A&P - Bones, Time... Need some Encouragement!

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Yes, another A&P freak out post. I'm sorry.

We are starting bones in A&P Lab today. I read through the chapters we are to cover today. And my mind can't seem to stop freaking out about ALL the stuff I need to learn, all the little crevices and lines and whatever... they ALL have names! Woah!

I'm trying to re-group my head and not panic, and am trying to take it one little step at a time, but I can't even seem to figure out where to start!

I'm majorly freaked out because I know there are only 4 lab classes until our next lab exam, where it will cover all bones and all muscles. And I am desperately trying to figure out how it's possible to cram that much information into my head in that small amount of time?! Four classes for ALL the bones and Muscles?!

And spelling counts on our lab exams. No word banks. We need to KNOW our stuff. I barely finished the first lab exam, and I felt I knew the stuff pretty well, but I had to keep waiting for stations to open up, since 2 people were not allowed at a station at a time! Timed tests when waiting for other people is another cruel punishment of these hazing pre-reqs, in my opinion.

The lecture portion right now doesn't match up with lab. We are doing bio-chemistry in lecture. Have I mentioned how much I HATE that this one class is really two separate classes?! Of all the research I did before hand, I don't recall coming across a post before where people said lecture and lab were two separate classes, basically. That would have been helpful to know while planning my schedule...

I know how important it is to get a good grade. So I'm spending all of my time studying, and doing note cards, etc. But there still does not seem to be enough time in the day. :-( I currently have two other classes, and a third starts in 2 weeks. I'm also a single mom to two kids.

I've read all of the success stories of single moms getting through this, and so I felt I could do it too! I'm REALLY trying. The problem is, when I stay up late studying, I then pay for it after a few days by getting sick by not getting proper rest. When I try to sleep a little more, I pay for it by getting lower grades.

I feel like I'm spending SO much time making note cards I'm not having enough time to actually study the note cards! I'm really freaked out right now because I have SO much to try to study for the next A&P lecture test in 1.5 weeks, and then the lab exam in 3 weeks!!! There is not enough time in the day to properly prepare!

I'm not sure where I'm falling short. :-( Feeling realy overwhelmed and discouraged right now.

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Take a deep breath. You're doing well to put in so much effort. What's on your note cards? You don't have to answer that specifically. What helped me, especially for the skeletal system, was drawing. You don't have to be an artist. You're the only one who has to see what you've drawn. But the act of drawing a bone and making sure to include the notches and crevices and bumps and holes helps to memorize what you need to know. That takes time, too, though.

Anyway, just make sure to take a few minutes to go over what note cards you have before you start making more. You don't have to have it all memorized at once, but taking in it a little at a time will help.

Also, not everyone's classes are separate. It depends on the program. But I understand how frustrating that must be, to cover two seemingly unrelated topics between the classes.

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I save note cards for main topics/terms, things that another person can quiz me on. I have the Kaplan flash cards for bones. And the coloring book... I think I'm just freaked out about the time. I even have several days a week slated for study time, away from my kids and during open lab times. It still doesn't feel like it's enough time to learn/memorize that much stuff.

I guess all I can really do is put my best foot forward though. One step at a time, continue doing what I know works best for me to commit things to my brain. Panicing isn't going to help. I feel like I'm breathing a little more now. Still annoyed that the set-up of this class seems to purposefully set people up to never get an A. I feel like I need to pick and choose the top things to really learn and commit to my brain, because I simply run out of time to learn it all like the back of my hand. :-( Like the parts of the disecting microscope. I was too focused on really learning the organs and tissues, I could not remember any of the names for the parts of the disecting microscope. So I'll never be 100% student. There just is not enough hours in the day.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

I remember feeling freaked out when we got to bones and muscles - however I was also taking an 8 week class for A&P I. I don't make note cards, as I feel it takes up way too much valuable time for studying. Instead I would review the main points of the lecture, power points or emphasis in lab and use one of those anatomy study guides. If you have the the online study tool that goes with your text , that is extremely helpful. Answer learning objectives...

A LOT of time studying is not unreasonable. However, study smarter not harder...perhaps you can get some advice from your schools tutors or study lab??? If you have an idea of how your instructors test, then you will have an idea of how to study.

A&P is not hazing. It is a predetermining factor of how well you will handle nursing school according to my schools nursing director! I personally think 4 classes is to much when the science class is so very important!

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Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.

Wiley a&p drill is helpful ,online and free

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Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.

