Bought my textbooks... now what???

Pixiesmom, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2006

I would go ahead and start reading it. That way it will at least be in your short term memory.

I know I don't have my books yet but I did do a websearch on my college website and I know some of my homework already for my A&PI class. It meets for labs only and the rest is online. Guess what I'll be doing the night I get my books? :lol2:

Meena29 · Aug 9, 2006

Hi, I've studies the whole book. I completed both my A&p courses. I would say there is no harm in starting reading it before class starts. It does have a whole lot of material but if you keeo up with your schedule then there wouldn't be any problem. The first half is okay not so tough but much to remember but the second hafl has all the body system and other things which you would need to understand. I would suggest you always read your chapter before u go to class that will help you much more in understanding what the professor is saying. And one more thing why did you spend $270 on that book. Nursing books are preety expensive and bookstores charge almost double of what I pay online. I use amazon.com, ebay.com or half.com to buy these books. I paid only $90 for the new book and the atlas. I hope you can buy online at that price and return the book to the bookstore. Hope all that help. Good luck.

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2006

Honestly, I flip around them, kinda get a feel of what to expect and maybe read something that catches my interest. Otherwise they go onto a shelf until school starts.

Doesn't hurt to get a head start if that makes you more comfortable.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2006

You put the books away until the first day of class. Enjoy the time off. You're going to long for a day when studying and homework isn't a constant monkey on your back. Relax and enjoy the moment.

I've never studied prior to a class starting. I've never been behind in a class for not doing so, and I've pretty much always made A's, with a stray B or two thrown in.

belleellis · Aug 9, 2006

I got my book last week. Going back to school after 6 years has me freaking out. I have read ch.1-4. Know 1, did the self test, Working on the Chem chapter (hated it and that was 10 years ago at least), Started memorizing the skeletal system. However I work 2 jobs about 60 hours a week and am taking the class all day Saturday....So I figured a head start cant hurt :trout:

My book was $185 more than tuition, I had forgotten...but still a bargain. Thank goodness for community college!

Kishad65 · Aug 9, 2006

I spent a fortune on my Micro book last semester, even buying it used, and never even cracked it open. The instructor taught from her notes, and said that if you were having trouble with a concept to read more in depth in the text. Her notes were so good though, and covered exactly what she would be testing on, that you never needed to look at the book. It sure would have been nice to know that before I spent all that money on the book!

Kisha

NaomieRN · Aug 9, 2006

I would not read too much ahead until you get the class syllabus. Some professors, may not go in the same order as the textbook. I know when I took Anatomy few months ago, my instructor did not go in the same order. She skipped the chemistry chapter. You can familiarize yourself about the different anatomical positions (frontal, sagital planes etc.). I did read the first chapter before class and it helped. I was one chapter ahead. Good luck to you.

luvmy3kids · Aug 9, 2006

Thanks everyone! I know some of you think I should take it easy for the next 2 weeks... but I think I'll at least skim over some of the stuff... With 3 kids driving me nuts... I'll probably need all the help I can get!

Plus it's been over 10 yrs since I've cracked a book open :eek: !!!

piscesgirl · Aug 9, 2006

The first few chapters are usually just general reviews on concepts used in the class. I always make it a point to read over those chapters. I wish other people would to so we don't spend the first few weeks going over stuff that people should already be familiar with anyway. Reviews never hurt. I'm also the type of person that goes crazy during the few weeks between semesters.

RN_student2006 · Aug 10, 2006

You could skim over the book just to get an idea of what to expect, but with my class, the teacher didn't talk about half of the things in the book, so it would be a waste of time to really do anything major until you find out what the instructor is going to do with the material.

romie · Aug 10, 2006

The first few chapters of most Antomy and Physiology texts review structural organization, homoestasis and the language of anatomy. Getting familiar with anatomical position and terms including proximal, distal, lateral, superficial, deep, ect, are extremely basic but difficult for some students to master. Knowing your body planes and body cavities as well as serous membranes within body cavities will put you ahead of your classmates and make subsequent chapters so much easier to understand. While there is always the risk that the instructor wont lecture in the same order as the text, that first chapter is so fundamental that I doubt the instructor would skip it. Finally, you should definitely read the table of contents carefully and examine a chapter of the text so see how it is organized:

1. Does the chapter start out with an outline?

2. How is the actual text broken up-- big headings, little headings?

3. Is there a chapter summary?

4. Are there review or test questions at the end of each chapter?

Also, check to see if there is an appendix containing charts you can refer to including amino acids, periodic table of elements. If you know those charts are there, you can save yourself a lot of trouble searching within the text or searching online for a reference.

Finally, your text probably came with a CD ROM with some kind of optional online registration. You can always check that out. I actually enjoy using the CD ROMs that come with my texts, while most of my classmates haven't touched them.

Or you could just put your book on the shelf until classes start!