Anatomy and Physiology

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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For those of you who have already done A and P, was dissection required? I'm vegan, and I'm really uncomfortable dissecting animals - humans who have donated their bodies to science, ok, but animals didn't have a choice. I mean, I'll do it if I have to (it's a sacrifice for a larger goal, I guess), but I'm just wondering so I have a heads-up.

And no, for anyone about to say vegans care about animals more than people, that's not the case. :p While I'm aware of the ways animal testing and whatnot has benefitted us, I feel like it's unfair to use them for our own purposes when they can't make the choice. But I'm ok with the idea of dissecting a person who has donated their body for the purpose, haha. They made an informed decision.

Anyway, please let me know so I can start mentally preparing!

Specializes in Peds, Float, Ambulatory, Telemetry (new).

We had frogs and cats. And eyes, I forgot from which animal. I felt bad for the poor cat, but we had to do. We named it and everything. lol

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Specializes in CGRN.
We had frogs and cats. And eyes I forgot from which animal. I felt bad for the poor cat, but we had to do. We named it and everything. lol[/quote']

We dissected a rat on the first day of A&P1, cat is coming this week... Not looking forward to it, since I have cats at home, but you do what you have to I guess.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

We did cats (for the muscles), cow eye, and sheep brains. It was not optional, so you may want to find a way to get over it.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

We had to do a pig eye. Eyes skeeve me out

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I also took A&P I at UTA. The labs are all online. I think A&P II is the same.

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One school I attended did dissections, but the other did not. The one that did you had to dissect a fetal pig, a sheep's brain, and a cat. Of course I only took BIO there not A&P so they may have done more than that. I took my A&P at the school that does not, because that is were I wanted to go to respiratory school at.

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Specializes in LTC.

yep cats for me to....of course this was 20 + years ago and was told it was going to be put down at the Humane Society anyways.....not that it makes it any better. Of course lab partner and I named ours....it is something you just have to do...not necessarily like it, but do it.

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We did a sheeps heart and a cat. I think the mental prep is important. I was not fond of it on one hand but was fascinated to see the various parts of anatomy in the flesh so to speak. Even though pictures are very detailed- it's not the same as seeing and touching.

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I LOVE animals. I absolutely understand your hesitance and reluctance to do this. But it probably will be a requirement. We had to dissect a rat (the only animal that I am TERRIFIED of) and a poor, sweet cat. Not going to lie, it was traumatizing. Horrific really. And although I don't think it was helpful for my education, it was something I HAD to do. We also had to examine human cadavers, which was even more distressing. I almost passed out. My classmates said all of the blood drained from my face. Weird, because now that I am a nurse, nothing really grosses me out. GL girl.....just grin and bear through it and then go make a donation to the ASPCA, which is what I did.

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We do cats in A&P and then the same as in your general bio, fetal pigs sheep brains cows etc. If you have any religious beliefs or other personal concerns with dissecting you do not have to perform it you just have to observe.

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I live in Oregon. Our A & P is 3 sections, each a term (11 weeks) with lab. I have had to dissect a sheep's kidney, a cow's eyeball, a cat, a pig's heart, and a sheep's brain. We also use human cadavers. Keep in mind, online courses may not get you out of this requirement. I dissected my cat at home; it was mailed to me by my school as part of the lab kit. I had to label and photograph my work and submit the photos with my results. It wasn't too terrible, but I did make sure my pet cats never saw it.

As a side note to the poster who mentioned a horrible human cadaver experience, I'm so sorry the instructors allowed that to happen. Before any human cadaver lab, we are required to sign an ethics contract which forbids any disrespect of our cadavers. I did witness violations of this policy, and I did report the instructor who allowed it. The school quickly dealt with the issue.

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Hmm, ok, thanks everyone. So it sounds like it really just depends on the school.

And I can't believe some of you saw people being so disrespectful to the cadavers! Ugh.

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