class now bc I am trying to take A&P in the Fall and I can then apply to the nursing program. I've taken Intro to A&P before, but for nursing it has to be the actual A&P class, not the intro course.

I spoke to my professor about whether I should drop the class or not. It was embarassing having to admit that I haven't been trying my hardest, but obviously he knew that already. He was super understanding about it. He says he thinks I should stick it out and I can probably get a C as long as I do well on the next test and the final. I missed 3 quizzes and he's letting me make those up. He said he's not inclined to give me any extra credit bc it would have to be for the whole class, but he's willing to come in 30 minutes early every day to help me and answer questions I have over the material which is beyond kind of him to do. My school has tutoring, but unfortunately during the Summer their hours overlap with the class and lab. So I'm just so grateful that he's willing to help me out. The next test is primarily on genetics which I'm a lot more comfortable with since I remember a lot of it from when I took Into to Anatomy and Physiology. I am starting to study NOW so I will be prepared. I asked a couple of weeks ago to cut back my hours at work and that was finally approved yesterday. Starting next week I won't be working until midnight so that will help tremendously.

I KNOW I can do well on the next test, but the final has me worried. A lot of my insecurity came from never having taken Chemistry. I didn't even take it in high school so when he would talk about bonds and so on, I felt like he was speaking a foreign language. I've read other posts that recommended Chemistry for Dummies so I am going to get that this weekend. Are there any other books or websites that could be of help with Chem? I will also look for stuff on YouTube, I didn't even think to do that - thanks so much to the person that suggested that.

Jennie.K · Jun 29, 2012

Try teaching the material to a fake class or find someone you can study with and teach it to them. I LOVE physiology! I made friends with a girl in class who was having a hard time. She is really smart, just kept psyching herself out. She had a really hard time with the phys part so we would get together and I would teach her the material. I never had to study (other than short review) because I always taught her the material. Once she started understanding, she would re-teach it to me. I got an A and she ended up with a B! In my class, half the people were taking it for their 2nd time and failed or barely got a C

Good luck to you!