A&P

[annette46]

Hello everyone . I'm new to the site and I am starting one of my pre-req. I will be taking A&P in the Fall and I am wanting to know what is the best way to study while taking this class? I will be taking Med Term in the spring. These 2 classes are very important to me and I know I must pass both to get into the nursing program. Any advice will help me. Thanks

[thebeccalc, BSN, RN]

Is your A&P in two parts or just one? I ask because, at least in my neck of the woods, A&P I was all basic memorization and regurgitation of various body system functions. I think the most complicated concept we learned was protein synthesis which, looking back on it, was a total cakewalk but was absolute hell at the time.

A&P II went more in-depth, almost like a Pathophys Lite class so, while there was still memorization and regurgitation, it was more about disease process and the why and wherefore, rather than just the how.

For the first part, I studied by labeling and re-labeling diagrams of whatever we were learning at the time - bones, skeletal muscles, the basic cell, and by reviewing vocabulary - abduction/adduction, flexion/extension, anterior/posterior, etc.

For the second, I drew a lot of diagrams of body systems. What path does a drop of blood take through the circulatory system? How does the lymphatic system work? What does gas exchange in the lungs look like?

A&P isn't a class that works well with flash cards except maybe for vocabulary. I only say that because there's a LOT to learn so you'd be carrying around a ton of cards.

I hope this helps! Good luck! It'll seem difficult until you're eyebrows-deep into your first semester of nursing school. Then you'll look back on A&P with wistful fondness, lol.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I'm also taking A&P I this fall! I keep hearing how much information is going to be thrown at us, so I've started to prep myself by getting an A&P coloring book. I'm hoping it'll help introduce me to things in a fun, interesting way.

[nalie2, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

There are so many useful tips on this topic all over this forum. I recommend you search through the plethora of tips and try what interests you. It is straight up memorization. Repeat repeat repeat.

[annette46]

My A&P is all in one part. The class is an 8 weeks class. Is that too short of time to learn everything? Thanks so much for the advice.

[annette46]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

[jaycam, RN]

That seems pretty fast for me, but I suppose it varies by school. I personally memorized bones and body regions before my first A&P course. I also got clear plastic sleeves to keep blank handouts in so I could do them repeatedly.