Advice Needed, Please!!!

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2006

I have never seen Anatomy and Physiology as two separate classes. From my own experience A&P were challenging because there is a lot of new material to memorize. Micro was fun (but NEVER miss a lab) and Stats was just logic. So I would take Anatomy with Micro or Stats and Physiology with Micro or Stats. IMHO. Is it possible to take one of these this summer????

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2006

Hello to all:
I am hoping someone on here can offer some useful advice....
I am getting ready to go back for a second undergrad in Nursing. I have already graduated with a degree in Business and have been working in sales for a year now, before deciding that Nursing is really where I want to go with my life.
I have 4 main general study requirements I am needing to take before actually applying to the School of Nursing. Unfortuantely, for my degree in Business, I skimmed right past these, so now I will need to take them.
The four classes are: Human Anatomy, Microbiology, Physiology and a Stats class. I am intending to take 2 in the fall (which will go towards my GPA requirements for acceptance) and two of them in the Spring (which will not figure into my GPA, although I want an "A" in these, I will simply just have to pass these two classes, therefore there isn't as much stress on my two in the Spring as there is on the two in the Fall.
I am just not sure, as I have not had these classes before, which to pair together and which (yes, I know none of them are so called "easy"), as they are a little more important when considering my GPA requirements and I would like to make the easiest and most comfortable match.
If you can offer me assistance in this area, I would greatly appriciate any help!!
Thanks so much to all of you!!!! :-)

I have never hear of Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) not being offered together as part of the same course. If I were you, I would take A&P together.

Jolie, BSN · Mar 15, 2006

None of these classes are easy, nor are they impossibly difficult.

I would recommend taking the two which fit best into your schedule first, then the other two.

Another consideration is that you are assuming that with good grades in the first 2 classes you will be assured of acceptance into the nursing program. I don't know what your grades are, or how competitive the program is, but you may not get in on your first try. Then the grades in all four classes will be considered for your next application. Also, the information learned in these 4 courses is vital to your understanding of pathophysiology, pharmacology, research, etc. You need to do well, and gain a good understanding of this material if you expect to understand the content of your actual nursing courses. All 4 classes require your full attention and effort.

Good luck!

melanie1126 · Mar 15, 2006

My school did not offer anatomy and physiology as one course. I think most schools do combine them and it seems to make things fit together more easily. Since they are not combined I would take anatomy during your first semester and physiology the following semester. It would be difficult to master the physiology content if you haven't had the anatomy, unless of course you find out that instructors are keeping the contents of the 2 courses together. I thought physiology was the harder of the 2 so I would take anatomy and micro together and physiology with stats (which was easy).

Newbie Nurse SMP · Mar 15, 2006

Hi...

I too have never seem Anatomy and Physiology seperate either. I would try and take those together as they are sorta a pair.

I am taking Micro this coming Fall. I have heard the class is very interesting as long as you have a good professor. I didn't have to take Stats for this ADN program.

Anatomy + Physiology / Stats + Micro---Thats what i would do.

Good luck to you!

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Mar 15, 2006

My school also does not offer Anatomy and Physiology seperate. A&P requires sooo much time devoted to memorization, if I was able to I would take only A&P to devote all of my time to that class, and then take stats and micro. I am taking micro currently and it is very interesting, just never miss a class as so much is covered in one day. Good Luck to you.

CarVsTree · Mar 15, 2006

Anatomy and Physiology separated often means it is the more in depth pre-med course work. Find out if these are the right courses for Nursing. That being said, generally you won't be allowed to take Phys before Anat. Also, I agree with all others, Anat is easier than Phys and Stats is easier than Micro, so...

Anat & Micro 1st Semester.

Phys & Stats 2nd Semester.

I do NOT recommend taking your sciences in the summer as you miss out on a lot of information, and you will actually use A&P and build upon it throughout your college and professional career.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2006

If your A&P are separate, I would take them as separate courses to avoid confusion. I would take Micro with Physiology and Anatomy with Statistics if your schedule permits. (I am amazed you got a business degree without stats. :idea: ) And I think I would take the anatomy and the stats first.

I would pair Micro with Physiology because they just seem to team up well. I'm in Micro right now and I can see where learning it with Phys might be helpful and may make the two even more interesting than what I believe they already are.

Good luck in school; you'll do just fine!

NaomieRN · Mar 15, 2006

In looking at your background in business, I would not take two science classes together. You will be overwhelmed and especially you have your gpa to worry about. See if you can take statistic this summer and Anatomy in the fall. In the Spring, you can take either take micro or physiology and hopefully take one next summer. That way, you can focus on Anatomy by itself in the fall. Anatomy is very challenging class for anyone. Good luck to you and I hope you get all As in all your classes.

averyama28 · Mar 15, 2006

I have never seen Anatomy and Physiology as two separate classes. From my own experience A&P were challenging because there is a lot of new material to memorize. Micro was fun (but NEVER miss a lab) and Stats was just logic. So I would take Anatomy with Micro or Stats and Physiology with Micro or Stats. IMHO. Is it possible to take one of these this summer????

Yes, I was gathering that they are usually one class?? I am wondering why that is?? I am guessing they work hand in hand, correct?? But, to answer you, they are seperate classes for sure. I am not sure why at the college I am attending, this is the case, but it is. Also, to answer your question, I can take at least Anatomy, and maybe some of the others, not sure, over the summer, but I was advised not to by my nursing advisor due to the fact that they are so crunched and harder. I would have thought the opposite. I have had numerous friends in Pharmacy School and they always took their harder classes over the summer becuase they claimed that they were easier. So because of the suggestion of my nursing advisor I was opting not to do this, but perhaps I should??? At any rate, thank you so very much for the advice here. I have a 3.8 GPA before these four classes, and the cut off for acceptance this past year was a 3.79, so obviously the fall sememster is so important to keep my GPA up.

averyama28 · Mar 15, 2006

None of these classes are easy, nor are they impossibly difficult.
I would recommend taking the two which fit best into your schedule first, then the other two.
Another consideration is that you are assuming that with good grades in the first 2 classes you will be assured of acceptance into the nursing program. I don't know what your grades are, or how competitive the program is, but you may not get in on your first try. Then the grades in all four classes will be considered for your next application. Also, the information learned in these 4 courses is vital to your understanding of pathophysiology, pharmacology, research, etc. You need to do well, and gain a good understanding of this material if you expect to understand the content of your actual nursing courses. All 4 classes require your full attention and effort.
Good luck!

Yes, Jolie, I do understand what you are saying... The program is EXTREMELY competitive, however, luckily for me, I am applying to an acclerated BSN track, which means, only other students also having an undergraduate degree in a non-nursing field, my apply. The program is 18 months in length and then you take your licensing exam to become a fully licensed RN. While the accelerated program is limited in the "type" of student which may apply, it is still competitive in that, it is my understanding that many other returning stuents are following in my footsteps and returning for a second degree in nursing. And even still, the grades in the Spring are just as important to me, even if I do get accepted the first time around. I have a 3.8 GPA heading into these four classes, and the cut off for acceptance for this year, was a 3.79. My advisor said things looked good, but I still know I must keep up the grades. At any rate, I won't be taking classes until the fall, I had intended to take Anatomy at least then paired with one other, still debating on that one. Any advice to start studying ahead? Where to go for good materials?? I have heard it is basically just learning and memorization - of a whole lot of material-- so I think it could only give me the upper hand to get a head start on this memorization process.

Thanks for your comments and advice, i truly do appriciate it.