A&P: Really Hard vs. Just a lot of material

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2007

To me, it's the amount of material, and I find memorization boring. Now, a good friend and great student LOVED A & P and struggled with Micro because she hated it, while I loved it. So different strokes.

faithful11 · Jul 29, 2007

I'm itching to get this out of me and think this is the best place to do it.
Why do people complain about A&P being hard. Please, read everything before you get upset. :-D I'm taking A&P right now (summer 2) and am struggling slightly to make my A, but no where do I feel this is hard. It's just a lot of material. It's a lot of memorizing and reading, and taking notes. But what I'm learning is not over my head or hard to understand.
Is this the same feeling other people have?
Granted this is A&P 1 not A&P 2. Perhaps there is a difference.
Reason behind this is because 2/3 of my class has done nothing but complain from day one about how hard the class is and how they dont understand it. I know the tests are tricky (poor wording) but, again, I dont feel they are trying to be hard and if you properly study/prepare they are not so scary. However, they continue to gripe and whine and struggle with their 60's and 70's and then in the next breath talk about wanting to be a CRNA and getting their masters. I'm all for dreaming big but if you're having a rough time understanding/passing A&P maybe you're jumping the gun talking about getting your masters & specializing.
So I turn to you, my trusty truthful companions. Is A&P difficult because of the material, or because of the amount of material? Those of you who have taken A&P, looking back, do you think you let the rumors of the class scare you? Was is as bad as you thought? Was it easier? Worse?
-- If there has already been a discussion on this forgive me and direct me to it. My search option rarely seems to get me where I want to go.

Hi--I did read the entire post, and I didn't get upset. I want to try to respond to your post honestly and without judgement. Most of my response is basically just stating the obvious.

Easy for one is not easy for all...so what if they gripe and whine and stil hold fast to their dreams? It's obvious to me that what is easy for some is not as easy for others. Or could it be that not everyone gets a good grasp in one area, but they may get a better grasp in another area? I just really think some things are obvious, and though I would give myself a handclap for the ease with which I grasp A&P, I wouldn't knock others (or really even waste time wondering) for not being as astute as I am in some areas.

Be concious that others out there may not catch the reading and memorizing as easily as you do---perhaps they have issues in those area, perhaps not. We are all individuals and be it education or nursing or anything---people should remember that we are all individuals.

Each individual is coming to class with different sets of situations going on--I just think that for me, I try to be careful about certain judgements and inquisitions. I just don't see what is wrong with people aspiring to reach certain goals (i.e. your Masters comment) even THOUGH they may have a tough journey along the way. So, should they give up their dream of a Master's because A&P is tough for them? Just forget about even being a nurse??I don't know...I can only speak for myself, and most likely will get reamed for my response. I mean no harm, no ill will...just kicking thoughts back and forth,and trying to be honest.

So, no...I didn't think A&P part I was hard. I do think there was a lot of material. I didn't really hear any rumors about it though, most everyone I know said "don't worry, just keep up the pace, you wil be fine". I would hate for someone to give up their dreams because they were at one point struggling with "60's and 70's."

I also am aware that nursing is much more than just getting an A and having BOOK SENSE. Being a good nurse involves having PEOPLE SENSE, COMMON SENSE and loads of other SENSE!! I have worked with lots of people, and gone through clinicals with people, who...have..no..clue...when it comes to dealing with PEOPLE and PATIENTS. They always want to think in concrete (as in, the book said this..it has to be this way.) and some of the BEST students in class, sometimes SUCKED at clinical (they were nervous, they were afraid to talk to the patients, they were scared to mess up, they had poor bedside manner). Some of the WORST students in class (okay, not the worst..LOL, but not the best :lol2: ) did so well in clinicals (put the patient at ease, were very good at hands on, communicated well about procedures, good bedside manner,and actually knew their stuff---just didn't always get As on their tests.)

I certainly hope you never give up on your 'dreams' simply because you encounter an area that causes you to stumble, or is hard to get through---please, WHEN you get to that point (because we all do encounter rough spots, things we feel clueless about etc.), think back to your current class and just press onwards towards your goal.

Again, not being mean or rude--just being honest...LOL, I even re-did some of this.

*Blessed2BaNRS* · Jul 29, 2007

I think it all depends on the school and the instructor and the individual. I have seen various posts on here about how people breezed through it and had no problems. Others have said that it was the hardest class they ever took. It also depends on what other classes you take with it and if you work or have other obligations. I did just fine in A&P 1, and worked full time along with having 4 kids (5 if you count DH!!) A&P 2, on the other hand, was more difficult, not to mention that I was taking Micro and Psych with it. I had also quit my job by then. Micro, to me, was the class from h**l, although I loved learning the various info in it.

