I just got a 60 on my first AP! lab practical, which was bones.... How do you study?

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I am really nervours that all my test will be the same and I wont pass this class, because even if I get an A in my lecture class, if I dont pass the lab portion, I fail the whole course... How do you study for your anatomy labs....I really need help! The next practical will be Muscles...How did you study?

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

Get forms with blank pictures of the skull and skeleton and start labeling until you can do it without referring back to anything.

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Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Vascular Access.

I agree with the above poster...that was the majority of my studying for bones, muscles, anything very "model-intensive". If you don't have blank diagrams, there are some on this website: http://web.uaccb.edu/AcademicDivisions/MathScience/Science/VHoffman/APILab/Diagrams.htm You'll have to skim through them to find which ones you need, but print off about 3 copies of each and go at 'em. AFTER you've become well acquainted with the pictures in your book/diagrams/etc., and I cannot stress the AFTER enough, spend some time with the models that you're actually going to be tested on (assuming your instructors use models). It does you little good to study the models and not have any idea where this bone or that muscle is supposed to be. You should have a general idea of that BEFORE you start really looking at the models. This is why you need to really study the material covered in lab BEFORE lab, not after. Also, see if you can get some extra lab time in a few days before the test to review...I've only done that once, but I made a 108 when I did :)

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Take pictures of the actual model they will be using to test you on muscles. That's what I did for the bone/muscle test.

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Specializes in N/A.

WRITE WRITE and WRITE IT AGAIN!

writing is PROVEN to help with memorization. This way of studying I'm about to teach you will MAKE you memorize it FAST (Im talking, within an hour maybe), good, and thorough! You will not be disappointed! This method works for anything you are trying to study, be it the muscular system, cytology, histology, whatever!

Let's say you're studying bones for example:

Okay step one, cheat sheet! Go to google images and google whatever system you need, make sure it's from a reputable source such as a college or legit medical site, and print off a copy. (or just use your text book of you want to be earth friendly)

Next, google image "blank skeletal system" and see what comes up. Use google to find a printable blank skeletal chart and print off about 20 copies. (Earth friendly version, print off ONE blank copy and use a use a separate sheet of notebook paper to fill in the answers (folded so you cant see what you wrote before).

Now start filling them in, just look over your cheat sheets a few times and DIVE RIGHT IN! Start filling them out, only looking at the cheat sheet when absolutely necessary. Try to rely only on your memory AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Dont worry about getting one wrong, this isnt the test yet! The first time you may have to look at it 30 times, the next time, maybe 20, next time, maybe 10, and before you know it, you can fill out the entire sheet ON YOUR OWN!!!

This is a proven method, and make sure you keep going back to it every 4 or 5 of hours throughout your days and make sure your remember it. Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Maternity.

rednights had a great idea, take pics! that's exactly what i did. just remember that the more you expose yourself to the material, the better your chance is to retain it. don't get frustrated, keep at it!

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My lab prof gave us our bones list on the first day of class. She told us to get a jump start learning them on our own even though we would not get to the skeletal system for a few weeks. So glad she did. We only have 2 practicals. Midterm and Final. This week is midterm. We only got to the skeletal system less than 2 weeks ago so I'm glad she told us to get a jump start. I'm going to get a jump start on muscles as well during my Spring break so no fun in the sun for me. I'll be spending that time off studying.

As far as studying for lab, as suggested, I label things. Watch videos, look at pics over and over and over and over. There are some great videos on youtube.

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This web site was a great help to me...

http://www.getbodysmart.com/

quizes and tutorials. It still is for A & P II. Good luck!

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I take pictures through the microscope on a digital camera or high megapixel cell phone and label them that way. As for actual muscles on diagrams, I agree with what was said above. Get blank diagrams and make a bunch of copies of them. Label, label, label! In addition to all of that and just being ridiculously repetetive, I also tried to relate the parts to myself. Such as, when I was reading the different parts like olecranon fossa, I would point to the back of my elbow to make that physical connection. It seems to be working because I got a 92 on my first practical!

Just keep reading things over and over and repeat them outloud in addition to writing them down. That way, you will cover all learning styles.

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Thank you so much murseinthemaking for the link, your and other's idea about the "blank diagrams" is super helpful...I hope I find out about this idea when I took my Anatomy course so that I can passed the class. I'm heartbroken and depressed when I got the "D" on my record.

When I took the lab I did came up with the idea about taken piz of the plastic models so I asked my lab instructor if I can take the piz of it but she said that the school don't allowed us to do this at all. And I was so disappointing when I heard that because I know that by taken those plastic models so I can study it at home then it would help me do great on the practical exam. Our school have the lab room opened for extra hours for those that need to do more study w/ the models but somehow it's hard for me to concentrate because ppl are talking and so I can't get that studying going on. I think it's nothing wrong about taking piz of those plastic models, it's not like we taking something inappropriate at all. I don't get why my school don't let us do that, I think if it can help the students do well on their test, ect. then they should allowed them to do so. And I'm glad to hear that many of you are allowed to do that at your school:)

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I am assuming your school has a nursing lab with bones, muscles, etc. I video taped my partner and I we would hold up a bone, muscle, etc wait a min or so then say the name. Then we were able to study the anatomy at home. It helped alot.

Oh we also turned it item in various ways so we would learn it.

Good luck! Remember studying over and over helps. Labeling is a good idea too.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
I am assuming your school has a nursing lab with bones, muscles, etc. I video taped my partner and I we would hold up a bone, muscle, etc wait a min or so then say the name. Then we were able to study the anatomy at home. It helped alot.

Oh we also turned it item in various ways so we would learn it.

Good luck! Remember studying over and over helps. Labeling is a good idea too.

If it's a cadaver lab, check the lab policy first before you go taking pictures or video. There may be specific rules about what you can and cannot do.

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