Has anyone here taken AP1 & 2 together...

crossfitandnursing · May 25, 2017

I'm going to be honest and a bit blunt here but I think it needs to said. You are WAYYYYY overthinking this whole process. The constant going back and forth between schools, pathways, decisions, classes and making these kinds of posts asking questions and for advice... just breathe. There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking for advice and help. But it's gotten to the point where I think you're causing yourself even more stress and anxiety than the process of applying for nursing school normally does. You know yourself better than anybody and tbh you really just need to pick a path, make a decision, and stick with it. And remember, there is no set time limit on applying for nursing school, nor is there a single pathway that fits all. Don't put so much pressure on yourself! Everyone's journey to nursing is different. And while everyone on here can offer you support and help there does come a time when you just need to do what's best for you and not rely on what others think.

Again, I'm sorry if this is too blunt but just relax, breathe, and remember to have faith in yourself! Go with your gut instinct, move forward, and see what happens. No matter what decision you make or pathway you take, you will be ok. I promise.

WCSU1987 · May 26, 2017

I'm going to be honest and a bit blunt here but I think it needs to said. You are WAYYYYY overthinking this whole process. The constant going back and forth between schools, pathways, decisions, classes and making these kinds of posts asking questions and for advice... just breathe. There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking for advice and help. But it's gotten to the point where I think you're causing yourself even more stress and anxiety than the process of applying for nursing school normally does. You know yourself better than anybody and tbh you really just need to pick a path, make a decision, and stick with it. And remember, there is no set time limit on applying for nursing school, nor is there a single pathway that fits all. Don't put so much pressure on yourself! Everyone's journey to nursing is different. And while everyone on here can offer you support and help there does come a time when you just need to do what's best for you and not rely on what others think.
Again, I'm sorry if this is too blunt but just relax, breathe, and remember to have faith in yourself! Go with your gut instinct, move forward, and see what happens. No matter what decision you make or pathway you take, you will be ok. I promise.

There is no way to pick a path. Program's are shutting down, programs are competitive have to apply to several in hopes of getting in, debating cost more money (private schools better chance getting in), back to closed programs possibly a Community College may shut down, and State budget cuts shrinking nursing classes. Add in work requirements to have a BSN or be in a BSN or higher program by 2020. Add in the wife pushing for children and needing to be a nurse to be less financially strapped. If not a nurse figure my career out and have little time to wait. It's hair pulling anxiety to the max!!

Cherokeegirl08 · May 27, 2017

There is no way to pick a path. Program's are shutting down, programs are competitive have to apply to several in hopes of getting in, debating cost more money (private schools better chance getting in), back to closed programs possibly a Community College may shut down, and State budget cuts shrinking nursing classes. Add in work requirements to have a BSN or be in a BSN or higher program by 2020. Add in the wife pushing for children and needing to be a nurse to be less financially strapped. If not a nurse figure my career out and have little time to wait. It's hair pulling anxiety to the max!!

Deciding on a path to a nursing career is not "hair pulling anxiety." What state here in the United States is so hard up and dire that universities and community colleges are shutting down? If you can't handle the task of picking a path and sticking with something, how will you fare as a nurse in stressful situations?

It sounds like you have more issues than picking a program. Maybe you would benefit from talking to a therapist? It's just not as difficult and dramatic as you're making it out to be.

rleah, BSN, RN · May 27, 2017

I have known a few people who have taken two A&Ps at the same time. From what I gather it is not a fun experience. However, if you are only taking those two classes it is doable. Just be prepared to study your behind off.

WCSU1987 · May 27, 2017

I have known a few people who have taken two A&Ps at the same time. From what I gather it is not a fun experience. However, if you are only taking those two classes it is doable. Just be prepared to study your behind off.

True and I've done the classes once already. AP1 is Bones, Muscles, and Nerves. 2 is the Systems of the body. I would be taking AP2 with my wife.

aflahe00 · May 28, 2017

That's a lot to take on if you ask me lol. There's enough to study and memorize in one A&P class to keep you plenty busy.