I'm in bones right now too and it's terrifying. We just did tissues this week which was a pain in itself, and now I have Friday-Monday to learn the bones. Honestly, what I've decided is to take the pictures of bones I took in class, label everything, and put them on cards.

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Specializes in Hospice.

When I was doing my pre reqs, I did A & P I in a May-mester (five weeks.) Thought I would DIE. Passed with a C and worked my tail off for that. A & P II was better and I got an A in that one. You can do it, just remember that all those cracks and crevices and holes are the same name for the most part. Just on a different bone. Muscles are harder for me....... it's all about memorization. Until you get in nursing school! Then you actually have to apply that knowledge!

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The most helpful thing for me in Anatomy was to copy the pictures and label them incessantly with sticky note flags. Label label label, then check your work. If your school has SmartBoards anywhere on campus, pull up a picture on the projector and you can do it that way too. I'd also draw organs myself which was not artistically 'correct' but I found that it helped me. :) I had a weird little notebook full of kidney and vertebrae drawings. Hahah.

Also, they make Anatomy coloring books. I didn't buy one since it was a summer course but some of the girls in my Anatomy class did and they liked them. I've seen them on Amazon for as cheap as $4.

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Also, as far as getting through it with your mom life, GET HELP, GIRL!

I'm in a program at my school families/single mothers. I did have to sign up for state assistance, but the thing is that it's temporary. Without this program, I wouldn't have been able to come back to school. The program gives me a work-study job where I essentially report to a lab to study and do homework. We also have the chance to get an outplacement pertinent to our major. For example, I volunteer at a hospital 6 hours a week. During the day, I am at school, make my work hours and my son is at daycare. At the end of the day, my homework is done, I've studied, and I get to go hangout with my kid for the night.

There is a stigma around state assistance, but you are going to school and trying to better your life- no one elses opinions matter. It does not make you a bad or lazy person. You can either kill yourself trying to work without a college education or you can bite the bullet and get the help you need. This is such a small period of time in your children's lives. Best of luck, and if you need anything, let me know.

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Also, as far as getting through it with your mom life, GET HELP, GIRL!

I'm in a program at my school families/single mothers. I did have to sign up for state assistance, but the thing is that it's temporary. Without this program, I wouldn't have been able to come back to school. The program gives me a work-study job where I essentially report to a lab to study and do homework. We also have the chance to get an outplacement pertinent to our major. For example, I volunteer at a hospital 6 hours a week. During the day, I am at school, make my work hours and my son is at daycare. At the end of the day, my homework is done, I've studied, and I get to go hangout with my kid for the night.

There is a stigma around state assistance, but you are going to school and trying to better your life- no one elses opinions matter. It does not make you a bad or lazy person. You can either kill yourself trying to work without a college education or you can bite the bullet and get the help you need. This is such a small period of time in your children's lives. Best of luck, and if you need anything, let me know.

You're amazing! Thank you! I completely agree with the last paragraph and that was the tough decision I came to before starting this semester. I'm on the wait list for daycare help.

I reached out to my kids' Dad. He usually isn't super helpful, but when it's spelled out that me doing good in school will eventually get me a better job that will lower his child support amount, he has moments of helpfulness. He has agreed to take an extra weekend this month!

So, I have a plan! The drawing and labeling over and over for the bones and muscles I believe will work best for me. I also found on another study guide to learn some of the names for parts of the bone, like fossa, etc. and what they mean so that way I can narrow down what part I'm looking for. That totally makes sense!

I'm feeling better about this and feel I have a decent strategy plan so far.

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Wiley a&p drill is helpful ,online and free

THANK YOU!!!!!!! I'm doing this site now and it's awesome!!!

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You're amazing! Thank you! I completely agree with the last paragraph and that was the tough decision I came to before starting this semester. I'm on the wait list for daycare help.

I reached out to my kids' Dad. He usually isn't super helpful, but when it's spelled out that me doing good in school will eventually get me a better job that will lower his child support amount, he has moments of helpfulness. He has agreed to take an extra weekend this month!

So, I have a plan! The drawing and labeling over and over for the bones and muscles I believe will work best for me. I also found on another study guide to learn some of the names for parts of the bone, like fossa, etc. and what they mean so that way I can narrow down what part I'm looking for. That totally makes sense!

I'm feeling better about this and feel I have a decent strategy plan so far.

Good. You are going to do amazing. Just hang in there.

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