A&P I is not going well

brittany_micah · Oct 2, 2009

I took A&P 1 a few years ago and failed it horribly! I never made above an F on any the tests. Our teacher gave us lectures on the board, but he talked so fast and over our heads that there was no way of keeping up. I finished the class, hoping that it would give me a little practice before I took it over again....here I am 2 years later, different school, with a different teacher and I'm making an A! For me it was figuring out how to study Anatomy. It is it's own beast and unlike any other class.

For me I use index cards and if I dont understand something I use my classmates. If that doesn't work I plan on getting a tutor. This may not work for you. Everyone learns differently. But before this class I put myself in the state of mind of having to pass this class or quit! Do or Die! Since I've already failed it once, my school says I get one more chance to pass it or loss my financial aid and I can't pay for school on my own. So I seriously study 4-6 hrs 5-6 days per week. That may not be possible for you either, to spend that much time on it. It may be your teacher, but I would stick it out, learn what you can and then maybe retake it at a different school. Good Luck!

MandaTaye · Oct 2, 2009

Well, it just stems down to how badly you want it. Is there anything besides nursing that interests you??

SingDanceRunLife · Oct 2, 2009

If I retake it at a different school, I'll be behind an entire YEAR! That would be worse than retaking it here and taking A&P II during the summer!

I really want to be a nurse! I know exactly what I want to do, and how I want to get there. I do have a backup. I could also see myself as a preschool teacher if nursing doesn't work out for one reason or another.

MandaTaye · Oct 2, 2009

Well I would start thinking about other options because if you're already having an issue with how you learn nursing may be too tedious for you. Nothing wrong with being a school teacher...you have the whole summer off and you're not exposed to diseases everyday.

SingDanceRunLife · Oct 3, 2009

Once you start the actual nursing courses here, it's anything but tedious! There's constantly work to be done, and clinicals start 6 weeks into the year! Plus, I don't want to be a teacher! I could see myself doing that if and ONLY if nursing doesn't work out because what I really want is to be a nurse!

ruaalien2 · Oct 3, 2009

Once you start the actual nursing courses here, it's anything but tedious! There's constantly work to be done,

There is constantly work to be done in A&PI also. I think what the poster was trying to say is there is a lot of self reading and understanding that needs to be done in nursing school, no matter where you go to school.

I agree with her, I think you might want to seriously consider if you can handle nursing school if you can't handle A&PI.

SingDanceRunLife · Oct 3, 2009

Work to be done meaning like preparing for clinicals and practicing for competency tests.

Circejane · Oct 3, 2009

There is also a TREMENDOUS amount of reading in nursing school, much of which is NOT covered in class. You are responsible for learning an incredible amount of information, and there is absolutely no getting around reading the textbooks. Moreover, everything that you learn builds on what you learned before--if you don't have a solid grasp of A&P, there's no way you'll understand Med/Surg, Pharm, etc.

It really does stink that your instructor is handling her class this way, but I think what all these posters are trying to tell you is that if you can't handle the self-teaching style with just A&P, you're going to have a great deal of trouble with nursing school. Even the really great instructors in NS make you work your butt off and read all the material, as they should. You'll also find in NS that while the practical, competency part is important, you'll be asked constantly for the rationales and science behind your actions. That's all from the textbook knowledge, and if you can't answer, you will likely flunk out of clinicals.

Good luck to you.

SingDanceRunLife · Oct 3, 2009

I understand when I do stuff...I just don't get it from reading.

Phlavyah · Oct 3, 2009

I have to wonder what kind of school background you have. Did you have any science, biology, chemistry in high school? If you didn't, then you maybe that's the piece of the puzzle that's missing for yout to be able to start making sense of your AP book/notes/pod casts/ study groups... It DOES NOT mean you cant get thru NS, it just means that you may need remediation on those areas, u do need a foundation in order to build a house, regardless if you have the capacity to build it, or not.

On the other hand, I think I read a blurb by you saying that you have never gotten an A on anything, I find taht hard to believe, everyone has gotten an A at one point in their lives, try to rtemember how u got that A taht maybe u forgot about... capitalize on how u study for that A and what motivated u. Also, have u been diagnosed with any kind of learning disabilities in the past? If so, there are other learning avenues for you, you just need to check into it. Also, u seem a bit depressed, cheer up and know that you NEED to be confident in yourself regardless on your past grades, just think "from now on, is all that matters" if you want it bad enough you can do it. I sincerely wish u good luck with your studies.

D.R.A. · Oct 3, 2009

I had a similar problem (I thought) at the beginning of A&P I this semester. I go 1x a week for several hours. We cover 1 entire chapter, no matter how large, minimum. The teacher basically goes over exactly what the book says via Powerpoint notes that come prepared. While there were slides of structures, he went through them so quickly, and without even pointing to a single thing, I felt that using them was like making a moot point. I spoke with the department head immediately.

Since speaking with the department head there have been changes. I think it usually always worthwhile to do. However, in the process, I have settled into the course and figured out what/how the teacher tests, and that 90% of learning done in A&P is outside of class. Class is just an opportunity for the teacher to go over the highlights and what you 'need' to know, and for you to ask questions about concepts you are having trouble understanding.

Best of luck to you. I hope that you will settle in to your class soon, and I totally learn by doing things and seeing them too, so it makes it difficult for me to listen for three hours to endless talking.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 3, 2009

I have been trying. And it doesn't have to be lecture based for me to learn, it just can't be reading based. I have to hear things in order to absorb and understand.

No offense, but a lot of nursing classes, and pre-reqs will be nothing but reading based. There simply is not enough time to allow for a teacher to lecture every single point from the book. Some are better than others, but at the pace that A&P goes, and all of the material that HAS to be covered in a 3 month timespan, there's no way professors can fit it all in, and so the rest of it falls on us. My teacher lectures on key points and headings in the book, but I HAVE to go home at night and read the rest from the book otherwise I won't understand what she's talking about. I taught myself about 75% of the material for the last exam we just had. Since A&P is about repitition I highly doubt just listening to one thorough lecture would be enough for you anyway. And what about when you get to bones and muscles, and things you have to see over and over again to memorize? You certainly cannot listen to where they are. I hear nursing classes are pretty much the same or worse. So much info to be covered and most of it is self taught through reading. Like a few others said, try to record yourself while you read. Then you can hear what you have said. Play it in the car, while you walk, while you shop, before bed. Downlaod MP3s on A&P off the internet onto an iPod (if you have one).