A&P in 8 wks - how did you do it?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I will start A&P 1 in January, it will last 8 weeks. Then I will start A&P 2 immediately after and complete it in 8 weeks. I have not taken any biology or chemistry classes in preparation, and I am a bit nervous. I believe I am the most nervous about covering 2 chapters a week, 8 weeks does not seem like enough time to take this class, but my college has no other option.

So for those of you who have taken A&P in such a short time can you give me some tips?

Any ideas on how to stay on top of things, and how to cram in so much info in a short amount of time -- really anything would be helpful at this point!!!

Thanks!!!

Oh and I went ahead and purchased one set of flashcards - the Kaplan Anatomy flashcards.

Since I do love visual aids, I will probably attempt to get one more set -- and I'll probably try to make some of my own as well.

I know my Marieb Anatomy book comes with "A Brief Atlas of the Human Body" -- has anyone used this?

It sounds like it might be helpful as well.

Thanks to ALL of you!!! I am saving everything from everyone, I really appreciate it!!!

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Do you happen to know what kind of learner you are? Visual/tactile/auditory? That is something that if you dont know you should try to figure out before you start these courses...will make your life far easier if you know how you learn things best.

I think I'm visual and tactile -- if there is such a thing. :)

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Haha, i was adding on to my post. Yes there can be a cross over having a lot of 2 or or a lot of one and a little of others.....sounds like you are very tactile and visual, but maybe are slightly more visual....you will probably do very well with models in lab.....I do well with them mostly if I am explaining them to someone else....lol. I am HIGHLY tactile, only slightly visual. Honestly, that is a good combination for AP lab. I know the only reason I wasnt too worryied going into talking both AP and Micro 8 weeks over the summer at the same time is i knew they were both classes with labs, which meant DOING, which is heaven for me.....and AP lab is more a combo of LOOKING and DOING, so you probably have the best learning style to be able to take AP at such a fast pace.

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so you probably have the best learning style to be able to take AP at such a fast pace.

Now don't go giving me a big head! :) haha! No, that is great to know -- I love to SEE things! I do love to see them, and then write it obsessively too -- so I could see myself with flashcards, and then re-drawing them!

I'm excited, and as worried as I am about it -- I think it'll be a true test on how I'll do in nursing school.

I keep thinking "why take it easy now, nursing school will not be easy!"

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Oh and one thing i would definitly suggest for you, when you get your labmanual, make copies of the diagrams that you have to lable before you fill them out, so that you can do them multiple times. I wish that I had done that because that is very helpful with the tactile learning......and probably even more so with tactile and visual learning.

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Oh and one thing i would definitly suggest for you, when you get your labmanual, make copies of the diagrams that you have to lable before you fill them out, so that you can do them multiple times. I wish that I had done that because that is very helpful with the tactile learning......and probably even more so with tactile and visual learning.

Great idea! I probably would've thought about it after the fact as well.

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I took APII last summer and it wasn't too bad. I struggled with API because I took a general biology class the previous semester instead of intro to anatomy. I didn't know the basics (bones, muscles, tissue types, blood, etc.) because it was assumed that all students starting API knew the basics. I would highly recommend searching for some basic anatomy & physiology websites before class starts to learn all of the bones, and the superficial muscles.

I had very little free time during the summer class. I did manage to work about 20 hours a week, but every possible minute was spent reviewing. I recorded all of the lectures and would listen to each one at least twice. I also car-pooled with a few other APII students and we spent the hour long drive as a review time and study group.

In some aspects, I think the "compressed" semester made exam time easier. Most weeks, we were tested on material from the previous 2 or 3 lectures. It was less time to forget the material since it was still so fresh.

Lastly, try your hardest to not miss any classes. Missing one class in a compressed semester could be the equivalent to missing two or more standard 16 week semester classes.

Good luck!

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In some aspects, I think the "compressed" semester made exam time easier. Most weeks, we were tested on material from the previous 2 or 3 lectures. It was less time to forget the material since it was still so fresh.

you are very right about this! I know with College Algebra, I am making all A's but in preparation for the final I'm like "wow, do I know this stuff?" It has just been so long since I used it.

So I do love that aspect of the fast paced semester! It's so fast and still fresh in your mind.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

I'll be doing anatomy in 6 weeks winter intersession and hopefully physiology and microbiology 16 week spring semester!

I am sure it can be done

so kiss you social life good-bye!

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With 5 children I don't even know what a social life is. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.
With 5 children I don't even know what a social life is. :rolleyes:

lol true true eh?

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OK, I got the Kaplan flashcards and also the Kapit Coloring book.

How do you all go about making your own flashcards?

Just curious what has been useful to all of you?

Also, I'm WAY overwhelmed...bones for example -- I thought I need to know each bone and where it was -- as if that wasn't enough I had NO idea I needed to know all the indentions and bumps on every single bone -- then of course there's the entire rest of the body apart from the bones.

I am scared to death! Do you really test on everything? Or do your professors break it down, and let you know exactly which parts you'll be testing over?

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