A & P question

[CAT-CNA]

I am nearly through with my A & P 1 class and so far it has been about cells and muscles. The bones I understand learning, but how important is it to know cells, cell division, what covers the muscles, what controls the force of a muscle contraction, etc.? Maybe I am not seeing the "big picture" here, but I really don't have an interest in all that, I just want to dissect and see what is on the inside of the body in a hands on approach. TY for any replies.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

When you start out, you need to learn everything. You don't know enough to be selective about what you need to know. And yes, you really do use the knowledge of how cells operate on a daily basis in nursing.

[thmpr]

Omgosh Omgosh! I felt the same way. But then later I fell head over heels with pathophysiology & pharmacokinetics (not such a big fan of trying to spell). I really like knowing what's happening to someones body when I am pushing meds into their veins. I am always learning more (Ha! Patients don't always react the way one would expect). I used to read my med book to learn the actions of drugs -found it fascinating & still do. But that's just me Cat... I can appreciate that others are more interested in other things However, if your nursing program is anything like mine was, it will really serve you to know cellular biology before you start pathophysiology & pharmacology. We were expected to know which cells were doing what (especially with immunity).

btw, I would hardly describe my scope of practice as "limited," as assumed by johnnyDoGood. i.e. I catch physician med order mistakes often (among other things). If I give the wrong med it's my fault. Nursing is a huge responsibility & he doesn't know wth he is talking about. Nobody knows what it is to be a nurse until they are one.

have fun

:nuke:

[kraftybrat]

I said nothing about poor students being weeded out. But only pre-nursing students who are able to sink or swim will make it through to the other side. I speak from statistics, as only 60% of people who attempt pre-nursing, are accepted to nursing school, take boards and pass, and become licensed actually stay in the field. A co-worker of mine did all of it and graduated from a wonderful BSN program, became licensed and had a preceptorship at a great teaching hospital. After 3 months, decided that was not what she wanted to do. Nursing is OJT, after the books. And I will guarantee most of the patients have NOT read the book.

A and P is a building block, just one of those needed to build a necessary foundation.

[Woodenpug, BSN]

I'll re-state the obvious. Physiology is needed to understand pathophysiology.

I remember A & P. We did seem to focus on a lot of things that would more useful in forensics. We also skipped what would have been the most useful to nursing: surface anatomy. (i.e. Visible/palpable Land marks.)

[mimi178]

I thought the same thing when I was taking a&p as well, but boy was i wrong!!! I am in nursing school now and a&p has been really helpful in understanding how drugs/chemicals work in our body. Let me give you an example.

In patients with high blood pressure, the body is retaining the sodium and therefore causing the rise in blood pressure. The purpose of BP meds are to get rid of the sodium, but as we all learned the sodium and potassium pathways in cell membranes in a&p, since the potassium binds to the sodium in which if patients get rid of the sodium they are getting rid of potassium as well. So that is why when patients are on certain medications such as lasix, they are guaranteed to be on potassium tablets as well because of the sodium and potassium pathways.

So learn your a&p you will use it alll through your career!

[sunkissed75, CNA]

In patients with high blood pressure, the body is retaining the sodium and therefore causing the rise in blood pressure. The purpose of BP meds are to get rid of the sodium, but as we all learned the sodium and potassium pathways in cell membranes in a&p, since the potassium binds to the sodium in which if patients get rid of the sodium they are getting rid of potassium as well. So that is why when patients are on certain medications such as lasix, they are guaranteed to be on potassium tablets as well because of the sodium and potassium pathways.

This is what I love!! When I come on here and learn something so random. Except for me it's not random!! We are doing electrolytes right now with an exam on Tuesday. Reading this and seeing it these simple terms made a light bulb go off for me. Sometimes, no matter how many times I read my notes, it's seeing things like this that make it all fall into place for me!

Thanks...!!

[GilaRRT]

To clarify a point. Sodium and potassium are both alkali earth metals with relatively low electronegativity. Hence the fact that they loose and electron to meet their octet within our body. This is what makes them cations. However, as both take on a positive charge, they will generally experience electrical repulsion (Coulombs law and all that). So, sodium and potassium will not form bonds to each other in the body.