A little background about me: I'm a 22 year old student attending a local CC to get my prerequisites done to apply for a 2 year nursing program that I can do to transfer to a RN to BSN program easily when I am finished.
I'm pretty much almost done with my prerequisites. My plan originally was to take A&P I and II over the summer and microbiology this fall. Well, I started with A&P I and I was stressed. Keep it mind it's a four week course compared to 16 weeks. I dropped the class. I feel like a failure in a way. Someone told me that summer A&P course was something like nursing school and it'll determine how well you do in nursing school. People I've read on allnurses make it seem so easy that they completed this 4 week course that I decided to try it. I really feel like I would do better on a traditional 16 week course and not something so condensed like this. I felt like I wasn't enjoying anything I was learning and it was not sticking. I also didn't like the professor and how she did things. Overall, it wasn't what I expected and I feel like a failure.
It's gonna put me behind a bit and I may not have enough points to meet the cut off for acceptance this semester. I'm pretty close but the reason for taking A&P over the summer and Micro in the fall would get me all the points for the classes needed before the deadline to apply for fall 2016. I mean, I could apply but it wouldn't be as great of points. I could try other nursing schools since this one only accepts every fall semester. But I just really like the way this one operates.
So I'm thinking about just spanning out my sciences because I feel like I would do a lot better. So A&P I In fall, A&P II in Spring and microbiology in fall. Because micro and A&P at the same time sounds terrifying. I guess what I am asking for is if someone else has had this problem and I guess some encouragement. I keep thinking to myself that everyone has their own pace but I know nursing school won't be easy. And the comment that said that if you take summer A&P would determine how well you'll do in nursing school scares me.
Just like you I am 22 and I just needed A&P 1&2 and Micro to apply to nursing programs. I tried to take A&P 1 and 2 in this summer, and I had to Drop it. Mines was a 5 week courses and it was too much to handle. There was going to be a test each week. My class started on Monday and the 1st test was that upcoming Monday on the first 5 chapters, and the lab test was on that same day. the last day to withdraw without getting a W was that Friday. I knew I couldn't do it so I drop the class.
I cried at first because it set me back as well but then I knew that those classes are very important to nursing schools. I'd rather take the long route and get a A than take the shorter route and get a W or failing grade. What you did was good. Even though it might take longer , it will be worth it in the end
Don't feel bad. Everyone learns differently and at different paces. The only science class I took during the summer was chemistry, and that's because I grasped the material quickly. The other science classes...NO! I didn't grasp A&P as quickly, so I took it during the regular semester. It's good that you realized this. Now you know how to better prepare.
I found the prereqs more challenging intellectually than nursing school. It is fine for you to have dropped the class and to take your time. Nursing school for me was busy, but usually not difficult.
I took Microbiology and Chem in summer and they were fine. A&P, heck no! The physiological concepts require more time to digest and it'll be better to spread it out over time. Don't worry, time will pass more quickly than you think.
I had my first nursing class (pathophysiology) under a little less than four weeks, and it was definitely intense. I cried and pulled my hair out, sometimes cry in my prof's arm. A great professor so far, that will encourage us all the time. Make sure you watch YouTube videos on the topics(it helped a lot), if your school have a tutoring section, use it, it helped me a lot! Also there is power in prayers trust me.....pray. YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!
4 weeks to complete a A&P class is insane unless your almost a genius !!! Just like one of the other posts said know your biology well it will make you a better nurse. Its not unheard of to take a 15 week semester A&P course and then drop right at the withdraw deadline because you feel you could have done better. Go at your pace in your pre reqs. because you wont be able to when you start your nursing classes. Your doing great forge forward don't look back or you will miss the future !!!
Ayanna93, BSN
39 Posts
Just like you I am 22 and I just needed A&P 1&2 and Micro to apply to nursing programs. I tried to take A&P 1 and 2 in this summer, and I had to Drop it. Mines was a 5 week courses and it was too much to handle. There was going to be a test each week. My class started on Monday and the 1st test was that upcoming Monday on the first 5 chapters, and the lab test was on that same day. the last day to withdraw without getting a W was that Friday. I knew I couldn't do it so I drop the class.
I cried at first because it set me back as well but then I knew that those classes are very important to nursing schools. I'd rather take the long route and get a A than take the shorter route and get a W or failing grade. What you did was good. Even though it might take longer , it will be worth it in the end
Best of Luck