Failing A&P

[NicInNC]

Hi everyone. My name is Nicole. I'm 27 and ADN is my major...

This is my 2nd semester and I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology I. Not doing well at all. First of all, my instructor is a MATH TEACHER. She's never taught A&P before. She follows a lesson plan given to her by another teacher and is constantly getting things wrong. She tells us incorrect ways to spell things, bounces all over the place, when we have a question, she can't answer it....the list goes on and on. A group of students want to go complain, but I don't see what good it will do. The school is getting their money and the teachers are getting paid. It's a community college.

I studied like never before for my first test and I flunked it REALLY bad. I want to cry. It's like I'm having to teach myself, which is almost impossible when I don't understand what I'm reading. When I ask her a question or to explain something, she doesn't explain at all. Some guy in class today kept asking her to explain about Osteocytes and he finally threw his hands up and said "forget it". I feel so dumb, but I know I'm not!

I HAVE to pass this class. I do NOT want to take it over again. And forget study groups....all they do is sit around talking about guys, going out, etc. I have been out of school for 9 years, married and don't care about the "cute guys on campus", and can't afford to go out. Becoming a nurse has been my dream since I was a little girl. I'm finally getting a chance to make that dream come true and I feel like it will never happen.

We're currently on the Skeletal system. I've printed a ton of worksheet off the class website, but there is just SO MUCH to learn! How will I ever do this?! I study probably 3 hours a day off and on. I have 2 children, so I have to get studying in at various times of the day.

IF I can't get my grades up, should I withdrawl from the class or just fail it and take it again? About half of my class is in it for the 2nd time around. I'm beginning to think that this college is a waste of time and money.

That's another thing. I have grants. If I fail, will I lose my grants? I don't know what to do and I've cried so much that I can't cry anymore!

I have an appointment this Thursday with my advisor. Is there any advice on what I can do or should ask my advisor?

Nicole

[blondebritbrat]

I would personally take a "W" for the class and retake it. I know you probably don't want to hear this but as a person that has personally failed a class, it really lowers your GPA. I'm having to start out fresh and attend a different school because I failed too many courses. I was having a lot of life changes at the time and should not have been attempting to go to college. I wouldn't even waste your money on a tutor because a math teacher should not be teaching a science course. If the school is deaf to your complaints I would take it up with the state board of education. I am sorry you are having to go through this. Good luck!

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

This thread is moving off topic, but i'd like to mention the topic and the side topic

A&P

memorization, memorization, memorization. since you have seen teh first test, does that help? maybe you know what kinds of things she asks? does your book have a study guide that helps? do you know anyone in any other A&P class you can study with? Find out the drop date at your school, and if you aren't passing by then, withdraw from the class to save your record from having a bad grade, which would negatively affect your gpa, and your chances of getting into the nursing program. Go ahead and complain-if you really feel she is unqualified and unprepared. Type a letter, use specific examples of why you think she's not good "When Mrs X was asked about osteocytes, she was unable to give us the correct answer" not just "she's a math teacher, she shouldn't teach this stuff". Turn it into the head of the math/science department. If you can find anyone else in your class who agrees with you, they can sign the letter too. It won't do you any good this semester, but it may help future semesters.

community colleges/financial aid/etc

why am i seriously getting a vibe from this thread that you all think community college students are lazy and out for money? "its just a community college" "my class is full of delinquents" "they are just going to college to satisfy their parents". Judgemental, no?

I go to a community college, graduating from the nursing program (ADN) in 3 short months. I took all of my prereqs there. Sure there are lazy ppl in classes, but in my nursing geared classes, there are a heck of a lot more people out there willing to work their orifice off to do well. I could have gone to the university for nursing school, but it is a bit far away (CC is in town). my CC also has a higher NCLEX pass rate than the university, too. Plenty of lazy "delinquents" go to universities, too.

and the money? Yes, I get a lot of money in pell grants. I would not be able to afford to go to college wihtout that pell grant. It pays my tuition and my books, then I have about 500 dollars left. I have 2 kids, bills, etc so im not blowing it on anything. And unlike loans, you dont ask for a certain amount when you apply for pell grants. they just give you what they think you need. so one is not being greedy by having that money, it is what the school decided to give them.

