A&P Advice!

[byjessi]

This is my second time taking it. Well, the first A&P class I took was an 'advanced' one, note that it was my very first college class I took and my college advisor said it would be 'a little hard, but I could do it.' A little hard was kind of an understatement, especially since I hadn't taken a biology class since my sophomore year of high school! Honestly, I had no idea what I was walking into. Especially since I'm not used to any hybrid classes. A lecture one a week doesn't seem like enough time. I ended up having to drop out of that class because of the work overload, I was also taking a chemistry and CNA course. Plus, I also wanted to protect my GPA.

Now, I'm taking A&P again, but this one is the basic class. Which is actually recommended to take before the other A&P class I took, which I didn't find out about until it was too late.

Anyways, after that sort of lengthy back story, what are some good study methods for A&P? What are some ways to answer things... good? I'm not sure how to ask this, but, just not put down basic answers for short questions. My professor said that answers for short answer questions separate the A students from the C students. I normally learn better in a classroom environment, but that's not an option here! I'm also going to sign up for tutoring. I have already taken my first examine, and well, I didn't pass. Also, is it common for people to fail/drop? In both classes I attended, both of the professors mention that throughout the semester the class will continue to get smaller! That's kind of discouraging, honestly. Last of all, what are some ways to just not feel so overwhelmed? When I studied for my first test, I spent more time worrying about how I was going to remember everything.

Okay, this is going to the the last thing for sure! Are there any A&P classes that are completely in class? Or are they all hybrid?

[Jm8168]

I'm taking A&P I this semester too. I found this page really helpful https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/a-amp-p-334360.html

I'm using Quizlet to help study and it really helps not feeling too overwhelmed. I haven't taken biology in 11 years so I really need to memorize the terms like i'm starting fresh. I've only been in class for two weeks but I love having all of my terms in one spot with Quizlet. I update it with new sets of terms after each class so i'm not bombarded by tons of things to learn/memorize all at once.

I know some classes have all online and all classroom. I am taking the lecture online and my lab in person so it is a struggle for me since my lecture and lab don't line up 100% but I feel I will be okay as long as I stay organized.

Good luck!!

[augurey]

I think it depends on the type of learner you are.

For me, I used note card (usually utilized Study Blue and Quizlet). I'm re-taking A&P as my credits didn't transfer, so, knowing that it would likely be more in depth, I ordered an anatomy coloring book and a physiology coloring book. I haven't really had the chance to utilize them, but I've heard a lot of positive feedback on here about them.

For essay questions, to avoid short answers really know and understand what they are asking. Like if they want to know the flow of blood through the heart and the arteries and veins. You need to understand the whole process and explain it.

So instead of "oxygenated blood flows from the heart into the arteries and throughout the body. The deoxygenated blood is returned to the heart by veins." That's not wrong, but it doesn't show your understanding of the process.

How does the blood flow through the heart and in which order? How does deoxygenated blood become oxygenated? When blood is pumped through the arteries and carried through the body, how does it become deoxygenated? What happens and where? Are there different arteries/veins in regards to the neck/head and the lower portion of the body?

To explain a relatively detailed process to show that you understand the process, you'd have a nice paragraph or two explaining it. It sounds like they want you to answer in as much detail as possible. They don't want the bare minimum for answers because many people can give the bare minimum and be correct, but actually have no understanding of the anatomy or physiology of the circulatory system. They want the full answer so they know you know it. The only way to do that is to understand it.

Understanding comes in many different ways. I personally found khan academy and youtube to be particularly helpful. There have been several times that watching a video - hearing it explained and seeing any kind of drawings tend to make things click for me.

You're really going to have to find a learning style that will help you understand the processes.

There are many classes that are all in the classroom. I'm currently in a hybrid where lecture is online and lab is in the school. Though they do take the first hour to discuss any questions on the lecture portion. Hybrid can be tough as it requires you to do more self teaching sometimes.

Wishing you the best of luck! Just make sure you put in your time and use all of the resources available to you, whether online or your instructor or a tutor.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

knowing that it would likely be more in depth, I ordered an anatomy coloring book and a physiology coloring book. I haven't really had the chance to utilize them, but I've heard a lot of positive feedback on here about them.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I recommend these to students all the time. They really help you solidify the concepts by using different parts of the brain. Anatomy Coloring Book and Physiology Coloring Book, available at your favorite online bookseller. do not get the online version-- to get the full benefit of it, and to be able to take it outside on a nice day or read it on the bus, you want the actual hard copy (and the coloring markers/crayons!).

[byjessi]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply! :-)

Also, it turns out I didn't do as bad as I thought! I ended up with a 78% on the test, the professor said it was really good! (For the first test, of course.) My next test is Tuesday, I'm trying to prepare for it and get a better grade!