Lab Epectations for A&P1 & Chem?

msdeannah · Jul 8, 2008

Thanks for asking. I am taking the same classes + an online computer course. Plus I work full time and have a 2 year old. I really want to start studying now to get a head start. I really want to pass with A's to make sure I get into the nursing problem. I can't wait to hear responses.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 8, 2008

I was VERY disappointed with the labs in my school, in both A&P I and II. We hardly did ANYTHING. Before I took the classes I was looking forward to lab because I was sure we would do such interesting things, but in the end I gained nothing from lab.

In A&P I, we looked at slides of different tissues through a microscope, we examined bones and that's about it. We were supposed to dissect a cat for muscles but never did that. The prof basically did as little as he could get away with. He'd start class with a 15 minute lecture, tell us to review/look over slides/look at bones or whatever, and then leave the room. Gave absolutely no directions, no reviews, nothing. If you asked him which bones to study or which muscles, he'd just say, "Oh, study the most important ones." Oh, and exactly how should we know which ones are considered important? Then on his tests he'd give some vague questions and would not answer ANY questions, so you basically had to guess what he wanted you to write.

In A&P II at least the lab instructor was somewhat more dedicated and actually did teach. However, we never did any exercises except for dissecting a sheep's heart. Lab was basically an extra 2 hours of lecture. We looked at charts and but never did anything hands on.

CracklinRose · Jul 9, 2008

Wow ChayaN, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm looking forward to learning something in Lab......it's disappointing when you get a Prof you aren't happy with. Did you come out of the class w/a good grade?

Msdeannah, I do have this on cat disection....I got it from someone on here....maybe it will help you some. I would love to hear from a few more people on this.....Maybe someone else can offer us some insite. I work PT but go to school FT....I'm 46 and haven't been in school in 30yrs....lol

http://biology.kenyon.edu/heithausp/cat-tutorial/welcome.htm

http://bio.bd.psu.edu/cat/

Hope these help some....don't let the little one see the kitty here.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 9, 2008

Wow ChayaN, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm looking forward to learning something in Lab......it's disappointing when you get a Prof you aren't happy with. Did you come out of the class w/a good grade?
here.

I got A's in A&P I and II, but I don't feel that I learned as much as I could have if we had actually done all the exercises and dissections that we were supposed to. It's not just limited to the professor, it's a problem with the school. But it's the closest one to my house and had the best schedule that fit with mine, so I took classes there.

NurseBettyICU, ADN, BSN · Jul 9, 2008

I have taken AP1 & 2 - Micro starts next month.

I loved the AP Lab classes, but the Lab exams were killer for me. I think its b/c I get test anxiety really bad and its even worse when I'm not sitting at a desk with complete silence. Instead, with the lab exams there are different models and slides set up on tables and each student goes to a section, answers the question then moves on to another section. I just cannot focus doing that.

BUT - the actual lab classes were great. AP2 was way more interesting than AP1 in my opinion. Thats when you get to do more than just dissect the cat. We really got hands-on holding hearts, eyeballs, pigs, rats and got to see actual animal embryos. AP1 was mostly bones and I think we pulled out the cat maybe twice. Blah!

allnurses Guide · Jul 9, 2008

In lab for A&P I we have dissected a sheep brain, a cow eyeball and will do a cat for muscles.

We have lab reports due every so often as the professor assigns them. There is a lot of microscope work in looking at tissues during the histology chapter. A lot of it is looking at models and doing some basic experiments. Last week we did an EEG on a student during the CNS portion.

Lab practicals are a very different form of testing and cause high anxiety in a lot of students. I admit its not my favorite either. Its all fill-in-the-blank testing and involves identifying things, where they are in the body and/or what their function is. How hard it is depends on the instructor. Ours at least gives us a word bank. But you definitely have to KNOW the material hands down or you will not do well. Its a high stress testing environment...you move from station to station. Each station has two to three questions regarding some kind of a display related to the work you have been doing...ie a model, a microscope with a slide set up, a dissection with pins indicating a certain part, etc. You get a set amount of time at each station (90 seconds for us) and then everyone moves down one to the next station. Its very high pressure, particularly if you blank out.

Good luck though. Its a very interesting class. You do have to be organized and prepared to give up a lot of your life to studying.

CracklinRose · Jul 9, 2008

Thanks Staceygirl....I was wondering how the Lab testb would be done....so it's kind of like an assembly line to look under the microscope and move on?

msdeannah · Jul 9, 2008

Ok so the cat while the insides look very interesting, will still take a couple more looks to get used to. I get the feeling from others who responded and other posts that we will be in labs looking at bones, and tissues in the microscope for the most part. Still very interesting.

I found a site that rates college professors, and I got reassuring news about both my science teachers. So I am relieved to know that if I work hard I will be rewarded. I have heard horror stories on this board about professors.

I definatley think we should start a thread when the semester draws near, maybe we will can all be study buddies like I have seen before.

As for pre studying I have been listening to this podcast at work http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Biology/Biology-2120-Lectures-on-Anatomy-and-Physiology-Podcast/18745#plink.

This free class is decent. This site I think has video lessons as well

http://www.free-ed.net/sweethaven/Science/Biology/AnatomyPhysiol/Human01.asp

But my favorite :redbeathe is a MSN Group from an old Anatomy and Phisiology professor. It doesn't look like he is very active, but he has tons of old exams and quizzes and links to lab information.

http://groups.msn.com/AnatomyPhysiologyTests

Sorry if you guys knew about all of this stuff already.

NurseBettyICU, ADN, BSN · Jul 9, 2008

We didnt have a set time at each station. Once you answered the question you found an empty spot and answered that question. It got pretty crazy at times, but at least we were able to stay at one station as long as we needed and come back to it later if needed.

We weren't so lucky to get a word bank either. Darn it!! Maybe half the questions were multiple choice, but the other half was fill in the blank and there was no help. That was my worst part, remembering at words. It always seemed that the answer would come to me after the test when I was driving home. Grrrrr!

allnurses Guide · Jul 9, 2008

We didnt have a set time at each station. Once you answered the question you found an empty spot and answered that question. It got pretty crazy at times, but at least we were able to stay at one station as long as we needed and come back to it later if needed.
We weren't so lucky to get a word bank either. Darn it!! Maybe half the questions were multiple choice, but the other half was fill in the blank and there was no help. That was my worst part, remembering at words. It always seemed that the answer would come to me after the test when I was driving home. Grrrrr!

I think the set amount of time was implemented to help prevent cheating. The instructors in all my science classes have watched like a hawk for wandering eyes. Its an environment where it can be easy to cheat I guess. :stone

msdeannah · Jul 9, 2008

What’s the best way that you found to study for lab exams? Would you suggest a coloring book, or the Netter Flash Cards? Or does it differ based on the teacher.