A&P Quandry

leslie :-D · Aug 12, 2004

we dissected cats in a&p....they were ones that had been hit by a car.

what i found unsettling was the looks on their faces when they died.

but my point is that they weren't euthanized for the sake of experimentation.

i think if they did have human cadavers in nursing school, they would be using them rather than cats or pigs.

much luck to you.

leslie

rileydog · Aug 12, 2004

Yes, I'm an animal lover too and it was hard for me the first few days, we did cats. As my teacher pretty much said you either do it or you don't pass. It sounds kind of harsh, but it is where you learn the most.

sdg · Aug 12, 2004

at the local university they do cats and human cadavers

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · Aug 12, 2004

At the school I go to, we have anatomy and physiology online. Your labs are online as well. They have simulations with a frog muscle, all CGI, I think it is called. You can check out KCKCC.org We have had several people from other states in our online classes. Good luck.

jad2 · Aug 12, 2004

Hi All-
I'm seriously considering becoming a nurse as a second career. I worked sucessfully as an engineer for several years, but came to the inevitable conclusion after a while that it just really wasn't for me. I was an EMT during school, and I've been lucky enough to get work as an EMT in my area after I left (by my own choice!) my previous job. I've come to realize that I've really missed EMS, and I want to make a real career of it. I've definately considered paramedic school, but I find that the work I really want to be doing is nursing (I wonder now sometimes how I ever wound up in engineering). I've even thought of med school, but I always return to nursing as my calling. I have probably three semesters worth of prereqs before nursing school, and I think I'm going to go for my BSN (can't have too many bachelors degrees, I guess). Which brings me to A&P.
I'm looking to find an A&P class/lab that does not involve disection of animals. It's not that I'm squeamish- I can't say I enjoy gore, but I've seen enough of it lately that I feel confident it's not a problem for me. I just have trouble with the idea of destroying an involuntary creature for the purpose of a class. Animals have always been a hugely importaint part of my life, and I find myself unable to participate in this procedure, despite the benefits. A human cadaver would be a terrific alternative for me. I'm not trying to be preachy, I'm not interested in persuading others to my viewpoint, and I'm certainly not trying to duck a requirement. I recognize the benefit and necessity of this class. I'm just looking for a way to take it, yet work around my concern. Does anyone know of A&P classes that use human cadavers, and allow RN wannabes to enroll? Are there web based distance learning classes that nursing schools will except credit from? I've heard from med students that not all wannabe MDs get there hands wet these days in anatomy- that lab sections in some schools are taught from CD ROM- has anyone heard of this requirement being filled in such a way for nursing school?
A self paced web based class would have another terrific advantage for me- it would allow me to keep up my EMT gig while I'm taking prereqs- otherwise I'm not sure yet how to accomidate classes with my shift schedule.
Thanks for any thoughts or ideas you might have.

Gosh, it is really difficult to find any school that does not use animals to teach A&P. In my first A & P we did not use any cadavers or animals. It was in the second semester of the course that we did have to come across the cadaver and the fetal pig. I learned a lot from the fetal pig. As you probably know, many pig anatomical structures are similar to humans. What I found offensive was that formaldehyde odor. YUK!!!!!

Perhaps when the time comes to dissect an animal, you can work something out with your professor/lab instructor. Some are willing to accomodate your "concientious sp? objector status" :). Just don't let them make light of your views. Let him/her know that you are willing to work something out...ie) take a verbal exam, write a paper about the subject such as the differences and similarities of animal and human organs.... take an online course to substitute the requirement. ...something along those lines.

If they are not willing to work something out, then, you will have to do it. My anatomy lessonslasted 2 to 3 weeks and are were a small part of the curriculum. The rest is spent on genetics, experiments etc....Most muscles groups are taught with plastic skeletons or graphics.

You will be a great asset to the nursing profession. Good luck to you.