A&P 1...study habits??

hodgieRN · Jan 25, 2013

-Study every single day as much as you can.

-Once you have a section down, go to the next one, then go back. If I came back to a previous section and didn't understand it, I knew I still had work to do. It was constant repetition, over and over. Then, when I thought I knew the section, I would go about my day and try to recall it. I would be standing in line at the grocery store and try to recall all the normal ranges of electrolytes or all the steps of nerve conduction. If I couldn't couldn't recall a couple steps, I would go back and re-study the section.

-Always review your notes right after class, even if it's for 30 minutes. If you are taught something and then review it that day, you will retain so much more information b/c it's still fresh. If you just review it before a test, you have to re-learn it for the first time.

-On top of normal studying, dedicate every Sunday to studying your notes (for the week) as if you are taking an exam on monday. Even though my next exam was 4 weeks away, I would have a mock cram section for the week. So when I had to take the real exam, I had already engrained it in my head 3 weeks ago. If you wait the whole month without the mock sessions, your real cramming will be 4 times as long with 4 times the amount of information.

-(you might laugh at this) but when I had to review something that had multiple processes, I would draw it out and talk out loud to myself and pretend I was teaching someone sitting next to me. Ever explained a test question to someone else and suddenly realize something new to yourself? If I couldn't explain the pathway of blood through the heart, then I wouldn't be able to do it on an exam. If you can teach it, then you actually understand it.

- Learn the latin terminology of the base words, not necessarily the whole title itself. Most people know what meningitis is. Maybe a brain infection? Well, -itis means inflammation and mening- refers to the meninges of the central nervous system. So meningitis is inflammation of the meninges....which is caused by an infection that can not only affect the brain, but also the spinal cord, etc. Encephalitis - enceph(al) means brain...encephalitis is the actual term for brain inflammation. Thorax means chest, lung and pneumo means air, gas...pneumothorax means air in thorax aka collapsed lung. Based on this, I bet you can guess what a pneumocephalus is.... So, trying to learn that hydrocephalus (which is fluid in the brain b/c hydro means water,fluid) is impossible to just memorize in itself b/c there are thousands and thousands of terms that kind of sound the same. You can't memorize all of them. But if you know hydro.....and cephalus...then you can figure it out on a test. If you see a new word, only look at it in parts, then piece it together. Never try and memorize it.

-Study the pictures in the book. Reading notes and power points may not turn on the light until you see a picture with with all the dissection, arrows, and labels. It's a difference between someone telling you to remember name vs. seeing a name with a face.

-Study over, over, and over. Know the "why," "how," and "where" not just "what."

umbdude, MSN, APRN · Jan 25, 2013

My professor does not allow us to record his lectures. I'm a bit nervous because I want nothing less then an A in this course. I've read the chapters, take good notes, use flash cards, and study every day. I'm worried I won't do good this semester. I'm a visual learner. I can memorize pretty good but I'm worried about the physiology part of it. Any tips that will help me achieve that A?? According to RMP my professor is horrible and talks down to students. On the second page it says how wonderful he is an how he really wants his students to do well. It's a bit misleading.

Youtube has virtually all the physiology videos you need if your professor doesn't allow recording. If your textbook comes with an online access code, use it. The online study tools usually include interactive exercises, videos, and quizzes.

tigerlogic · Jan 26, 2013

Online stuff is good. Khanacademy is excellent Explaining things to study partners are great. Office hours can be helpful. And sleep. Your brain can't learn if you dont sleep enough.

Alisonisayoshi, LVN · Jan 26, 2013

The coloring book! Then haha tape the darn lecture from your pocket lol j/k. Does he use PowerPoint to lecture, are those available to you online? Can you pre-print them? Find a study buddy or group.

RNtobe2016 · Jan 29, 2013

If your textbook comes with online help use it. It's so helpful. There's practice quizzes, labeling, matching, and so much more. Also , doing the learning objectives really help too.

Stephalump · Jan 29, 2013

I never recorded any of my lectures and never had a problem. I record them in NS, but I never actually listen to them, so I guess I'm somewhat wasting my time.

I honestly just read the book and used the online resources that came with it ( quizzes, animations, etc) and did just fine. The professor I took didn't use powerpoints, but the nice thing about A&P is that the bones have the same names no matter what professor you take. The heart works the same way whether you learn in by reading a random textbook from the used bookstore or by watching YouTube videos.

You can do it! Just soak it all up :)

Runningonfancy · Jan 29, 2013

My professor is using the exact power points available online through the books website. I don't think he will vary much but we shall see. I've done all the extra study options on the books website too.