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Hello everyone, I am starting school in August and my classes are A&P I, Math for health sciences, and then an Eng 101. I am a lil worried about the A&P because everyone has made it out to me a nightmare. I will not b working while in school and I have a 1 year old. Can anyone give me any tips for success. I did go buy mega index cards and the coloring book. I know I am going to have to study a lot but is there any specific ways that you can tip me on. Ty.
The coloring book helped me a lot, but I did not follow the coloring instructions the book gives, because they seemed too tedious. I just would color the (vein, artery, muscle, bone etc) and then take my time coloring in the name. I just made sure to use contrasting colors. I hope it works as well for you as it did me.Good luck in A&P. I bought the coloring book. Hoping it helps me.
I started A&P right after my youngest turned 2 and my oldest was 7.
#1 Pick a good professor
#2 Don't Procrastinate
I honestly think those two things are most important. Other than that I watched youtube video and got outside material to help me get an A. Like for anatomy I bought a laminator and wrote and rewrote directly on whatever part I was memorizing with an erasable marker. Like the markers for whiteboards.
Anatomy and Physiology wasn't that hard for me. I read the book, did all the assignments, and practiced practiced practiced. I would use sheet protectors and labeled whatever we were going to be quizzed and tested on. If you are confused, re-read the book or look at youtube for animations or explanations. Just don't take confusion for an answer. It's all in your work ethic and time management. Good luck!
Here is what I did. I earned a 3.9 just with my pre-requisites.
1) Look up the assignments to read.
2) underline IN PENCIL what you think is important.
**how do you know what is important?
---> a) read each chapter SECTION objectives (1.2 Cell Theory: Identify what Cell Theory is. Explain how evolution theory applies to Cell theory...etc etc.... b) take a sheet of notebook paper and write down 2 objectives on each side (half of the paper for each objective each side) c) What is important is the objectives and finding those objectives in the chapter section. d) after reading the chapter, close the book, walk the dog, get a drink do something else for 5 minutes. Then, write in your own words under the objective headings what you learned.
3) take your book to class. Instead of taking passive notes in class, take a highlighter and highlight what points the instructor is making. I always kept a legal pad (narrow ruled) next to the textbook to write down notes if I needed to.
4) Notecard time. Do not bother sitting there writing out notecards for every single term and every single bone/vessel/organ etc...save yourself time.
For example, If you already know that the function of the liver is bile production, metabolizes drugs, and uses protein for clotting factors, you don't need to make notecards for the function of the liver. BUT, if you don't know that the main clotting factors of the liver are affected by Factor X, Vitamin K, and lab tests involve PT/INR (vitamin K) and PTT (partial prothrombin time - Factor X and other types of factors) - that might be something you put on a note card. Also if you didn't know the spleen is involved in portal hypertension - that is something important to know.
IF your brain already knows something, either 1) you can easily remember it and reproduce it, OR 2) your brain will be able to use critical thinking to figure it out. If it is something you never knew before or never recognized - that is where you use your notecards. This helps a lot instead of writing out thousands of notecards. I started doing that for Pharm and said, "THIS IS NUTS." and just made cards for what I had trouble keeping in my noggin. Some drugs are very easy for me to learn/know because of how they act/react. Others were really difficult for me.
OR - if you can spend the money - find flashcards already made for you.
Anatomy and Physiology
Mosby's Anatomy & Physiology Study and Review Cards - Books on Google Play
LASTLY...Reviewing.
Your goal in reviewing for a test is not "OMG I NEED TO REVIEW ALL THIS TONIGHT FOR 7 HRS!" No. Plan ahead - and this will train you for clinicals as well. You really need to be an "organizational nerd" and write down every test date , every assignment due, every working hour - and yes plan your sleep as well! So here is how you review....
a) day 4 before the test...just read over notes for the whole test and your own responses to how you understand the objectives from chapter sections. What did you understand well? What do you need to reinforce?
b) day 3 pre-test: quick review things you know.
c) day 2 and day 1 pre-test: review and reinforce things you are weak on
10 hours before your test ... DO NOT STUDY. Trust your brain. Get good sleep. Take a hot shower *yes HOT even though its still summer* Drink OJ and have some protein before the test.
Not all methods work for everyone. This worked for me.
Oh...and test on Monday? But that means studying over the weekend!! I have plans!!!...well, sorry to burst your bubble - but...gotta be disciplined and tell friends / family to wait. That will also take you a long way when you get into clinicals.
Oh- and trust me on this one- if you are living in the dorm - NEVER STUDY IN YOUR ROOM!!!!!!
All it takes is some loudmouth joc on the football team to come running into your room and yelling "PIZZA RUN!!!!!" and next thing you know they are challenging you to play chugalug at the local bar.
And here is a little funny since you are just starting...
DaniB77, LPN, EMT-B
35 Posts
My class used Math Skills for Allied Health Careers, so that may be the new book.