Older student....frazzled and unsure!

SocBooKyraMartz · Aug 31, 2015

Wanderlust2,

Do not feel defeated. I was in your shoes not too long ago (I was 31 when I took Anatomy and Micro). In my crazy mind, I thought I could do both Anatomy and Micro in the same semester (thank goodness I was able to get good grades for both of those classes).

I think when you are feeling a little defeated, you should stop, take a breath, and think of why you want to be a nurse. This usually gave me the motivation to study (a positive mind frame will help). If possible, study groups do help, since if you can teach someone the material, it means you know the material. I did not have time for study groups as I also worked full time and the students in my class did not work or worked full time.

This is how I was successful in anatomy:

1) When doing homework, I would go over the homework and try to talk out the material, as if I was teaching someone else.

2) The Practice Anatomy Lab CD helped tremendously for lab tests.

3) I would make flashcards and labeled them one side with labels (ABC or 123) and the other side the exact same picture with the answers.

4) I would have my husband quiz me randomly on the material. He would have a set of my notes and while watching TV, eating dinner or on our nightly walks, he would randomly quiz me or ask me questions. (This is again the whole teaching theory)

5) I would study while standing up or walking more often than sitting at my desk. (My Micro teacher suggested this, the theory of getting more oxygen to your brain and decreasing the likelihood of getting bored)

6) Youtube, Khan Academy, Armando Hasudungan | Biology and Medicine videos (he does a tutorial and draws out each system of the human body with explanation) helped me tremendously.

I hope that helps. Stay positive, you can do it!

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2015

Good day, Wanderlust2 :

I started my journey to become an RN (I'm now in my second semester of an AD RN program) at age 50 (now age 52). Typically, I'm the oldest in my class, and currently the oldest in my clinical group. I'm also among the handful of guys. For me, A&P took a lot of lab time.

For bones, feeling the bones to get to the point that if you handed me a bone with my eyes closed, I would either get it or be very close to the bone, markings, etc (yes, a heavy time commitment). For muscles, I did origin and insertion and related everything to the bones. For circulatory and nervous system, related everything to bones and muscles.

Find what works for you, and invest the time. Go to the tutoring center (if available) and ask for help. Ask the professor for help, ask fellow students who seem to get it for help. Don't be shy, don't be too proud to ask for help.

Go forth and conquer.

Wanderlust2 · Sep 1, 2015

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I agree, studying while walking or standing is the way to go. I mix it up a lot. I'll get a good look over the material and build a foundation while sitting, doing 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off. Once I feel ok with the subject I'll start walking and talking it, imaginary teaching it etc. I'm finding the anatomy fun and challenging while the physiology portion is hard. I can imagine the anatomy portions and have good physical examples while physiology is reading and less physical.

I will check around the learning commons at my school and see if they have any physical models I can play with. I am going to look into the CD you suggested AND the online suggestions! I am excited about that. I've been youtubing for days and thus far have learned rap songs about cells I can not get out of my head

I don't typically do well with study groups at this stage. Granted I've tried them with students less motivated. That coupled with my anxiety and I was done. I should try to see if there seems to be a motivated group that'll meet up or at least do tutoring together. I am lucky in that I don't work outside of our farm rescue BUT all lots of responsibilities and time constraints with that and being a mom.

Again, thank you for your suggestions. Every bit of motivation helps on this journey!

Wanderlust2 · Sep 1, 2015

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I agree, studying while walking or standing is the way to go. I mix it up a lot. I'll get a good look over the material and build a foundation while sitting, doing 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off. Once I feel ok with the subject I'll start walking and talking it, imaginary teaching it etc. I'm finding the anatomy fun and challenging while the physiology portion is hard. I can imagine the anatomy portions and have good physical examples while physiology is reading and less physical.

I will check around the learning commons at my school and see if they have any physical models I can play with. I am going to look into the CD you suggested AND the online suggestions! I am excited about that. I've been youtubing for days and thus far have learned rap songs about cells I can not get out of my head

I don't typically do well with study groups at this stage. Granted I've tried them with students less motivated. That coupled with my anxiety and I was done. I should try to see if there seems to be a motivated group that'll meet up or at least do tutoring together. I am lucky in that I don't work outside of our farm rescue BUT all lots of responsibilities and time constraints with that and being a mom.

