A&P and Nursing courses which one is harder?

jschut, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2001

Nah~ I think the nursing courses are easier. Then again, my A&P instructor was pretty good too. It's what you make of it...any schooling can be as hard as you want it to be. Just really listen to your instructor, and read and re-read your material from your book. Keep going over it until you understand it. I know that's difficult, but I had to do that in A&P and I am having to do that in Nursing.:)

Good Luck to you and either way, just study and then study some more... you'll get it!:)

Julie:)

KristaB · Sep 27, 2001

I would say that A&P was definitely more difficult! But, you can't do nursing without it!

Krista

BrandyBSN · Sep 27, 2001

For some, A&P is easier.

A&P is mostly memorization, and doesnt vary a huge amount from patient to patient... Nursing courses usually envolve indepth critical thinking, and being able to connect dots that may not fit together to begin with.

I am an abstract thinker, so I like the thinking more than the memorization. Some people can memorize everything you hand them, but have a hard time applying it.

Neither are "easy" :) But we cant be nurses without each of them :)

BrandyBSN

janleb · Sep 27, 2001

with A&P it is knowing facts, and understanding how the body works. It is a hard class, but it is important to know the material prior to nursing. Nursing is more application and situational. For example on nursing exam they are not going to ask you the normal pH for humans. they will give you a list of symptoms and lab values and ask what the condition you think it is. what your interventions would be. Nursing is a hard class but different than A&P. But knowing my A&P has been a help to me in my student nursing career.

Katnip, RN · Sep 27, 2001

For me, A&P was tougher. We were expected to learn and use critical thinking, not memorization. She was one tough professor--she gave us the kind of exams that we get now--choose the MOST correct answer. And boy, am I glad she did that. I don't have to review anything, and it's made pathophysiology a lot easier.

Beverly McKee · Sep 28, 2001

I also would say that nursing is probably harder than A&P because with A&P it is all memorization and with nursing it is all critical thinking. With nursing you have to be able to see the big picture and pick the answer that is the most right. Almost always on our nursing test at NGCSU there are two correct answers and you have to pick the most correct. It is rather annoying. Well, anyway hang in there you can do it.

Bev-

essarge · Sep 28, 2001

I think that each course has it's own set of difficulties. A&P was very tough and involved studying EVERY day. My nursing courses are tough and still required studying every day, but the difference is (while both involve memorization) nursing involves ALLOT of critical thinking. You always have to think ahead, expect the unexpected, and realize that, like A&P, each course builds on the other.

A&P is used throughout nursing, even in the field, making the stress of learning it more abundent. It is your first BUILDING BLOCK, in nursing. It is also one of the most important knowledge based courses in the grand scheme of things. A&P is also what makes or breaks allot of new nursing students. They don't realize how difficult it really is and many aren't willing to give up the "fun part" of their lives in lieu of studying.

I still highly recommend that you take at least one day (at least part of a day) where you don't even look at a book. It helped me get a B in A&P. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. Don't be afraid to TELL friends and family that you can't participate in something because you have to study.

I know I'm rambling, but it is very important to understand that ALL classes have their own set of difficulties, but A&P is one of the most difficult because of the memorization and having to remember EVERY detail for every nursing class in you nursing curriculum and in the field.:)

zannie · Sep 28, 2001

I haven't actually had any nursing classes yet, but.......... just from my learning style, I think A&P will be harder (for me).

Reason: I SUCK at memorization. :-( I do better at "problems" type things (which is why I am doing better in chem than A&P). I can't memorize worth crap. GRRRRRRRRR.

--zannie :)

Mito · Sep 29, 2001

I agree with Brandy the A&P is mostly an issue of memorization. The abstract and critical thinking skills are much more diffucult to master and much more useful in the long run. The A&P is intended to be a point of reference when discussing patho, care plan and expected behaviours of patients.

But to answer your question thnk of it this way , YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM ALL ANYWAY HARD OR EASY.

ps

minds are like parachutes but if they aren't packed right they are not worth a dam when you jump.

HTH

Mito

fourbirds4me · Oct 1, 2001

I think they are harder in different ways... So far the difficulty with nursing classes is the amount of busy work. Write this ...fill in that... write this again. A LOT of work... but not a lot of brain strain. Some people complain about the tests but almost everyone passes them... (can't say the same about A&P or micro)

Hang in there!

RJM · Oct 7, 2001

I definately think that A&P courses are more difficult. The material was harder to comprehend for me than the nursing courses. Memorization is the key for getting through the A&P tests.

Good luck!!

RJM