Having hard time with Pre-Reqs

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Ok a little about me. I am 32 and yes a male, married with two lovely girls. Anyway I went to nursing school back in 97 and dropped out (was 23 and didnt know better) well retaking my pre reqs now and find it impossible to memorize the stuff for A&P 1 have lab tests and the lecture teacher says read Chpt. 8-10 well **** that is like 75 pages or more, I can read three and cant remember or understand what I have read. Anyone have this prob.?

good luck guys on those pre reqs. Im to register for A&P soon.

BUT I have a problem, I will be out of town for either 1 or 2 days of class.

Do you think I should not just take this class?

This is my first science pre req

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

I feel your pain, bro!

I took A&P.....the first time.....at age 40. This helped me get through.

1. Go to the end of the chapter and read the chapter summary to get an overview of what information is most critical.

2. Glance through the chapter and read the highlighted portions. This introduces you to the major information that will be covered. Later when you get more in depth you'll put the information into those "compartments" of information. It helps. Trust me.

3. After you have done the above, read the chapter....or try to. I usually fell asleep every couple of pages so I wish you luck.

4. When you have to start memorizing bones, muscles, cranial nerves, etc. visit this site http://www.medicalmnemonics.com/cgi-bin/search.cfm for some really fun ways of remembering stuff.

5. Find some really smart people in your class and start a study group. Pick their brains.

Good luck.

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Specializes in CWOCN.

I'm finishing A&P II now and I can't wait until it's finished.

Use EVERY resource that comes with your textbook. We used Martini's Anatomy & Physiology for A&P I, which came with two CDs and website access. The websites offer test taking options. For A&P II, we're using Tortora and their website is helpful. Our community college has a Biology Lab and they have all the models available for practice.

I make flashcards from the notes, take notes in class, spend almost every free minute I have reading and re-reading (in between life and job). It helps if you can connect diseases to the body parts.

When studying for lab practicals (we have to identify 50 items out of a list of 150 each test), use your own body to connect the names.

There is no way to get around the enormous amount of time it takes to digest about 100 new pieces of information each week. It is a lot of work. I still can't believe how information much I have shoved in my brain in the last year.

Never let yourself fall behind on the reading schedule. These courses are continuously moving forward and self-discipline is essential.

Good luck in your studies!

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I can relate to the A&P problems my friend. I took A&P 1 and Micro together with two other classes at the age of 45. A couple of words of advise: Be selective of your teachers, ask upper classmen for advise and visit and consider joining these web sites. http://ratemyprofessor.com and http://flashcardexchange.com . The first one will give you the ability to see what other students have said about their experience with the teachers at your school and the second is a great resource for flashcards that all already made for any subject that you can think of and you can make your own as well. Hope this helps, don't give up, just getrrrdone !:pumpiron:

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Keep hammering. If you want to do critical thinking, you have to understand how the body works. Don't be satisfied with merely passing A&P but not "getting" it. The difference between nurses and unlicensed personnel isn't in any task, including passing meds. A trained monkey can do that (yes, monkeys have been trained to give disabled pts their meds). Keep on!

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Well, I ended up with a B in A&P1 much better than I expected. Taking Micro now. After that have A&P 2 then chemistry then I am done with pre-reqs.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.

I honestly can not stress enough websites like ratemyprofessor.com. I made the mistake of taking a microbiology class without checking out this website. I got into the class and quickly realized it was a nightmare. The average scores on tests were in the low 60s and the professor did not curve. I then went to the website and found a micro professor with a great recommedation. I earned an A in that class. Your professor really can make or break you. Of course you have to study hard but if the professor has a long reputation of people leaving their class with a low letter grade you can pretty much assume you will receive the same grade. I'm finished with prereqs and am now waiting on the acceptance letter.

Good luck and hang in there. With some persistance and drive you will get through the prereqs.

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I feel ya man, I'm a 40 yr old male w/ a 13 & 7 yr old girls. I just finished my last semester of prereqs this past summer, with Micro, A&P II, and Chems. Ended up with C's in A&P/Chems. and a B+ in Micro. The great news is that I got my acceptance letter for the RN program for Fall 06! You can do, read, highlight/red pen notes/flashcards...Good luck and God help us all...Rob

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HI I am currently a 23 old UIC (university of Illinois at Chicago-top 3 nursing school in the nation) nursing student. I AM A SENIOR AND I HAVE 2 MORE SEMESTERS TO GO. SO WRITE THIS DOWN OR BOOK MARK IT.

http://rmoskowitz.tripod.com/ap1_lecture_notes.htm

THIS WEBSITE OUTLINES EVERY CHAPTER OF YOUR A&P BOOK.

REMEMBER A&P IS VERY IMPORTANT! ESPECIALLY THE HEART STUFF.

IN NURSING SCHOOL, I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT OF THE WORK LOAD COMPARED TO THE PRE-REQS, IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS BABY STEPS. AT LEAST THE BSN LEVEL.

DON'T LET THIS SCARE YOU, BECAUSE THE HARDEST PART OF NURSING SCHOOL WAS THE ADMISSION PROCESS. ONCE YOU'RE IN, MAKE FRIENDS AND YOU'LL GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER. DEDICATE SOMETIME.

Maxs

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I'm not sure if this is useful to anyone, I know alot of people said make outlines of the chapter and I've found this helps me when doing it:

Under each section I break out the summary (in my own words), terms (defs in my own words) and sections questions or prediction questions. That way I don't allow myself to move on to the next section of the chapter until I can answer those questions and have a mild comfort level with the terms. Once ready I outline the next section and terms and do those questions.

At least for me, this works well so I don't spend the time going over the chapter a couple of times, I'm forced to read it once but don't have to go more than a page or three before applying what I just learned which helps to keep me focused (and awake :zzzzz).

Anyway, best luck to everyone!

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I find it useful to make outlines and notes...now I know why teachers forced us to do it in highschool. It does help sometimes. If notes can be used on tests, or I need to write a paper, I will make an outline. Even if they can't be used on tests, I often find myself doing them anyway.

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Specializes in SRNA.

I can read an entire book (novel or school textbook) and probably not be able to tell you what I just read, unless I find it extraordinarily interesting. I, instead, don't read them, but study them. For schoolwork, I typically start reading the assigned chapter(s) and take notes on topics I think are important. It helps me so much to recall the information later if I've written it down. It's certainly more helpful than reading 50 pages and committing very little of it to memory. Also, any CD-ROM or supplement that may come with your text that has sample questions/quizzes was extremely helpful for me.

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