loans? so what if someone takes out the max? that is their business, adn they'll have to pay it back.

sorry, i just dont like hostility towards CC students

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

Ummm..O.K I don't know if you read all of my post. I too was a CC student..twice. First from 1998 to 2000 and I am one currently. I am taking my pre-requisites at my old cc because the tuition is much cheaper then the college I eventually obtained my B.A from. I never said that ALL cc students were irresponsible slackers. But some of them are. It is a fact. I went have returned to Borough of Manhattan Community College, which is part of the CUNY system. During the late 90's things were so bad that Mayor Guiliani had to revamp the entire system. It is a fact that students were over borrowing and abusing their grants. It is a fact that sometimes after 4 or 5 years that many of the students were leaving w/o degrees after they had capped themselves on loans and ran out of Tap (which you can receive for 10 semester's max). The standards at the 4-year schools were even worse.

It has gotten a bit better because standards are more stringent but there still is and always will be students who take advantage of the system. There is no excuse for taking 10 semester to graduate from a 2-year college when you are attending full time. And it is the business of the student body whether students cap themselves on loans and then go into default. Because when a schools loan attrition rate exceeds 20% the school no longer qualifies for Federal loans. So people like that make things worse for people like me. What is wrong with expecting people to use the money that taxpayers provide for its intended purpose?

P.S I too am a single mom...my son is 11 years old and is autistic. I didn't let that stop me from graduating in 2 years the first go round. I got grants at the 2 year level and loans at the four year. So, I too received federal and state aid and I took out my loans. The difference is that I used them for what there intended purpose was...classes...books...transportation expenses etc.

What I didn't do was skip out on buying my books and then show up to class wearing Prada and asking the person next to me if I could make copies.

If you know that you do what you need to do and don't abuse the system.. why are you so concerned with those who don't?

[NicInNC, CNA]

Soooo....I had a SCHEDULED appointment with my advisor for 9:30 today. I waited until after 10. She was a no show. She called me on my way home and said she was running late because of ice. We have a slight glazing on the trees, but that's it. The temps have been ABOVE freezing. ARGH!!!!!!!!

I'm going to talk to the head of the Dept. I found out who that is and got his name and room number. I also am going to get in touch with my Psy teacher from last semseter. HE was the one that told us how English teachers are teaching math, Math teachers teaching English, etc. He himself told us that we were getting robbed of a good education. He has been with the school for several years and has a lot of contacts in various areas, so I'm hoping he can give me some advice on what to do.

So, in class today there were students talking about apartments, playing checkers, playing Connect Four, sleeping, etc. I kept telling the teacher that I couldn't hear, but she didn't do anything. Then she would go to tell us how to spell certain words and was getting it wrong! I finally spoke up really loud and said "NO...that's wrong. THIS is how you spell it." She kept saying "HYDROHYSEAL". She was leaving out the P. I spoke up and gave the correct spelling, and she STILL said it without the P.

It's H-Y-D-R-O-P-H-Y-S-E-A-L!!! She even argued with me and when I pointed it out in the book, she got mad. HELLOOOOO!!!!! I wanted to SCREAM! It's just so dang frustrating! Then there was a point that she was trying to show us a slideshow of something about the Mandible and she kept going past it. She has NO CLUE how to work the computer. So, I spoke up again and kept telling her that she passed it. I was pointing to it up on the screen, but she was like "i didn't go past it...I went past it? I didn't go past it". I told her "Yes you did, it's right there. Just click on where it says 7.9 MANDIBLE. She gave up, then right before we left, she decided to try again and was able to pull it up.

I'm at my wits end.

Nicole

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

Soooo....I had a SCHEDULED appointment with my advisor for 9:30 today. I waited until after 10. She was a no show. She called me on my way home and said she was running late because of ice. We have a slight glazing on the trees, but that's it. The temps have been ABOVE freezing. ARGH!!!!!!!!