As far as A&P, I took them both online (which I loved!) but I also had the instructor that had the hardest reputation. She was tough, but A&P was her passion and she put 110% into it. She didn't care for the "slackers" and let them know it, but for those of us who gave her our all, she was wonderful! There was a lot of info to learn and memorize, but if it is something that you are interested in, the learning isn't as hard as some make it out to be. You just have to be dedicated to learning the material. I had quite a few in my class who wasn't, so for them, it was very hard. And believe it or not, for some nurses, A&P just wasn't their forte, but they are still wonderful nurses. And there are those instructors who, for some reason, make it their life to make the class the worst one ever!! Still can't understand their reasoning, but I tend to stay away from those instructors!! :lol2: There were a couple at my school who, for those lucky enough to be in the know, knew NOT to take their classes because they had such a high failure rate. And it wasn't due to the "slackers" or those that didn't like A&P, it was the instructor themsleves that were on such a power trip.

Oh well, enough of my ranting!!! Back to work...!!!

*Blessed2BaNRS* · Jul 29, 2007

Great reply, faithful11! My words exactly (or almost!!!)

coolpeach · Jul 30, 2007

My professor was tough, but good. It was a lot of material, but it was also very complex (especially A&P 2). I agree with the above posters about whats easy for some may not be for others. I love science and it may be a little easier for me then others. On the other hand I HATE math, and always struggle with any class involving math. I feel I will be a great nurse, and plan on getting my masters despite my struggle with Algebra etc. I think I will go great it just means I have to put forth more effort, and it will take me a bit longer in the math classes.

Northstar Angel · Jul 30, 2007

I have just completed A&P (though I have gone from a quarter school to a semester school so I am having to redo the last part at my new school) and loved it. It is a TON of material to take in and digest but I didn't find it overly difficult. The hardest parts for me were histology (I suck at slides!) and the endocrine and circulatory systems.

I was one of the students who really put my all into it though. I had a superb lab/study partner and he and I were at all the open labs. Though we wasted no time in lab, we never seemed able to get through everything without a huge amount of rushing. Open lab seemed to really benefit both of us!!

Another great resource we discovered (here, actually!!) is flashcardexchange.com We would work on cards separately but be able to access and print each others cards too.

I think the human body is amazing and complex!! :)

Angelica

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 30, 2007

I found A&P I to be rote memorization, pure and simple, i.e., the wrist bone's connected to the arm bone. You are learning about all the parts. A&P II is about how the systems function. Much more complex and much more fun. You'll learn to understand how and why the body does what it does.

I loved A&P and didn't find it particularly difficult when taken as a stand-alone class. Knowing A&P gives you the foundation for nursing. If someone doesn't understand how the body parts and sytems work and interact, then they'll have a very difficult time with disease processes, treatments and pharmacology not to mention going on to specialization (how often do you hear "I wanna work with babies"). You'll see this happen to some folks when you start nursing school.

Good luck and have fun with it.

meant4me2 · Jul 30, 2007

Thanks for the advice..i was curious about this myself!! If its rote memorization..i should have no problem!! I love science and the chance to learn...thats how we grow..right??

Thanks alot!!!

vashtee, RN · Jul 30, 2007

I thought anatomy was really fun and easy (although a lot of memorization), but I found physiology to be difficult. This was probably because I took it online (the first time our school ever offered it that way) and had to teach it all to myself, which I don't recommend. Micro was also tough. Everyone complained in micro and physiology, and no one did in anatomy.

livingthedream, APN · Jul 30, 2007

I think it depends. Neither of my teaches spoke english really well. So for me, I struggled with the amount of work, but then trying to figure out what the guy was saying. Once class we spent 30 minutes thinking he was saying the "walls of the hear" but really he was saying the "valves of the heart". That is a HUGE difference.

I find that before my MENP start date that I am trying to brush up on my A&P since I think I am lacking in skills even after getting good grades in both.

For me, a class that I understand and can speak about after it is over is one that taught me something... I don't feel that way about A&P 1 or 2...

Spartan05 · Jul 30, 2007

First off, let me start by saying that I took Anatomy and Physiology as two separate courses (as oppose to A&P I and A&P II as many on here seem to have done).

In my opinion the only tough thing about anatomy is that there is a lot to remember, a lot of parts (bones and muscles in particular) sound smiliar to others and it can get a little confusing.

If you have a good memory and pick things up quickly (there are a lot of patterns in the anatomy of the human body and that can help you remember bones and muscles a lot easier) you will probably not have to spend a lot of time on the class. However, if you don't you should still be able to get a good grade, you just have to put in the extra time.

Physiology is more of a true science course and is also tougher because it requires you to think about what is happening in your body, why it is happening, and what it means in the grand scheme of your health. It is quite a bit deeper than simply memorizing the bones of the body, the parts of your heart, etc.