Does Anatomy & Physiology help you in nursing?

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2014

To my knowledge, AP (1 and 2) are part of the backbone of nursing; add in the study habits one develops to do well in the core science classes, including AP, will help in nursing.

Thank you.

veterannurse · Jul 22, 2014

just wanting you to keep in mind that medical surgical nursing is based on the abnormalities of anatomy and physiology. if you don't understand me you are severe disadvantage for instance if you understand anatomy and the endocrine system. .you also can readily comprehend diabetes. I work on a surgical unit there are many nurses who started as a new grad who did not know where the gallbladder was located they did not know its function but they were taking care of patients who had gallbladder removal

Cheripk, RN · Jul 22, 2014

Absolutely it helps, some parts more than others, but going into nursing with that knowledge is going to help you.

Livetoride · Jul 22, 2014

If it wasn't essential to nursing, it wouldn't be a pre-req. Just my .02.

KStudentNurse70 · Jul 22, 2014

Thanks everyone I will keep that in mind!! :up:

rob4546, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 22, 2014

A&P is absolutely essential to nursing. You will use the concepts every day. I believe that nursing school wasn't as hard for me because my understanding of A&P. I had a great instructor and he was instrumental in understanding the human body.

I used it in every class, but I think it was extremely helpful in pharmacology. When you start talking about loop diuretics it will come in handy if you understand the difference physiologically from osmotic diuretics. What electrolytes are reabsorbed in the Loop of Henle? You will get it.

There is just so much. I can't express to you how important it is.

KStudentNurse70 · Jul 22, 2014

Okay thank you!! I love A&P so I am happy it will help me out in the program! As for pharmacology I took general pharmacology last summer session and didn't learn a thing as for it was online :cry: besides getting a good grade in it I don't remember a thing, and I was told not to take it in school as for the professor that teaches it is horrible, so that kind of sucks, hoping nursing will brush up on it some more.

Carpediem1012, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2014

A and P is used every day for every thing. It's your best friend. As for pharmacology, it's important to know the classes, the general MOA: ADME etc. But drugs change fast, and if you understand the pathophysiology, you will be fine :)

brianbooth, RN · Jul 24, 2014

In the UK, A&P has been relegated by some universities to a later place in the curriculum, which I believe to be a serious mistake. (It was the first thing we did when I trained, and we would continue to learn about it, in increasing depth, as we progressed.)

I recently had two students nurses to whom I was explaining some very basic stuff about patient positioning in conditions like cardiac failure. I had to stop and take them off for a session on the mechanics of respiration; they were aware of something called the diaphragm, but had no idea about what it did.

My colleagues and I could provide far too many other examples.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 24, 2014

A&P is essential in nursing. Of the two, probably Physiology is more important because you'll need to know normal physiology so that you will know when you see the abnormal stuff. Keep up the good work!

katierobin23 · Jul 24, 2014

The best gift you can give yourself as a nurse is a solid understanding of A&P. Definitely helps.