Anatomy harder than nursing school classes?

chinacatSN · Jan 7, 2011

I took the A&P I and II sequence. I've had one semester of NS. I also dropped out of A&P I once because I HATED my instructor and the class structure (it was one of those hybrid classes - half online, half in class).

I would say that A&P was much EASIER than nursing classes. It's not really the content that's more difficult, it's the style. In NS, they strive to teach students how to critically think so that when you're presented with a problem as a nurse you will know the best way to act. On tests, a lot of the questions will be "pick the BEST correct answer" and "prioritize the interventions". When you first start out, it will be a totally different way of thinking. There's also A LOT more homework in NS than in A&P. We have assignments due almost everyday and tests twice a week a long with pop quizzes, surprise homework, clinicals and care plans, and the ever popular last minute changes to the syllabus.

What many find frustrating is that many NS instructors tend to do their own thing and believe in their own way, despite what the books says.

I'll put it this way - I've always been pretty good at science classes. I scored A's in both A&P I and II. I didn't struggle at all after I ditched the bad A&P class - I rarely studied, didn't read, just did the homework and showed up to lecture and lab everyday. In NS, it's more of a struggle for me. I'm getting 2 A's and 1 B but I HAVE to study and I don't feel as confident before a test. The critical thinking sometimes throws me for a loop and there's a LOT of work involved.

Hope this helped!

want2banrn · Jan 7, 2011

I've heard of the different way of thinking you are forced to adjust to in nursing school. Ironically, I feel pretty comfortable with that. What do you find to be the hardest part of nursing school? I mean, do you feel that you at least understand what you are expected to know? That is where I am falling flat. When I took the calculus sequence for my engineering degree, you always knew the topics that would be on the exam. If you paid attention, you could figure out the difficulty of problems that you could expect on the exam. (Believe it or not, some calculus problems are very easy but some are very hard). In anatomy, I just never could figure it out. My professor, one of many who has no clue how to use Powerpoint, would put up a slide with the skin layers. Okay? So what? I know those but do I know them in the level that she wanted us to know? That's a simple example but there are other harder ones.

Here's the most frustrating part for me. There are problems in calculus that are straightforward, plug and chug equations. But then there are problems that require a tremendous amount of manipulation, according to the rules of math, to essentially get the equation you are asked to solve in a form that essentially matches that problem. That is where I excelled at because I could see the steps that you needed to take. So it was very frustrating to me to have a decent level of critical thinking skills but not be able to apply that to anatomy.

daisyfleur70 · Jan 7, 2011

Honestly, its the sheer amount and depth of material that you are learning in NS. I got A's in A&P, but I worked by butt off in patho and got a C+ (My first and hopefully ONLY C in NS).

Plus, the testing differs from pre reqs in that with pre reqs, you learn material, and test questions are pretty straightforward. What are the bones of the skeleton, muscles, etc... But in patho (and indeed in all of my nursing classes), the questions were scenarios where you had to apply what you learned to the scenario given. You'd be given lab values, signs and symptoms and asked what the pathology was... for example... or based on the responses or non responses to a given treatment, what was going on in the body. (a patho example).

You may have had an iffy instructor, not all instructors are created equal. But medical science isn't the same animal as engineering and math science. There isn't always a black and white answer, so it may require an adjustment in your study skills/mindset to get you going in the right directions.

I have heard that NS is easier than pre reqs, and that it's harder. A students sometimes struggle to get C's. Some students adjust fine, though... It's all just a question of perspective, I think.

ag.wade · Jan 7, 2011

]I wondered the same thing while taking A&P I and II. In my opinion, you need a strong A&P background. If you have that, you should be fine.

In A&P your professor may ask about the lifespan of erythrocytes. In nursing school, the professor may ask about a HgA1C test, related to how a diabetic patient is controlling his/her glucose levels. With a strong A&P background, those questions are ]gimme points in nursing school.

If you are like me and need to see actual grades, here you go: ]

Pre-nursing school

]A&P I - A
] A&P II - A

]Nursing school (semester 1)

] Fundamentals in nursing - A
] Med-Surg I - B (3 pts. from an A, but a B nonetheless)

]Either way, you have to study your butt off. ]

I hope this helps.

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

When I took A&P I, I was still a chem major and took Organic Chem, A&P I, Physics II, Biomedical Ethics, and some other class at the same time because I had planned on goin to Pharmacy school. I ended up with an A in A&P and maybe even a 4.0 that semester? It's not hard at all. A&P II in fact, I took it during the summer and had to work during class time lol....I kid you not, the ONLY time I came to class was on test day, or to turn my HW in and go back to work. Some folks understand the material, and some do not. It's not anymore complicated than anything, as long as you have a good teacher. I got an A that time too. Nursing school really isn't that bad either, I graduated with honors from my BSN program and am already back in the MSN program. Don't listen to the hype, see for yourself :twocents:

jennafezz · Jan 7, 2011

no, I don't think anatomy (or physio, or micro) was harder than nursing classes.

fleurafor · Jan 7, 2011

No way, AP 1 and AP 2 was a cake walk compared to NS. I only wish it were like that. AP's tests are mostly memorization. NS is memorization PLUS critical thinking and the critical thinking part is the KILLER

SingDanceRunLife · Jan 7, 2011

Compared to my first semester of nursing classes, A&P was much harder!

I know I'm in the minority here...but that may have to do with the fact that when I'm applying things, they are easier for me. A&P had no application, it was just that I needed to know the facts and understand certain processes.