WishfulThinkingRN · May 29, 2017

I've done it. Took both in a fast-tracked 15 week course. It was hell. Between the amount of time I spent in class and lab and studying for 12-16+ hours a week just for that one class, on top of working full-time, I almost died. Seriously, I lost 15 pounds, got a chronic eye twitch that's only just now starting to dissipate over a year later, and heart palpitations courtesy of my BFF caffeine. I got a 97 in the class, and learned a ton, but I worked my butt off for that grade. And I mean that literally, I lost a good chunk of that weight in my butt. A little more than 1/3 of the class failed, and several of them were taking A&P for the second time thinking it would be easier for them.

If you've already taken it, you may have an easier time or you may have a harder time. I'm assuming you're retaking it because you did not get the grade you wanted the first time. It all depends on why you didn't get the grade you wanted and whether or not you understand how to rectify that. If it's because you weren't studying the way you should, then you need to be sure that you have your study skills and time management down pat before you do this. If it's a matter of not being prepared for the difficulty level, I'm not sure that throwing yourself into a combined course is the best idea. If you have the fundamental physiology concepts down, and I mean from the organ level all the way down to the chemical and cellular levels, then it's worth a shot.

Just keep in mind that even though A&P is just a pre-req, it has a lot of difficult concepts that you will most definitely need to understand once you're in nursing school. So, this is not something you should just look at as an "I have to take this class just to get into nursing school" class like sociology and communications. The amount of time I spent getting my physiology concepts down made my pathophysiology and fundamentals classes that much easier. Most nursing instructors expect you to know these concepts when you walk into their classroom so they can build on them.

For instance, if your nursing instructor is lecturing on IV solutions and why/when we administer them to patients, they expect you to know the principles of diffusion and osmosis, and really understand how and why water and electrolytes move into and out of cells. If your instructor is lecturing on cardiac pathophysiology, they assume you already know how blood moves through the heart and understand how hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressure affect fluid movement. They don't have time to rehash the basics, they're too busy trying to teach you how to apply them.

Combined A&P courses are not for everyone, you have to be extremely dedicated and be OCD about managing your time. You also have to be okay with a fair amount of sleep deprivation. I'm not going to say you should or shouldn't do this, what I am saying is that you really need to understand your strengths and weaknesses and take those into account before deciding what you want to do. Otherwise, you're risking your time, money and sanity on the assumption that you'll do better the second time around in a higher-stress, faster-paced situation. That would be like me jumping into a racecar and gunning it to 180mph, thinking I can control it better than I could at 50mph, rather taking the time to do my research and figure out what I need to do differently to stay in control.

Ty96 · Jun 1, 2017

I would suggest taking them separately. There is a TON of information you have to learn for each class. I couldn't imagine taking them both together. I got really high As in both classes and they were easy to me. But it's so much information. Take them separately. ESPECIALLY if you plan on taking other classes with them. Spare yourself the stress and limit your chances of having to retake them.

darkandtwistyxoxo, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2017

My school offered it but I wouldn't recommend. AP2 is a continuation and goes hand in hand with AP1. I had someone at my college take both at the same time and she failed it for that reason. I took AP2 and micro at the same time and wanted to pull my hair out, I still don't know how I made an A in both all while having two toddlers at home.

Kotylynne · Jun 8, 2017

My school offered it but I wouldn't recommend. AP2 is a continuation and goes hand in hand with AP1. I had someone at my college take both at the same time and she failed it for that reason. I took AP2 and micro at the same time and wanted to pull my hair out, I still don't know how I made an A in both all while having two toddlers at home.

This gives me so much hope.

I am scared to death of doing well in AP1 with two toddlers myself

darkandtwistyxoxo, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2017

This gives me so much hope.
I am scared to death of doing well in AP1 with two toddlers myself

My daughter wasn't even a year old yet when I started AP1. If you want it bad enough, you'll do everything it takes, even if it means reading your AP1 book as a bedtime story at night. Good luck!