Anatomy and Physiology 2 study tips?

caskew7 · Dec 19, 2010

Hi Carla0912, I just got an A in A&P II so speaking from experience I believe that those who get the higher grades put in the most work. I usually began studying for an exam exactly 1 week before the test. I would start with an hour of study and then "crank" it up more and more as the exam got closer. Lab really helped me out alot too. I found myself paying alot of attention during lecture to make sure I focused on the material that was on the test. But most importantly keep up with all the chapters as you go...meaning never get behind in the reading because that will surely get overwhelming when you finally do decide to start reading/studying. I plan to use these same methods next month in nurs school. Hope this helps you. Good luck ---C

justchill, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2010

So, you got a B the first time during A&P 1 but took it again? B's are a good grade.

bhanson · Dec 19, 2010

I studied about 20 hours a week for A&P2 (during a 5 week summer session) outside of class and earned high As on every exam and quiz. I could have spent half the time and still made an A, but instead I wanted to master the material because I would be using it all for a very long time.

Learning is a very personal experience. You need to evaluate your own performance to discover the best way for you to retain information. In my experience if you follow these guidelines anyone can have a good chance at getting an A:

1) Pre-read the chapters. A professor should never introduce a brand new topic to you, it is your job to teach yourself most of the concepts before you come to class. The professor is there to clarify particularly difficult concepts or to help you apply concepts to models not described in your book.

2) Study a little bit every day. Exams are only hard to prepare for if you're behind. If you find yourself cramming or an exam is difficult to prepare for then you need to increase your daily study time.

3) Review EVERY test/quiz question. You'll probably have to go into office hours for this since most professors don't hand back exams. Most people only look at the questions they miss, but it is equally important to look at the questions you got right because you probably guessed or was not sure on a few. Comprehensive exams usually have similar questions and it is stupid to miss a question twice, or miss a question that you got right before.

Three steps to an A in A&P (or almost any class). I'd wager to guess the average student does 0-1 of these--and gets average grades as a result.

ag.wade · Dec 19, 2010

Bhanson made it very clear on how to achieve an A in A&P 2, or any class for that matter. Study every day (> 1 hr.) and understand concepts (do not just memorize). Understanding the concepts will make nursing school a heck of a lot easier. You'll be able to "connect the dots." E.g. - in A&P 2 know the kidneys and loop of henle. Then, in nursing school you will have no problem understanding how diuretics promote H2O loss, along with other electrolytes.

I will send you an email with a few notes that helped me.

I hope this helps. Now, go earn your A!

oi812 · Dec 19, 2010

Carla: I have some tips that really helped me get A's in A&P. It will depend what kind of learner you are, but they might help:

1. If you belong to a gym or have access to a treadmill, put your A&P vocabulary on flash cards, put some monotonous dance music on your iPod (nothing with lyrics, just repetitive rhythm), and repeat the words OVER AND OVER while you walk at a steady pace. Not run -- too distracting. And say the words out loud, who cares if you look crazy? For me, this method made the words so familiar-sounding that remembering them at test time was a breeze -- plus I got the workout in! (PS, you can download this kind of music for free from PODRUNNER)

2. If you have iTunes, you can download A&P lectures for free from some really great teachers and listen to these while you drive or exercise or do housework. Go to the iTunes University section and you will see there are many to choose from. I really liked the ones from East Tennessee University. They are short and you can just select the ones that are relevant to the unit you are working on.

3. Draw pictures: this was a tip from my Anatomy professor. Once you draw a picture of something and label all the parts, you tend to remember it with more clarity (like the muscles of the thigh - this was the only way I could remember them!)

4. Teach someone else: if you can explain something to someone else (my spouse got stuck with the role...) you will remember it better.

Good luck!

HappyMeNow · Dec 19, 2010

The best study advice I give to anyone on ANY subject is to record your lectures. RECORD YOUR LECTURES!!!! :)

If you can guarantee yourself to understand everything that the lecture covers, you should be able to grasp at least 90% of the material on the test. I would listen to my lectures over and over again. I take notes, write down everything, rewind in case I missed something.

That's how I got an A on both A&P1 and A&P2.

You want to score as high as you can on tests because practical labs are especially difficult as you probalby know by now. So guarantee yourself an A on lecture exams will help.

Jody7818 · Dec 20, 2010

Carla...I sent you some notes I had for A&P II. Check your email.

RNCEN · Dec 20, 2010

As mentioned above, pre-read the material....skim it if that's all you can find time for. At least "see it" one time prior to the lecture. Record the lectures if you are allowed, and make notes of the things you need clarification on, then go back later and re-read those areas and correlate them to the lecture you've recorded. Do NOT feverishly take notes, it will hurt you more than help. LISTEN to the instructor, and understand the "how and why" rather than so much of the "what". What I'm trying to get across is that you really need to understand the information and be able to apply it to a situation. If you can do this, you'll earn your A and do well in nursing school. Don't just try and memorize things, it will never work that way.

Carla0912 · Dec 20, 2010

I really appreciate all the advice thats been given to me. And also thank you AG wade and jody for the study materials. I'll be sure to make use of them. I really am going to try to give it my all this semester. Its too late for me to retake anatomy and physiology 1 again, because I've already taken it twice. But I'll really try hard for anat and phys. 2.

IsaBSN · Apr 20, 2014

Jody - can you send me the notes as well? I am taking A&P ll this upcoming summer! Thank you

IsaBSN · Apr 20, 2014

ag.wade - can you send me the notes as well? I am taking A&P ll this upcoming summer! Thank you