A&P 1 and 2 in 8 Weeks??

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

So, in order to avoid taking the TEAS test, I decided to take all of my prereqs before starting the nursing program at my local community college. My academic advisor recommended that I take both Anatomy classes this summer. This means that each class is only 4 weeks long (aka a quarter of what you normally have for a class). My question is: has anyone done this before and what are your tips for success? This seems extremely fast-paced and any advice/tips would be helpful.

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First, I don't know how well of a student you are or how well you retain information. From my experience, I learned that it's better to take things slowly because of two reasons. One, you're applying to nursing school. You need good grades, not mediocre ones. Two, the faster the class, the less amount of information you'll retain from it. My friends and I took a combined chemistry class that lasted for only a month and a half. I ended up withdrawing from the class because I had a B, while he stayed. Later on we met up in a biochemistry class that used the combined chemistry class as a pre-requisite. I ended up performing way better than he did academically in that class. I would much rather take the TEAS and get a bad score, since I can retake it multiple times (check which colleges let you do that by the way). If I take Anatomy or Physiology, science classes that colleges expect you to do absolutely fantastic in, and they see a low grade or lots of retakes, that might hurt your chances.

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Specializes in MSICU.

Nope, I wouldn't do it. FredDee stated it all perfectly.

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I took a five week anatomy (only) course in the summer and the only reason it was doable was because of the (known to me) "flakiness" of the instructor. She left so much out of the course, it was worth it for the grade only, not for actually learning anything. I don't recommend it, no matter what kind of instructor. Just too fast to get your "money's" worth.

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I wouldn't touch a four-week A&P class with a ten-foot pole. There's just way too much information to learn and understand in each course that you can't properly get in that time. A&P is the foundation of your nursing classes, so you want to retain everything you can.

If you decide to do the classes anyway, I guess my advice is great time management. Get a planner. Cancel any plans you have. Watch videos on every topic. Make good notes and save any powerpoints or tools your professor gives you so that you will be able to study and re-learn the information later.

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Hello,

It is doable just depends on your motivation and time, I have taken a anatomy class in 4 weeks and it wasn't too bad. You just need to make sure you have great time management skills and be ahead by reading or doing what works for you. Good Luck!

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As someone who tutors A&P 1&2... I wouldn't recommend it.

Even if you're an amazing student, there's just not enough time to actually remember everything you're being taught in such a small time frame. I know there's going to be some students out there who can/will sail through it, but if you don't have a strong science background then trying to blitz through it quickly might end up hurting you in the end.

A&P is the foundation of everything that's going to come next in nursing school... I feel like trying to rush through this now is going to make it more difficult for you in the future, even if you get a satisfactory grade.

Passing the class is one thing, retaining the information and being able to apply it later is another.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Thanks all for the advice! I think I'm going to have to stick with the classes because I'd like to finish school before I lose my 5k a year scholarship from high school, which I can only get for 4 cosecutive years. Any study tips that anyone can offer would be great. I've ordered my textbook early and I'm gonna get a jump start on things that way. I've always been a great student-I currently have a 3.76 GPA and I graduated high school at the top of my class. I previously took an anatomy and physiology class in high school, so I have some anatomy foundation. I am willing to fully commit myself to putting hours upon hours into studying. I also like the idea of saving everything from these classes, so I can go back and relearn and study later if need be. Also, I just looked at the calendar and for some reason the first class is 4 weeks and the second class is six weeks, not including the week off we have for Fourth of July. TIA :)

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I took a 4 week Chemistry class last summer - I did fine, but I wouldn't recommend it for A&P I and II. While Chemistry is important for Nursing, A&P is much more so. With nursing school being so competitive and grades mattering so much, it's not a risk I'd be willing to take.

Sounds like you already made up, so best of luck to you.

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I'm actually doing the exact same thing with A&P I and II. I plan to make it my life though! I am able to take a break from work for the 2 months to devote all my time to it.

As for tips - in another forum I found 2 cool suggestions. purposegames.com and getbodysmart.com

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

We should start a support group! This is gonna be tough, but we can motivate each other through it. My first class starts May 21st, when does yours? We've got this!

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Haha my regular Spring semester doesn't officially end until the 24th. It doesn't start until June 5th though I think

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