Again, thank you for your suggestions. Every bit of motivation helps on this journey!

Jules A, MSN · Sep 1, 2015

OMG you are so not "older"! And I'm one who always gets accused of ageism because I do believe there is a shelf life on nursing. :) You are an excellent age to embark on this journey. You are mature, settled and will be able to push through the rough times with a focus like many younger ones can't. Hang in there!

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Sep 1, 2015

Take breaks frequently and don't cram. I also found that separating myself from the others while waiting to get into the classroom was helpful. I could sit back and relax and let information flow at the same time. Listening to the others talk about things they were studying and disagreeing messed me up. Also, find a study partner or two, make sure one is knowledgeable enough to be helpful. You can also see if there are tutors available for the classes.

Valcorie34, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

I did it long after high school too! You can do this. Stop and think about your learning style. Are you visual? Auditory, hands on? I am very visual and flash cards helped. The key for me was to use it three times. 1. read and highlight your book. Take notes. I wrote in bold for the section headings, and wrote out the main idea for each paragraph. I drew diagrams ect. for anything I needed. Then I took class notes for lectures. I then created flash cards like test questions. After each class, I took 10 minutes after class to make practice test questions for the material I just heard on flash cards.

I found a study group that I got along with that did the same thing. We all made tons of practice test questions on flashcards then we meet once a week just to quiz each other. We had to explain the answers and it helped. It was fun, lots of laughter, adrenaline trying to answer first, and we each had to explain the material as we went. It helped more than anything!

There is a ton of information in A&P, just know it is one of the hardest prereq classes. You can make it just take it one test at a time.

organizedmom · Sep 1, 2015

Wanderlust2, do you have the quizlet app? I would at least review the chapters you will be covering in class on quizlet. That way you'll feel more familiar with the material before even stepping for in the lab. That helps me feel more confident. Good luck, you can do this!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Sep 1, 2015

Keep your eyes on the prize. I work with two very successful Chief Nursing Officers (one with CRNA, MHA and the other with MSN, DNSc) who both began their academic journeys via GEDs.... after dropping out of HS.... srsly.

You've got this.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Sep 2, 2015

You are so not older at all!!! I will be 40 when I graduate in the spring. When I study, I pretend like I am teaching to to people. If I can teach it and have a firm grasp on it, I will do well on the test. You just need to find your groove and keep going. I loved Anatomy but especially loved the Physiology part. For some reason the Physiology jelled better with me than the anatomy. Not sure why, it just did. Advanced Physiology was one of my favorite prereqs. Now that I am in OB/Peds, one of the classes I wasn't sure I would like, I am actually loving it and it helps me to stay more engaged.

shasbus · Sep 2, 2015

I am a little older than you and finished all my nursing pre-reqs recently with 4.0 GPA. After a layoff from a great career I had to start over and chose a nursing career. I have absolutely no background in science or in healthcare, but I have always been interested in it. Everyone studies differently, but this is what helped me get through the new world of science.

It is hard, but you are not alone, we have all done it, so it's possible
You have to be interested in the subject, otherwise it's even harder. My favorite part of reading material was clinical applications - I imagined what it would be like in my next career and saw how theory worked in real life
Cannot get around it. Lots and lots of memorization!
Quizlet can help with memorization better IF you make your own study sets instead of using pre-made. Creation process helps you memorize more effectively. Do not make long answer flashcards, they do not help remember well, focus on 1-3 word answer that you can type easily, which again helps you remember better than a long answer, where details are important. And details are important in anatomy!
If you get behind, it is so hard to make up the material. Use anything at your disposal to get help - tutorial labs at my community college were great.
If you dont understand something, just memorize it, understanding will come later. Often that is the most effective use of your time especially in a fast pace information rich course like anatomy.
Invest time in this course, study every day, at least a few hours. This is the most important foundation knowledge you need for your nursing career. I would drop other classes and keep the focus on anatomy if I saw I was struggling there.

I hope this helps, good luck!