Is A&P really the hardest of them all?

K nurse-one-day · Dec 7, 2009

I just finished AP1 and I'm doing AP2 next semester. i honestly didn't think it was all that hard. It was just a lot of info to learn and a lot of study time.AP2 is just a continuation of AP1 so I'm not expecting it to be anymore difficult. I did hear that micro was the hardest. I'm taking it in the summer along with college Algebra, so that should be interesting. Anyone on this sight will tell you that nursing school is extremely difficult, some say its the hardest thing they have ever done. It definetly only gets harder from here

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2009

I thought A&P one was challenging, but not exactly hard. A&P II was harder for me, but I seem to hear more people saying the opposite. I highly recommend those A&P coloring books to help memorize anatomy. I think they have physiology ones too.

My hardest class by far was Statistics, but that's because the teacher was nuts and expected us to have advanced algebra skills and said that calculus skills would make things easier too. The class was a 100 level class that had intermediate algebra as a prereq. Like FOIL and stuff.

Anyway, it varies a lot based on your learning style, your teacher, what else is happening in your life at that point and study skills. Are you confident with your study skills or do you think there are ways you could study better? Most schools offer workshops on study skills and even though a lot of it might be "well, duh" there's always been at least a few new things I've learned.

EDchickadee · Dec 7, 2009

It varies a LOT based on what institution you're in, professor's teaching style, etc. For instance, I lucked out and got the most laid-back, helpful A&P professor you could ever ask for, and I aced A&P. Micro was the same way.. I learned SO much, but I never struggled. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, however, was hell. But then once I started Med-Surg, I realized that patho had been a cake walk in comparison. And then after I started critical care, I realized that Med-Surg had been a cake walk in comparison.

So the answer is - the classes keep getting harder. But all the classes build on each other, and when you get to them, I promise you you will be ready for them if you have survived the prerequisites. Don't get discouraged. You will survive. We have several students in their 30's and 40's in my class, and they are making it just fine. And senior year is usually a light at the end of the tunnel for most programs. I'm a senior now, finishing up my first semester (one to go!), and I'm loving every minute of it.

Good luck!

itsmejuli · Dec 7, 2009

We have several students in their 30's and 40's in my class, and they are making it just fine.

LOL, please, I hope this isn't ageism :coollook: . We don't get dumber as we get older nor do we have difficulty learning new material.

Generally, the people who have the most difficulty in school are those who have commitments such as family and work that take away time from studying.

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2009

No, nursing is the hardest of them all! LOL

Just kidding! What I have seen is that if you do not learn the foundational stuff well (A&P I), then you may have difficulty with A&P II or III because they continue to build on those foundational concepts. And it will become even more muddled when you start nursing and try to grasp the pathophysiology stuff.

That said, make sure you understand everything as you go along - don't just "skim over" something because it seems difficult. Ask lots of questions, and if you don't understand something, ask the prof, "Is there a different way you could explain this to me?"

It's worth your while to really learn it, because you WILL see it again! Best wishes! :specs:

Nepenthe Sea · Dec 7, 2009

I didn't think micro was really that hard, and I took it with A&P I. With both of those there is alot of new info to memorize and some of the stuff in each class was kind of challenging. Some things I would have to read over and over again to wrap my head around the concept (sliding filament theory, anyone?). In my opinion, though, A&P II was harder. I studied more for that class than I did for my Intro to Nursing class. I also had a challenging instructor who is also the chair of the biology department. I am really glad I had his class because, like he said, the nursing classes are not any easier than what he taught! Try to learn as much as you can in A&P II and micro, because the nursing classes all build upon what you learn in the sciences.

I don't know for sure, but just looking ahead in my text book, I would be willing to bet that the hardest of them all may be the Critical Care class I will take my last semester: having to be able to read EKGs and stuff like that!

P.S.: when you take A&P II, pay special attention to the renin-angiotensin system and the electrical conduction of the heart (two challenging concepts for me)...it will help you alot in pharmacology and med-surg if you really understand it.

K nurse-one-day · Dec 7, 2009

LOL, please, I hope this isn't ageism . We don't get dumber as we get older nor do we have difficulty learning new material.
Generally, the people who have the most difficulty in school are those who have commitments such as family and work that take away time from studying.

Its funny that you said that, because in my class, it's the students in their 30's and 40's that make the best grades and work the hardest. It seems like a lot of them want it more and are willing to work harder. There are many (not all but many) 18-20 year olds in my classes that just want to play and goof off

Peige · Dec 7, 2009

I will finish my final for A&P II this week and must say that it is quite different from A&P I. While A&P I is mainly memorization of the body's anatomy, A&P II requires that you understand the body's phisiology which the technique of memorization is not as reliable.

It really does depend at lot on the professor too. Ask around for who a good professor is at your school because it really does matter! My class was the "guinea pig" of a first time professor this year and let me tell you, we certainly paid the price! I will have to go back through the book to really learn all that he never taught!. Also, you may hear of a professor who is deemed to be "hard" and they usually are the best.

I am not much of a visual learner, but I found that I needed more visual aids during this class than before. It really does help to see the heart pumping blood to understand it's mechanism. Our prof never used visual aids and so I found youtube to help with animations. If you are having a hard time visualizing a system of the body, go to google for help. You could search terms such as: Digestive System, animation, or interactive video.

Also, it may help to remember that the phisiology of the body is a whole system of smaller systems working together. That means that one system effects another and so on. You cannot understand how one works with out understanding the other. I explained it to my husband as when you have car trouble, to understand whats wrong, you pretty much have to understand how the whole thing works. You can't replace your muffler without knowing what the muffler does and what other part of the car depends on the muffer or helps it to work. (btw, I have no idea of how a muffler works) My husband helped me a little too. He has a water purification company and works with reverse osmosis systems and when he explained how they work, I had a better understanding of osmotic pressures in the body. He also explained to me how an engine works in a car with pistons and gasoline which helped me to understand the action potentials of the heart.

When you are learnig, there has to be a degree of organizing the information in your mind. The process of the body is not linear but rather branch out. I would imagine this like the mechanics of a clock. Or thoses baby toys where when you turn one wheel that is connected to 10 more all 10 move because you turned the one. I was always trying to understand how one was relative to the other and a knowlegable professor should help you do such.

And finally, whatever you do.... please do not take A&P II with Pharmacology!!!!! I think I have developed an arhythmia, stomach ulcer, insomnia and hair loss and not to mention permanant PMS in the process of managing a B in both. My poor children! Instead of bedtime stories its, "Let Mommy read to you about the endocrine system and how it keeps the bugs away." Most importantly, you will understand Pharm a lot easier once you have completed A&P II.

Good Luck to you! Enjoy your Christmas holiday and try not to worry! You will make it through!

paacollins · Dec 7, 2009

I really didn't find A and P all that difficult but I loved the content so that helped. There was a lot to learn but it was enjoyable. Microbiology wasn't difficult either but it was my favorite of all the classes I have taken and I've taken many. If you enjoy what you are taking then the classes usually seem easier than if you don't like the content.

Carrie_MTC · Dec 7, 2009

I thought A&P was more difficult than Micro by a long shot.

Sgrimes1216 · Dec 7, 2009

A&P II was harder for me than any of them.