Should I study anatomy and physiology before the semester begins?

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Hi everyone, I'm new here but I browse these threads alot. I just wanted to get some opinions about studying A&P through khan Academy before my class begins in the fall semester. From what I read it's really intimidating and I want to do really well without struggling too much. My program requires that I get at least a B. Does anyone think this will be a good idea?

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I wouldn't pre-study because teachers all focus on different things. Yes, everyone will need to know what a kidney is and what it does, but not everyone will learn the exact same structures and functions. It would be a waste of time, IMO, to learn things that are unnecessary.

If you feel like you *have* to study something, you could learn basic anatomical terminology, like superior/inferior, medial/lateral, etc. I think those are a common thread throughout all A&P classes.

And don't let the experience of others intimidate you. I found A&P I and II to be fascinating and a lot of fun, both weren't nearly as difficult as I was made to believe.

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Thanks for your response. I think you're right. Learning unnecessary information would be a waste of time.

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Hello there! I have a different opinion. I don't normally divulge my methods but i'm in the mood so here we go.

Background: Currently I am in the 99 percentile nationwide in ATI standardized testing. I have the highest grade in my nursing cohort and I did not once study for, or open up the book for a single test including my finals. I never lost a wink of sleep before a test and I never took notes in lecture. This was the case for ALL of my prerequisite classes and for all of my nursing classes. How is this possible you ask? I prep EXTREMELY well! With that being said I would highly suggest you study before hand if you want an A, but there is a very specific way you must do so to be successful. Here are a few of my tips for studying in a way that allows you to adequately prepare for a difficult science class.

1. Start studying at least 2 month in advance- This allows you to study in a stress free environment with no string attached. When you study with out obligation you retain information because you are learning purely for the enjoyment of learning. Things stick in the mind when they are welcomed in and not forced in.

2. Go to youtube and look at multiple professors playlists in the subject you are studying for example A&P go on youtube and TYPE: nursing anatomy and phys lectures. You will get like 10 different play lists with hundreds of hours of content in each one and they will all go over the same content in a different way. One thing you will come to find as you listen to each of them is that they all have the same INFO!!!! For example every Nursing anatomy class will have the following in regard to the kidney: Cortex, medulla, hillus, cortical nephrons, juxdamedular nephrons, glamarlulous, juxtamedular apparatus, PCT, acending loop, Decending loop, macula densa, DCT, collecting duct, aquaporins.... There is a lot more i'm just naming stuff off the top of my head that you will need to know and what you will find in all of these lectures.

If you go and check out Professor Fink (BTW hes the best out there) on youtube and then listen to 2 other professors on the same subject you will find that they go over the same exact stuff!

3. The BRN accredits nursing programs and every nursing program and prerequisite needs to meet specific SLO's or "student learning outcomes" to be considered qualified. This means they HAVE to cover the same stuff! This is why you can transfer credits from one college to another and if there is a discrepancy you can show proof with a syllabus from the class because it has the SLO's attachted. So what does this mean when it comes to studying before a class? It means if you are listening to the right professors on youtube the content will transfer to your class quite well.

4. When you study to prep for a class do not attempt to memorize or take note on anything. Simply listen to at least one different lecture everyday with full attention and enthusiasm. The goal is to just be familiar with each subject you will encounter i.e. body system structure and function.

The main take away is that when you get to class nothing you hear in lecture will be the first time your hearing it. You just want to scratch the surface and be familiar before you really dig in. That's what a prep is.

5. If you are able to go through the entire playlist of Dr. Fink's A&P my hats off to you. You are definitely dedicated and you will be totally prepped for your class. I would also stress to you that if you are listening to these lectures that you don't stress about memorizing ANYTHING simply listen with an eager excitement to learn. That is all you need to retain information. Why do people get so good at video games or sports? because they LOVE it. Learn to LOVE learning and it will not feel like work it will be very enjoyable and fruitful because you will be so flippin smart ans very solid on the subject matter!

Now in all honesty to become proficient in a subject you should probably study it at least ten times over and over and over again. This is how you familiarize yourself with concepts and vocab to make them second nature. I am pretty eccentric and really like to study so it comes very easy to me and I have gone over this stuff so many times that I am able to recall it like the back of my hand. This is how I am blowing nursing school out of the water in my sleep while working full time and having a wife and baby at home to provide for.

Let me know if you have any questions or would like more pointers I have tons of them.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in LTC.

I would absolutely recommend Khan Academy and anything else you can get your hands on before starting class. I love the post from Noctor Durse. YES.

I used Khan a lot when preparing for the TEAS exam, and I scored in the 99th percentile -- highest my advisor has seen. I love that you can pause, take notes, go back, etc. and there is something about watching him draw things that really helps it stick in my mind.

I got through A&P 1 with an A ~ but I feel like I could have absorbed SO much more if I wasn't rushing through AND if it wasn't the first time I'd been exposed to a lot of that info.

I'm taking A&P 2 this summer, and I've already started reading ahead for all of the reasons mentioned by Noctor Durse. There is no such thing as unnecessary information or too much knowledge, in my opinion. You want to be the best you can be? Learn as much as you can.

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Generally I tend to agree about no such thing as learning too much, but I did find A&P I and II to be a different type of learning that I wouldn't have been able to prepare myself for on my own. That's what my recommendation is based on. Once you learn how to learn, then yes - by all means, study ahead. But that was the pivotal class for me for higher level thinking.

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Thanks so much for the feedback everyone. After your responses I'm considering studying earlier. Thanks for recommending another source to study from Noctor Durse. I will definitely check Dr. Fink's playlist on YouTube.

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Thanks so much for the feedback everyone. After your responses I'm considering studying earlier. Thanks for recommending another source to study from Noctor Durse. I will definitely check Dr. Fink's playlist on YouTube.

Awesome! let me know what you think :)

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

I've always practiced and advocated pre-study prior to the beginning of a formal course. I've had much success this way.

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I think its a great idea to start studying beforehand. I don't start my pre reqs until January but I plan to go over math and a&p now so that I will at least have heard the material. I found a GREAT YouTube account for Mandi Parker. Shes got some wonderful A&P I and II videos up that are very easy to understand and very well organized. (Ive found that some kinda ramble and are all over the place). What I did was keep Googling to find a syllabus for the classes and when I couldn't, I emailed the teachers and just explained what I was doing and they each gave me a copy of an older syllabus. I've even gone so far as to connect with a bunch of ppl on YouTube and Instagram that didn't mind sharing info with me. While familiarizing yourself with the material now is a great idea, just make sure youre going over the right material. Good luck hun.

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I think its a great idea to start studying beforehand. I don't start my pre reqs until January but I plan to go over math and a&p now so that I will at least have heard the material. I found a GREAT YouTube account for Mandi Parker. Shes got some wonderful A&P I and II videos up that are very easy to understand and very well organized. (Ive found that some kinda ramble and are all over the place). What I did was keep Googling to find a syllabus for the classes and when I couldn't, I emailed the teachers and just explained what I was doing and they each gave me a copy of an older syllabus. I've even gone so far as to connect with a bunch of ppl on YouTube and Instagram that didn't mind sharing info with me. While familiarizing yourself with the material now is a great idea, just make sure youre going over the right material. Good luck hun.

I love Parker! I've listened to ask if her lectures as well!

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Reviewing A&P may be very beneficial for you! Everything you'll learn will be related to the body in some way, it's good to know the HOW and WHY behind the processes, it'll help tie and connect all the dots together, and actually understand, instead of attempting to memorize everything. Even knowing the basics is helpful.

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