RB2000 · Jan 7, 2011

I would have to agree with other posters. I felt that A&P I and II were way easier than Nursing. I have had straight A's all the way up until nursing school. In Nursing 1 I received my very first B. The amount of information that you have to learn is crazy. Additionally, as someone mentioned it is the critical thinking that gets you. It isn't about memorizing a ton of information, but rather it is about learning a ton of information and how to apply that information. Here is were it gets even better. How you apply that information may differ based on patient and circumstances. So, not only do you need to know a ton of information, how to apply that information, but how to apply that information in different situations.

Also, you need to know how A&P, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, chemistry, etc...all tie in. In some way shape or form they all tie into the nursing process, and particular nursing actions. It is the information that you have learned in these classes, in addition to the information that you learn in nursing that help you to critically think. All the things that are learned like acid-base balance, electrolytes, gas laws, pressure gradient, isotonic/hypotonic/hypertonic, metabolism, and so much more...take on a whole new meaning.

Here is the final part. All these things that you have to learn and apply in practice, and apply to different situation, you have to start applying it with real live people. This isn't just in theory, not just on paper, but in the clinical setting you are applying what you learn in the really real world. That changes everything! : ) When working with a real live patient you can't say that 1+1=2 and that all page 347 in my fundamentals book it says that this is the answer. People are as easy as a textbook, and I personally learned that this past semester. LOL

Ok...with all that said nursing classes are not impossible. Yes, it is probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my entire life. Yes, it is a ton of work that increases with each semester. However, the classes are more than doable, and if it is what you want to do go for it!:)

Chapis · Jan 7, 2011

to answer your question, no. in ns is applied knowledge to see what is the priority task.

chinacatSN · Jan 7, 2011

I've heard of the different way of thinking you are forced to adjust to in nursing school. Ironically, I feel pretty comfortable with that. What do you find to be the hardest part of nursing school? I mean, do you feel that you at least understand what you are expected to know? That is where I am falling flat. When I took the calculus sequence for my engineering degree, you always knew the topics that would be on the exam. If you paid attention, you could figure out the difficulty of problems that you could expect on the exam. (Believe it or not, some calculus problems are very easy but some are very hard). In anatomy, I just never could figure it out. My professor, one of many who has no clue how to use Powerpoint, would put up a slide with the skin layers. Okay? So what? I know those but do I know them in the level that she wanted us to know? That's a simple example but there are other harder ones.
Here's the most frustrating part for me. There are problems in calculus that are straightforward, plug and chug equations. But then there are problems that require a tremendous amount of manipulation, according to the rules of math, to essentially get the equation you are asked to solve in a form that essentially matches that problem. That is where I excelled at because I could see the steps that you needed to take. So it was very frustrating to me to have a decent level of critical thinking skills but not be able to apply that to anatomy.

To use your example of the skin layers - most likely, you will need to know all the layers of the skin, their different components, what they do, and what occurs in each layer. However, the questions are usually straight forward.

For example: Q: What is the function of a sebaceous gland and how does it differ from a merocrine gland? A: A Sebaceous gland produces sebum - an oily substance that lubricates the skin and hair follicles and protects against moisture loss and skin dehydration. Merocrine glands are sweat glands and produce sweat to cool the skin. They are located mainly in the forehead, palms of the hands, and the groin area.

Here's an example of a NS question, found on a typical quiz or test: Q: On turning a client to the lateral position, the nurse notes a reddened are on the right hip. Further assessment reveals intact skin with blanching at the site. Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

a. Notify the physician

b. Document the findings

c. Apply a dry sterile dressing

d. Document the presence of a stage I pressure ulcer

That's an easy question, but a good example. Most NS questions on tests are like that, but more difficult. Choose the best answer out of 4 possible answers - in many questions, all 4 answers sound correct and you NEED to know your stuff to be able to pick out the answers that aren't totally correct. In the question above, the answer would be b - you could do a and c but they're unnecessary. Since there was blanching at the site, d is completely incorrect. A lot of the time, you will be given lab values and signs/symptoms and be asked to basically diagnose the patient. You may be asked questions that are technically out of your scope of practice. As an LPN, you're required to be able to calculate the drops/min of an IV infusion even though you can't even TOUCH an IV. It's all just very frustrating. A&P seemed much more black and white to me than what I deal with in NS. In NS, you have to be able to look at a pt's VS, assessment, lab values, medications, etc and be able to have an idea of what is going on with that pt. You also have to come up with nursing diagnoses - and the "nursing language" you have to use is very 'round-about, you can't use a medical diagnosis and you have to word things in a certain way.

Nursing/medical critical thinking is also very different than other types of critical thinking - someone's life may be on the line and you need to know what you're doing. You also need to have knowledge of several different things - A&P, pharm, patho, chemistry, etc. You may have a patient who just had a colon resection - he has a very firm, distended abdomen; T 103.2F, P 92, R 36, BP 158/100; been vomiting brown liquid all night; and an order for NG insertion. Your instructor will ask you why the pt is getting an NG tube? What do you think the MD thinks is wrong? How will they diagnose this problem?

To tell the truth, it may be tougher but it's actually exhilarating when you've spent time learning your stuff and you get to show your instructor and classmates that you know your stuff, you're smart, and you're competent. Once you've started NS and are learning all you can learn, you will be amazed at everything that can happen with the human body.