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

[ceraleigh]

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.

[faithful11]

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...

That is so sad!! Walls of the heart...I can understand how that would have made things harder---and it sucks that you would have to first try to understand WHAT the teacher is saying, then try to understand WHAT THE CONTENT means.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

A&P I seemed like a huge memorizing load to me at first. I had not been in school or learning mode since high school many, many years prior. So I do understand feeling overwhelmed at first. By the time I got to A&P II, it actually seemed easy to me.

It's not complex material relative to other science classes. It's not even a massive amount of material. It is more than many typical college classes - yes.

I can see why many colleges and universities don't give lab science credit for A&P. It's not a rigorous science class but rather a survey class skimming the surface of elementary human anatomy and physiology.

[LMRN10]

In my opinion, and in my case, it was the amount of material we had to remember. I absolutely loved the class, but test time scared me!!! But I always did pretty well. I have a very hard time memorizing things and usually freeze during test time, but found that if I was well prepared I was more comfortable throughout the test and did much better on the test.

Repitition is the key in my opinion...when I started the class, I thought there is no way I'll be able to remember any of this, but my husband quizzed me over and over and over and I did good (for me...passed the class with a B). I think it is all in the way you study whether or not you will do well.

I do believe it is not as easy for some to learn the material, but I have to say, if most of your class is complaining about it being so hard, they may not be studying as much as they should be. Just my opinion.

[NightOwl0624]

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.

I think I know what the op was trying to say... It reminds me of a young woman in my Chemistry class last year. She is going to be a Dentist. Her Daddy is going to pay for all of her education. Yet she never got above a 75% on any exam. But she wasn't concerned at all, she just didn't have time to study on the weekends because, you know, her boyfriend whatever, and there was that party... But she was going to be a Dentist!

I have no idea if she has the capability if she puts her mind to it, but I'm pretty sure at the rate she is going, she is not going to be a Dentist in this lifetime!

Sorry, off topic.... but she still makes me shake my head!

[lildan]

I took A&P I last Fall and took A&P II in the Spring. I received As in both classes. I think that they are challenging classes - memorization, practicals, clinical application of what's been learned, time management - but it truly depends on how you work as a student.

For both classes I took a professor that was considered the "hardest" for A&P, because I wanted to get everything I could. And, I did. But, I had to read, make flashcards, spend extra time in lab to review for practicals, sometimes re-write my notes, join a study group before tests.......I probably spent 15 to 20 hours outside of class a week preparing. There were other students that said out-loud that they never even opened the book or worked on labs in lecture the day they were due......but then talked about the class being too hard and wondered why they were getting poor grades.

And, I think the "hardness" can also depend on your interests. I loved the nervous system, endocrine system, the renal system, the respiratory system, acid-base balance......but I didn't find the muscular system or the skeletal system to be too interesting so I think I struggled with those more.

Also, I think it's fair to say that sometimes people struggle not because the acutal learning process is hard but because of life issues. While taking A&P II, my mother was having some difficult health issues and that threw off my concentration from time to time.

Hope this helps!

[faithful11]

While I do understand what the OP said in her post , I just really think (as other posters have also said) that different students come to the table with different issues/situations/life's problems or what have you. (Kids,bills,abusive relationships,substance abuse problems,terminally ill family members, stress at work,wondering how they can pay for school,been outta school for a long time).

So, at least for myself, I try to be careful when judging others for their aspirations--regardless of what progress or lack thereof that they may demonstrate. What of all the 'older nursing students' here--what if people were like "sheesh...so and so is 45 and has 4 kids and 2 jobs. Now she KNOWS there is no way she is going to finish school. Why is she even trying. If she were serious. she would have gone to RN school years ago before having all those kids etc).

I guess it's kinda like 'who am I to judge'? There is a wonderful book out there---A PIECE OF CAKE. Basically a life story (true story of Cupcake Brown) about a young woman who was in and out of foster homes, addicted to drugs, dropped out of school, was an alcoholic, party girl turned prostitute...you know what she ended up doing? After years of being abused, being homeless, hooking and not taking life seriously, or being trapped in addiction, she turned herself around, STRUGGLED through pre-reqs, was accepted to a University, then grad school etc...and is now a lawyer.

Sometimes people struggle...and sometimes they make it through, and though at the time they may not appreciate what they have (free ride for dental school etc) or be outwardly exhibiting signs that would indicate that they care about a darn thing---sometimes, in lots of instances, they look back (as we all have done I am sure) and in retrospective, are able to realize how good/bad they had it...and possibly appreciate what they have gained. *maybe not* but these are my thoughts.

If all it took to be a good nurse or a good anything, was book smarts--lots more people would be RNs already. There are students out there who have not LEARNED how to STUDY, nor learned how to take proper notes, do outlines, or review material. There are students who SUCK at test taking (nerves, dyslexia,slow pace of reading you name it) and though they KNOW the material, they cannot function well during the test, or sometimes even finish the test.

So, I was just (and still am) giving my take on things. Best of luck to us all.

ps--I know there are more than a few students who DO get into classes and just goof off, never study, don't even get the materials or even attend class on the regular. I know I have worked with people who laugh about how easy Micro was, Chem was, etc...and that they didn't even buy the books, open a book and skipped lots of classes and labs. I know one guy who got an A in both micro and chem. I know for a fact he partied all the time, even on class days. I saw him on campus more than once, when he decided it was too nice a day to be in class---and left. But you know what, whatever...that isn't ME and I don't do that. Do I begrudge him or think he shouldn't be a nurse? No...I think he is young and gets the material either really well, or gets really luck. No hard feelings.

[EeyoreAddict]

Ok, Lyn's getting on a soapbox LOL:

1) EVERYONE has a different learning technique

2) You have to KNOW your style BEFORE you take A&P

3) Everyone's home and work situation is different

4) I have seem 4.0 students FREAK when they become nurses because the pt is NOT GOING BY THE BOOK!!!

With that being said, you can't complain about other students when you don't know what is going on with them. If they are not truly giving it their all - then the bottom line is they will have a bigger loan in the end.

I am a mom of three and a wife of an Over the road truck driver. I take the "c's" and run because then it will get me closer to getting in the program and getting my husband home more often. I hate that I really can not devote 20hrs a week to one class but my family comes first and I WILL NOT have my children resent me for blowing them off for school even it is for a better future.

Ok, I'm done, I will leave the soap box for someone else!! LOL

[Shadrach]

I finished A & P and Micro summer of 2007. The problem with A & P at my school is the fact that all of the instructors have a very heavy accent and they are very difficult to understand. This adds to the complication of learning complicated material. The instructors tend to compensate poor test scores by giving bonus points. My opinion is that I am paying to learn not just to get a good grade. My solution was simply to do alot of self study. I have learned through my years of study that it is much easier for me if I shy away from the complaint sessions. If I go into something with a negative attitude, I will find alot to complain about, however, if I remind myself of my reason for being in a particular situation and focus on my goals, I find that I am motivated to continue. Hope this helps. Good luck as you continue your studies.