Though I agree anatomy and physiology are extremely important fundamentals of the nursing cirriculum I fail to see how my knowing the microscopic anatomy of the GI tract (example) will ever be useful in my future career. Although I find it quite interesting I just can't see somebody coming up to me to ask me "nurse is the mucosal layer of the trachea ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelial tissue?" I've even talked to medical students who compare our anatomy courses to the A&P courses of their preclerkship program.
Does anyone else's program have a hardcore anatomy/physiology component? Does anyone see the point to such an extensive background?
P.S. my rant is fueled by a not so good feeling about my anatomy final.
Well, it could be worse respiratory therapists and dental hygenists have to take A&P I and II and I wonder how many people have asked them to name the mucousal layers of the GI track. :)
It is important to understand how the body works so we can learn what happens when it breaks down, and how we can fix it through modern medicine. Obviously there are going to be things we'll never use and forget.
Now, let's talk about Algerbra, how often do we really need that, but to solve simple equations. LOL
I didn't have to take Chemistry for my ADN because I had it in highschool. I'll be taking it for my BSN though this coming semester nearly 30 years later. Ugh............
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I also wish that instructors would give a broad clinical application overview with the nitty gritty details so we can understand the importance of what we're learning.
For A&P at Rio Salado, most of the units have an essay portion, where you have to answer four essay questions of the instructor's selection. If you want to get a good grade on the essays, you have to not only answer the question, but also APPLY the information to your job (for pre-nursing) or life (everyone else). This really helps put it into a context I can understand and appreciate.
you will probalby forget most of what you learned, but it sure helps to understand why someone with a iliostomy has nutrition deficits due to all those intestinal villi not getting to do their job. Remember, you are learning a profession, not a set of skills.
Ehm...but isn't the ileum the last part of the small intestine? And if that were true, wouldn't the villi get to do their job after all since it is the end of the small intestine? Or perhaps you are comparing it with a colostomy and the absorption of water? You lost me. :chuckle
Ehm...but isn't the ileum the last part of the small intestine? And if that were true, wouldn't the villi get to do their job after all since it is the end of the small intestine? Or perhaps you are comparing it with a colostomy and the absorption of water? You lost me. :chuckle
Shel
The ileum is the last part of the small intestine, but it is the largest - approx. 12 feet of villi-in-absorption-action.
Keep in mind that the doc doesn't always make it clear to the patien/family why they are doing everything they do. Also pts/fams fail to ask questions of the doc for whatever reason they will ask you. I fyou can't explain to them in laymens terms why gramps can't poop you are the one who looks dumb not the doc.
How can you be a "GOOD" clinical nurse without understanding "WHY" something happens. If it was as easy as just being given a list of signs and symptoms and another list of interventions anyone could be a nurse. In order to diagnose from a nurses prospective and also be able to help your patients by "helping" the doctors see things that they may have missed, you need this understanding right on down to a cellular level. This question and its content have been covered several times in these threads and I can never believe that "Nursing" students are asking if Anatomy and Physiology are necesary. How about Microbiology. If think A&P is worthless than Micro will seem twice as worthless. And when you think that Glycolysis and Electron Transport are worthless information I say you will never be a truly "GOOD" nurse.
Dave, after just one semester of nursing school, I couldn't agree with you more! My clinical experience thus far has included 2 patients with end-stage renal disease as a result of diabetes, one with COPD, and a number of others at various stages of HIV/AIDS. Two of them also had MRSA. (We sure ran the gamut at the county hospital!) I can't tell you how many times I've needed to refer back to my A&P book and my Micro notes just to prepare to care for these people. Trust me, when you are dealing with real people, you will want to know what is happening to them...yes, even right down to the cellular level.
I hope Chemistry isnt needed before Micro. Chemistry isnt even needed in the program at my college.
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,337 Posts
Well, it could be worse respiratory therapists and dental hygenists have to take A&P I and II and I wonder how many people have asked them to name the mucousal layers of the GI track. :)
It is important to understand how the body works so we can learn what happens when it breaks down, and how we can fix it through modern medicine. Obviously there are going to be things we'll never use and forget.
Now, let's talk about Algerbra, how often do we really need that, but to solve simple equations. LOL
I didn't have to take Chemistry for my ADN because I had it in highschool. I'll be taking it for my BSN though this coming semester nearly 30 years later. Ugh............