I'm going to talk to the head of the Dept. I found out who that is and got his name and room number. I also am going to get in touch with my Psy teacher from last semseter. HE was the one that told us how English teachers are teaching math, Math teachers teaching English, etc. He himself told us that we were getting robbed of a good education. He has been with the school for several years and has a lot of contacts in various areas, so I'm hoping he can give me some advice on what to do.

So, in class today there were students talking about apartments, playing checkers, playing Connect Four, sleeping, etc. I kept telling the teacher that I couldn't hear, but she didn't do anything. Then she would go to tell us how to spell certain words and was getting it wrong! I finally spoke up really loud and said "NO...that's wrong. THIS is how you spell it." She kept saying "HYDROHYSEAL". She was leaving out the P. I spoke up and gave the correct spelling, and she STILL said it without the P.

It's H-Y-D-R-O-P-H-Y-S-E-A-L!!! She even argued with me and when I pointed it out in the book, she got mad. HELLOOOOO!!!!! I wanted to SCREAM! It's just so dang frustrating! Then there was a point that she was trying to show us a slideshow of something about the Mandible and she kept going past it. She has NO CLUE how to work the computer. So, I spoke up again and kept telling her that she passed it. I was pointing to it up on the screen, but she was like "i didn't go past it...I went past it? I didn't go past it". I told her "Yes you did, it's right there. Just click on where it says 7.9 MANDIBLE. She gave up, then right before we left, she decided to try again and was able to pull it up.

I'm at my wits end.

Nicole

What is the nursing department like in this school? Have you checked their NCLEX pass rates? What would be the point in going through all of this drama just to fail? You need to do some research this doesn't look good.

[NicInNC, CNA]

What is the nursing department like in this school? Have you checked their NCLEX pass rates? What would be the point in going through all of this drama just to fail? You need to do some research this doesn't look good.

Here you go: http://www.ncbon.com/LicStat-PassRates.asp

I'm in the ADN program at Forsyth Tech CC. That's a shame that the rate went from 93 down to 77.

[Maggie in NC]

Nic, I am assuming based on the "Ice" you are pretty close to me in geography. What book are you using? Please let me know so I can assist you. If you were prefer, send it in a PM. I'd be happy to help you with anything I can. I know money is a concern but, keep in mind, dropping and starting over with the possibility of passing beats failing, hands down. Additionally, there should be some specific hiring/teaching parameters for each prof to teach a subject. Please check your prof's qualifications against the CC's policy to insure they are meeting their own guidelines. There is a possibility they are not. You may also ask the dept head to audit the class to make your point.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Maggie

Soooo....I had a SCHEDULED appointment with my advisor for 9:30 today. I waited until after 10. She was a no show. She called me on my way home and said she was running late because of ice. We have a slight glazing on the trees, but that's it. The temps have been ABOVE freezing. ARGH!!!!!!!!

I'm going to talk to the head of the Dept. I found out who that is and got his name and room number. I also am going to get in touch with my Psy teacher from last semseter. HE was the one that told us how English teachers are teaching math, Math teachers teaching English, etc. He himself told us that we were getting robbed of a good education. He has been with the school for several years and has a lot of contacts in various areas, so I'm hoping he can give me some advice on what to do.

So, in class today there were students talking about apartments, playing checkers, playing Connect Four, sleeping, etc. I kept telling the teacher that I couldn't hear, but she didn't do anything. Then she would go to tell us how to spell certain words and was getting it wrong! I finally spoke up really loud and said "NO...that's wrong. THIS is how you spell it." She kept saying "HYDROHYSEAL". She was leaving out the P. I spoke up and gave the correct spelling, and she STILL said it without the P.

It's H-Y-D-R-O-P-H-Y-S-E-A-L!!! She even argued with me and when I pointed it out in the book, she got mad. HELLOOOOO!!!!! I wanted to SCREAM! It's just so dang frustrating! Then there was a point that she was trying to show us a slideshow of something about the Mandible and she kept going past it. She has NO CLUE how to work the computer. So, I spoke up again and kept telling her that she passed it. I was pointing to it up on the screen, but she was like "i didn't go past it...I went past it? I didn't go past it". I told her "Yes you did, it's right there. Just click on where it says 7.9 MANDIBLE. She gave up, then right before we left, she decided to try again and was able to pull it up.

