Girls and boys, I usually do not write on forums or comment on blogs; no one in my real world understands what I am going through, but you might.
Here is a bit of history: I am a full-time employee, a mother of 2 little boys and taking darned A&PI online through Rio Salado College. I have always been an A student, but it sure feels like I am getting a C or F in this one.
In Rio we do not get feedback on the tests we take (so I have no way of knowing what I got wrong) and we do not have discussion board for students to talk. I feel like I am the only student of A&PI in USA. This week we are required to read through chapter 10 and learn all the muscles. We are talking about all human muscles. I know I may be freaking out, but can it be done in such a short amount of time?
I would appreciate any encouraging words from any of you.
My dream is to become a RNFA and donate my time to the community and people who need it, to be able to give my skills to some who don't have them. I worked in the hospital as a CNA on medsurg and er floors, I absolutly love patients, love listening to them and hearing their story ... but sometimes I wonder if I am not cut out for this because of this class ... 16 weeks of nightmare.
Dear shortnorthstudent, as I can see some people has done it. I can't go to open labs ... I am in LA and school is in Arizona. I have to take 2 more classes A&P II and MicroBio before I can get in into the nursing program.
I have seen some nurses, who were not interested in their work, could not explain things and sort of ignorant... and I wonder "how in the world did they pass anatomy or nursing school ?"
Since we have such a short time to learn a subject, I tend to concentrate on completing homework or quiz, rather than learning the subject. Tough one.
Yikes. Taking it entirely online would be difficult. Do you have any colleges/universities local to you that might have models available in their libraries for people to review? Simply memorizing would be very difficult I think without being able to place the items in 3-d space to really learn how everything connects to everything else. I know not everyone learns the same way, but I have to be able to connect things and do not do well with straight memorization.
I wish I had some good ideas to help you learn the material at a distance like that.
I know ... I know ... I am better around people and being able to discuss things. I am a sucker at straight memorization. I think a lot of my problems have to do with they way this class is designed: isolation. I might as well challenge the classes, because I am learning everything all on my own. No different than online class (in this college).
Here's a way maybe you can learn the muscles and other stuff. I took a/p 1 in class and a/p 2 online. I got an A in each. The one I took in a classroom was actually harder because my teacher contradicted himself constantly. What I found to help me for bones and muscles, also veins/arteries, was to go to a bookstore and purchase an anatomy coloring book. (the one I got also had rip out flashcards that could be colored too) For me, (not sure if this applies to you), coloring the various muscles and bones, ect really helped me remember them. If you are a visual learner, this might be a good trick for you.
This also may help, although it is rather silly. You say you have 2 young boys. I have 3 kids although they are older. But a teenager was in my A/P 1 class and gave me this tip also.....(the weather might not cooperate where you are now, but for me I did this in the summer) She took sidewalk chalk and drew the bones and insertions, and anything else we learned in class on her driveway. Huge. Can't help but remember that way. I wouldn't let my neighbors see me crawling around on the driveway though (haha) so I did my drawing on the back patio. I learned the different types of bone fractures this way, in addition to nerve pathways. So, maybe you can get the kids out on the driveway, playground, sidewalk, anywhere really, and they can help you study.
I forgot one other thing. We had a cd titled, anatomy & physiology REVEALED 2.0 from McGraw Hill. We were required to purchase it, and I used it for both 1 and 2. This also was a huge lifesaver. I got it thru my schools bookstore, maybe your school has a similar item, or you can maybe get it online. either way...it was an awesome tool (it is a virtual lab, and uses cadavers so you see real bones, veins, organs, ect) and I am gonna save mine and use it when i am in nursing school.
Sounds like you need a study group. Email your teacher and ask if she can give you the info of some of your classmates. OR try posting a message at a local community college to see if anyone taking the same class needs a study buddy. If those dont work just talking it out OUT LOUD with ANYONE will help tremendously. Talk to your kids about it. Point to their bodies and name the muscles and parts. Talk to your friends about it and get them to quiz you. I cannot tell you how much just explaining the things out loud to someone else helped me study.
Also your A and P book should have come with a DVD. Or you can buy the DVD seperate. That DVD is worth its weight in gold. It is interactive and has sample quizzes and tests you can take. Videos to watch, and a real cadaver you can dissect! Its really awesome and helps sooo much. Definitely use it.
I can't imagine taking A and P online. It must be so hard, and it doesn't sound like your teacher is really teaching. I'm sorry. But you can do it!!! and in the end you'll probably know all the parts better than your classmates that took A&P in class!
Valmondy
15 Posts
Dear shortnorthstudent, as I can see some people has done it. I can't go to open labs ... I am in LA and school is in Arizona. I have to take 2 more classes A&P II and MicroBio before I can get in into the nursing program.
I have seen some nurses, who were not interested in their work, could not explain things and sort of ignorant... and I wonder "how in the world did they pass anatomy or nursing school ?"
Since we have such a short time to learn a subject, I tend to concentrate on completing homework or quiz, rather than learning the subject. Tough one.