Is Anatomy and Physiology 2 harder or easier than A&P 1?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing Nursing Q/A

I would love your opinions.

I'm having one of my rare nervous thoughts about classes. I took A&P 1 in the Summer with 2 other classes. I got a B in A&P 1 and an A in the other 2 classes. I will be taking A&P 2 in a 16 week setting (thank god), but I'm worried that this one may still be harder. I don' want an overload that I can't handle.

I will be taking Nutrition online, dosage and calculations online with A&P 2. I will also be taking the Nursing entrance exam in April. I have to study for that...I was good at the lecture way more than the labs (hands down).

Any tips or advice?

14 Answers

Specializes in teaching, research, and evidence-based practice.

I took AP I and II in two consecutive semesters and found II to be more difficult because of the endocrine system. I also had a heavier load the semester I took AP II along with other challenging courses (like Microbiology) and a clinical rotation.

Having lectures in person as opposed to online helped, but that's my own personal preference. I also did not work full-time, which is another factor to consider.

You did well with AP I and the two other classes, so I would recommend sticking to that for AP II! Especially since you also have the nursing entrance exam to consider.  

Specializes in ICU.

I thought they were about the same. You will enjoy it in a 16 week session over an 8 week session. We did mostly memorizing the bones and muscles in I as well as learning about cells. In II we did all of the systems. I liked II a lot more than I.

Specializes in Emergency.

A&P I is all about memorization while A&P II is all about understanding how what you memorized function. Work hard in II, it will serve you well in nursing classes as the knowledge will help you understand what you're being taught.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I did horrible in A&P 1, I think I got like a B+. However, I found A&P 2 to be much less challenging. Bottom line: if you ask 100 different people, you'll get 100 different answers. You won't know which is the easier of the two courses until YOU take them both.

I think it's easier in the fact that it's so much more interesting, so it captures your attention and makes you want​ to learn more. That was my experience.

I found A&P II to be easier and more interesting because it focused more on the functions of the body systems. If you were able to get a B in a Summer session, you should be okay for a 16 week class. Good Luck!!!

I got a C in part 1 of anatomy n physiology, god it was hard. I've heard from my peers that part 2 is a little easier than part 1. Whether It's true, i don't know. I'll find out when spring semester starts in 3 wks

Specializes in Operating Room.
emtb2rn said:
A&P I is all about memorization while A&P II is all about understanding how what you memorized function. Work hard in II, it will serve you well in nursing classes as the knowledge will help you understand what you're being taught.

I was going to reply with something very similar. ? I'm heading into my second semester of nursing school and a lot of what was covered in A&P II is being told to be reviewed before we take Med-Surg and Pathopharmacology this coming semester. Like the above says, it's more physiology based than anything.

I found A&P 2 to be both easier and more interesting than A&P 1, hands down.

I personally liked A&P II better. It was still a bunch of memorization, but not as much as in A&P I. My instructor actually wrote on the board and he could only write as fast as the rest of us which was a huge improvement over the powerpoints. Overall it was more interactive and fun. I didn't really like the cat or the "stick your hand into the bag of slimey goodness to grab your kidney" kind of stuff, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

For me A & P 2 was easier and more interesting than A & P 1.

AP1 at first was a struggle but AP2 wasn't really so difficult, the only trouble I had was with the cardiovascular system but it was far more interesting than AP1 to me.

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