I'm at my wits end.

Nicole

[RNSuzq1, RN]

Hi everyone. My name is Nicole. I'm 27 and ADN is my major...Nicole

Hi Nicole, So sorry to hear about the problems in A&P. I'm also in an ADN Program in NC - just curious - what school are you attending? I've been taking A&P along with the Nursing Course - took A&P I last semester and A&P II this Semester. It's hard when you are taking both of these courses together, going to Clinicals, etc. but it can be done. Like you, I've also been out of school for years, have 3 boys, husband, house, etc. - it's very hard to get it all done and find time for studying, but you can do it.

A&P I was a little overwhelming at first, but thankfully we have a great Instructor who explains it very well and we also have 3 hour labs each week that coincide with the lectures (so you can see and do things that deal with the topic) - it helps a lot. Just a tip about the skeletal and muscle system - the easiest way to learn it is (memorization) - just going over and over it. The book we use is "Holes Anatomy" - they have a fantastic web site (anyone can use) - it has practice test questions and all sorts of "labeling exercises". You click on whatever part of the skeletal system you want to go over - Ex: - the Skull - it brings up a picture of the skull and has a list of names for the skull bones - you simply click on the name and drag it over to whatever part of the skull you think it matches up with - if you're right, the names stays on the part, if you're wrong, the name goes back to the list and you try again until you get it right.

You might be like me - I'm a very "visual learner". When we had lectures on mitosis - it wasn't really clicking, but when our Instructor showed us a video and slides about how cell division happens - it made total sense to me. When we did the skeletal system, for our test we had to know not only the bones, but all the many parts of each bone (overwhelming to say the least). In lab, she gave us boxes of bones - we put them together to build a skeleton and can't tell you how much that helped learn where each little part fit in.

Anatomy is a very complex subject and the framework for Nursing - if you don't know how and why each system in the body works, it would be almost impossible to get through the Nursing Course. To me at least, the Instructor teaching it should have a background in Biology - makes no sense that a math teacher is your Instructor. If none of you are learning this stuff - sounds like you have every right to complain to someone in Admin. Please check out the "Holes Anatomy" web site - I really think it will help you out.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help you out. Susan

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

You really need a good A&P instructor because it's the basis on everything you will learn!

[Catys_With_Me]

I must admit I have not read this entire thread and want to take off and go to bed (it's really late, I just got in from clinical and I'm exhausted) so will just say this:

YOU HAVE SOMEONE TEACHING YOU A&P THAT DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT?!!

It's not like it's Art History where they point to the slide and say, "Rodin's The Thinker 1880... memorize this." An A&P instructor actually needs to be able to explain some pretty complicated material !!!! In our community college no one goes near a student unless they have a master's degree in whatever area they're teaching.

Your whole class should seriously complain. They are collecting your tuition money and giving NOTHING (an education) in return! That makes me so mad and it's not even happening to me..

[oregonrene]

I must admit I have not read this entire thread and want to take off and go to bed (it's really late, I just got in from clinical and I'm exhausted) so will just say this:

YOU HAVE SOMEONE TEACHING YOU A&P THAT DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT?!!

It's not like it's Art History where they point to the slide and say, "Rodin's The Thinker 1880... memorize this." An A&P instructor actually needs to be able to explain some pretty complicated material !!!! In our community college no one goes near a student unless they have a master's degree in whatever area they're teaching.

Your whole class should seriously complain. They are collecting your tuition money and giving NOTHING (an education) in return! That makes me so mad and it's not even happening to me..

Exactly! At my CC, the instructors have to have a masters degree in the subject they are teaching. To the OP - you need to complain long and loud. No way should you have to put up with a so-called learning environment like that. A&P is TOUGH. You need a teacher who knows it backward and forward and can teach it!

[lilk8tob]

Hello,

I have an Anatomy test today, so I don't have time to read all the replies to see if anyone else has suggested this, but I'm getting by in A&P by using the book's website. It has practice quizzes that really help me understand what the key points are in each chapter. If your book does not have a website, send me an email and I will let you know how to log into my book's site.

Good luck with everything, I'm sure you will do fine!!

Katie

[email protected]