Is anatomy one of the toughest courses for nursing?

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Hi - I'm currently in the course and can't believe how much time I'm committing to studying. Is this course the one that requires the most study time are are all nursing courses this way? thanks in advance for your posts...

Specializes in School Nursing.
How about this, with all that was said it only means that we need each other. That's what makes and compliment a TEAM. :nurse:

My encouragement to you is that you continue to being who you are. Push your way through to succeed in what ever good you set out to do. You've already proven that nothing fails but a try. So, now that you have graduated, I hope your nursing experience is/has become rewarding. Keep your head up, because if you can make it through this then you can make it through anything!;)

Sounds awesome!!! I must admit though.. I'm not in nursing school yet.. still trucking away at those prerequisites. :)

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A&P is a monster, but you need it for EVERYTHING in nursing school. I found Pharmacology and Pathophysiology to be the most time-consuming, not including clinical courses (they're a whole different animal). However, pay attention in A&P and do as much as you can - it's the base for everything else. If I hadn't put so much work into Anatomy, I don't think I would have done very well in Patho. Good luck!

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:icon_roll Oh I forgot about them. Yes, you are right, but it does get easier further along you go. That's why I tell everyone I meet who wants to pursue nursing as a career, and all those I hear negatively speaking "they can't do it", I tell them, "Oh yes you can. The academics for nursing are tough, but you can do it and it does get easier."

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Specializes in ortho, urology, neurosurgery, plastics.

It has been interesting reading the various submissions, coming as they are from the broad spectrum of nursing. If I may suggest one exercise, if you will, that is very apropos to the learning of A & P, is to attend a post-mortem. I am not familiar with the various rules and regulations of all the areas represented by the posts, but here in Canada, if you are a student (or an active nurse for that matter) generally there is some latitude for attending an autopsy.

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I forgot about that also. I am from Savannah, Georgia originally and I know you can do that there. Here in Ohio I'm not sure; like you, I'm also not sure in regards to other states, but that is a wonderful suggestion. Thank you!:idea: When I did go it was really interesting. Different, but interesting. That was over 20 years ago. Oops, telling too much. :)

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I don't know if it's the toughest but it's definitely one of the courses you will use for the rest of your nursing career. I got an A in both of my A&Ps but I have to admit - I didn't really study for them. That is, I did study, but only to do well on the test. I did not retain any information and didn't understand physiological processes - it's something I deeply regret. I am now in Nursing School and my life would be so much easier if I didn't have to "relearn" A&P as we hit different topics and body parts/functions. Do yourself a favor and keep doing what you are doing - really learning and understanding the material - so what if it takes up one semester of your life - you'll use that information for a lifetime.

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Ooo! Oooo! Oh...my...god...did you just say a mouth full! Ah! Take a bow! Take a bow!:bow:

I don't know if it's the toughest but it's definitely one of the courses you will use for the rest of your nursing career. I got an A in both of my A&Ps but I have to admit - I didn't really study for them. That is, I did study, but only to do well on the test. I did not retain any information and didn't understand physiological processes - it's something I deeply regret. I am now in Nursing School and my life would be so much easier if I didn't have to "relearn" A&P as we hit different topics and body parts/functions. Do yourself a favor and keep doing what you are doing - really learning and understanding the material - so what if it takes up one semester of your life - you'll use that information for a lifetime.
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Specializes in Private Practice- wellness center.
Ooo! Oooo! Oh...my...god...did you just say a mouth full! Ah! Take a bow! Take a bow!:bow:

ITA 1000%!!!!!!! I did the same thing and it is biting me back HARD now. Hindsight being 20/20, I would have settled for the B and taken more time to really learn the info. in order to RETAIN it.

That being said, what is harder for one person may be easier for another. Pre-reqs suck, nothing more to be said about that. What I find harder about nursing classes is that they are so time consuming. Not necessarily HARD, but they're hard for me because of the amount of work that has to be put in to actually learn the material and why behind everything you do as a nurse. Luckily, one class I did take was "College Success." I finally learned how to study and learn material so that I could recall it in the future. It sounds lame- but it was a really smart decision on my part. :D (Now if only I had taken it BEFORE A&P....)

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Wow! Everyone is saying some really important STUFF! We nurses are truly smart! :D

First, let me say that when I have a really good and informative book I keep it!

College Preparatory courses are great! "According to surveys done by the American College Testing and the Policy Center, educators identified a lack of motivation as the number one barrier to student success. Symptoms of motivation varies: arriving late, or being absent, assignments being late or not turned in at all, assignments done superficially or sloppily, appointment missed, offers of support ignored, and students not participating in class discussions or activities" (On Course; Strategies For Creating Success In College And In Life; Skip Downing).

My reason for pointing this out, is that, many students fail, especially when it comes to the higher sciences because of lack of motivation. A lot of times we, as humans don't know why we fail, but we keep trying (Nothing fails but a try). Yes, it get easier, but a lot of time we could have been saved, if we knew before hand how to resolve, or push through the demands and issues of life so that we can ultimately reach our goals.

Here again, according to the "On Course" manual, within the first year an "enormous amount of students vanishes. According to the ACT, public 4 year colleges, in the USA, about 1/3 fail to return for the second year; and two year colleges about 1/2 don't even make it through the first year." Unfortunately, I don't have the statistics for those who graduated after taking the "college and life courses."

Lack of motivation breeds poor study habits! Howbeit, there are some students who has had it great all their lives and the demands and issues of life don't affect them; so, these preparatory courses can be a breeze for and they don't need them. And, sometimes we can be motivated, we just don't know where we keep missing the mark! This is why the college success courses have been created, so that we can identify before hand, and identify with issues we currently have with becoming successful.

I can't say that I enjoyed the class, because it was annoying! However, it paid off! I adopted a strategy that helped me to become an active learner, motivate myself, and others along the way.victory dance

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A+P is important and will help you in your nursing courses. The nursing courses I took expected us to know how the body functioned. They never retested us on that content. If you didn't know something it was expected that you review the A+P content for a foundation.

That said Microbiology was the hardest class in my opinion. It took up so much time and was brutal.

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Only a few who responded to the question has stated otherwise. However, I'm glad to see any one get through it, because it is tough. Although, if you review earlier statements one nurse said how she did just enough to pass, she didn't really study, got an "A", but later found out how important it is to really know this stuff. So, she had to go back to relearn A&P.

I think this happens all too often; but she was wise in saying, "You know what? Instead of me going on with this, pretending along the way, and eventually being discovered, because I fold under pressure, and that's because I really don't know what the heck I'm doing. I think I better tighten my belt and get real about this thing" and she did.

She said that she didn't really "learn anything", because she was focusing on getting that "A". So, I'm quit sure she said to herself the further along she was got (still making those "As"), wait a minute, what am I doing?

This takes me back further to previous statements that I'd made in regards to "some nurses folding under pressure". Why? Because they focus on the prestige of nursing and not learning anything. A&P, micro, path, etc..they are hard courses. No doubt! Here again, these courses are not hard for some and they make excellent nurses. Here again, these course are hard for some and they make excellent nurses too. To those of us who made it and to those who are on their way we are a team of survivors!:dncgbby:

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Specializes in General Nursing..

for us..yes it was one hell of a subject in school. we found it hard to remember all the parts of the different system in our body. sometimes we would be blank wen our tutors ask us the function of an organ...:confused::confused: but we managed to get through with alll the readings we did and most imortantly the studies we had helped us pass our exam in A&P.:yeah::yeah:i would grade it as the toughest subject in nursing school!!!:lol2::lol2:

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