do nurses really remember every tiny detail from anatomy class?

IMO, probably not. It's been a couple years since AnP for me. I sadly don't remember as much as I would like. LOL! I think when we see AnP in a more applicable enviroment, it will stick better. I think that when we are studying, and are lost and confused, we will search our dusty Anp books and look it up, apply it to NE situation and so on and so forth. Eventually, it will stick.

Over the summer I took a pharmacology class. Our instructor surprised us by informing us that it would be like AnP all over again. There wasn't one student that was fresh w/ the material, but we got on. Not only was our instructor helpful, not only did we take it upon ourselves to familiarize w/ any material we needed to, but the books usually cover your basis from a nursing avenue. Which I have found helpful.

Just wanted to clear up this is from a NE student perspective. I do believe once we become seasoned, we will be seasoned in AnP as well.

No. Nursing is a lifelong learning exercise. You get really good at your area, and keep up your reading, and let less relevant stuff slide. I'm in cardiac - I can tell you anything about the cardiovascular or renal systems, but not that much about musculoskeletal or neuro stuff. You don't need to know everything, you do need to know when and where to access the information if it's required.

Thanks! this is what i figured too, that i would become really good in one area.

I think it's mostly habitual. We will retain a lot more out of habit, not so much studying it once and testing on it once.

I do think it's very important to at least understand the basics, though.

I have worried about this too. I love anatomy and physiology and made A's in both I and II, but I find myself forgetting how everything works so I go back to my book and read. I started worrying that in clinical I wont remember the physiology and it has me nervous. But I kept my trusty AP book and psychology book that my favorite professor gave me! I will keep those two books forever! My AP Professor said that all we are learning will come back to haunt us. She said to make sure we know the passage way of blood in heart/body because apparently the nursing Professors were complaining that the incoming students didnt know it. Well, we will be okay-after apply everthing we do know and researching things we dont know and applying it to the nursing process- we will emerge for the program as highly skilled RN's!!!!