Need Advice

Anatomy and physiology are both subjects that require intense study. I can understand how you might struggle with it. You have to devote time to memorization and really for me, these were, although time consuming rather easy as I love learning how things work and why and what can go wrong. I have never (as an adult) this was my second career, waited for another adult to teach me. I am critical as an adult and to tell you the truth, I only had a small portion of my brain attuned to an instructor while in nursing school for test purposes. There are a lot of online resources for help on A&P, you just have to find a way to help yourself as the subject is concrete. For example, my chemistry text was written poorly, all it did was serve to confuse me and waste my time. So, I sold my chem book after I found one at an excellent library a few towns away. I kept that one checked out and used it for my class instead. I received the highest grade/points in the class.

I guess what I am saying is formal paid education is needed only to get you the "paper" that says you are smart enough. I don't regard it highly. You need to find your own path and it is true you are throwing your money away. You have to teach yourself. There is no avoiding the throwing your money away part though as you need a "college" to give you the paper that says you are smart enough, etc. to get a job.

I thank you for your advice, and I am taking the steps to try and learn the subject. It is just that I have never been so sad in my entire life. Here with their teaching style and the way faculty treat you it makes me regret this decision. I know that I am not a dumb person I just feel dumb and I feel like I am wasting my time. I do not know what makes me want to leave and just apply for nursing school and get my NP or DNP but it's a thought that has been going through my mind since Friday... Is that bad or is that a sign saying "hey you this is not for you." I don't know I am on an island where it is not easy to get resources that are helpful. Would NP or DNP be the wrong route to take... If you were in my shoes would you regret changing your career path?

I really do not know what to do and I do not want to give up my dream of working in the medical feild.

I'm so sorry to read about the challenge you are facing. The good thing is that you do not want to give up your dream. If you are a visual learner, can you find videos on Anatomy? Anatomy requires massive memorization. You have to memorize the name of body parts. But you have to study the material bit by bit. For example: with bones, you can start memorising everything about the skull bone all the way to the feet. Then, the muscles, etc. Also you could benefit from using Anatomy books that have CDROM and . Sometimes some teachers want to be available if you have questions and do will not really teach the way you expect them to. Some use lecture format, and it does not work for every student. Group discussion/project style does not work with students who resist the fact that their peer is leading the group and demanding that they should do their part in the discussion/project. Pay a visit to another campus, talk with librarians at different places.

Here is an example of a website that might be helful to you:

http://www.anatomyarcade.com/games/WAB/WAB.html

I wish you good luck.

To answer your question truthfully, changing your route to nursing NP or whatever will not change your situation. You will just be taking the same classes you are right now in essence.

Well I figured as much but as I said right now I am in medical school and I have heard different things about nursing school and becoming an NP or DNP which is why I am stuck on whether to change my path now and leave medical school and go to nursing and pursue that way or to just attempt to stick it out and see how I feel at the end of the first semester... I am just so confused and I have never been this confused before...

Whether or not you stay in med school or go the NP route you will still have to get through A & P in some form or another. Here is a suggestion. There are a number of books out there that break the subject down so it is easier to understand. The Demystified series comes to mind.

Also, there are a number of anatomy coloring books on the market. Don't laugh, there is a reason they make elementary school students color stuff in. It helps you remember. And these books are for college level students. Check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Barrons, etc.

Help is out there. It just requires some searching to find it.

I know that there is no way of getting around it I just figured if I go back to the states maybe I would not have as much trouble with it as I am having now... It's not that I do not want to take the class its that I want help in the class and the prof is not student friendly... Like I have stated I am just stuck between a rock and a hard spot. I really appreciate all the feed back I am getting it is really helping me make my choice on what needs to be done. But I have not made a 100% choice yet. Still thinking

Cindyq,

I feel your pain and I have been there where you question your choices and decisions. But here are my 2 cents: If medical school has always been your goal in life and so far you did everything possible to get into one, I would definitely give it a chance. There is a reason why you applied abroad and moved out of the country to pursue your dream, so don't let one class and especially one professor burst your bubble! Obviously you're smart and you made it into the school so why not stick it out for at least a year and see how it goes?

I'm assuming you have already paid the school tuition and if you took out a loan you still have to repay it right? So why waste the money? I would try my best and if it doesn't work then I would look into transferring the credits from abroad to the US and start from there. Schools are filled with careless professors but it's up to you to make the best of it. Learn because YOU want to learn, not because you HAVE to. Look at the big picture and what you could become one day, not at the little obstacles on the way.

Follow your heart and your passion. You made it into medical school and that alone should count enough to keep you motivated.

Good luck.

Kika

Anatomy and Physiology are tough courses. I found that the books required for the courses I took were not helpful. Did a little research on what books others had found to be helpful and bought those instead. It was costly, but so beneficial. Also, I would reach out to your peers in this course. As a student I was pretty independent when it came to studying. I never did "group studying" in nursing school because I was more efficient on my own. However, I must say when I did A&P I definitely utilized group studying (usually just one other person, big groups distract me). It was super helpful because your peers have different strategies of learning information that you may find useful. Lastly, if you feel like you are in the wrong place, get out. Just weight all your options and give it some sincere thought before making the decision. Hope this helps! Hang in there!

Do not give up on your dream. A&P is very difficult and I agree with the others find out what your type of learning style is and use that to your advantage. I am not sure if you had tried studying in a very small group, I found that to be very helpful. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

On 1/30/2011 at 10:21 AM, cindyq said:

The teachers do not teach. They want you to waste your time in class then go home and learn in out of a book.

NP program will be the same, I hear NP students with the same story. For the nursing career paths , you need to stay self motivated learner . Try not to focus on grades . Good luck .