please help!! starting clinicals-question for GN or nursing student.

J9G2008 · Jul 10, 2009

Well, no, actually, I didn't find that A&P is a huge part of clinicals. Obviously, you need to know the body parts ("This, teacher, is the head.") JK but heck no I wouldn't retake the classes for all the tea in China. I would review the physiology of the systems, like the HYPAC and SAMe. Those are always good. Know what the organs are, and what they do. But that's just review. My theory is that the nursing program will teach you what they want you to know, and you have to have gone through anatomy to have a starting point of understanding, but you really don't use in-depth anatomy a lot.

missbutton · Jul 11, 2009

I agree that anatomy is not so important. But physiology is. I would review any physiology concept that you feel weak on. For me, when I started my program, I learned that acid/base inbalances and fluids/electrolytes were way more important to nursing than they were to my A&P professors.

As important as studying is, nursing is a people orientated profession. If you have a year, I would suggest that getting any experience in having a professional relationship with a patient would be more valuable to you than studying. Volunteer with patients, get a job as a nurse's aide, if you're not already. I have been an aide for a little over four years, and I will be starting my last year of my BSN in the fall. Nursing school has been a lot easier for me than for other students in my class who had no experience with patients. It's not because I'm any smarter, it's because I know how to just be with a patient, regardless of what is happening.

Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2009

Stop worrying. As long as your have your books and notes handy you can always look something up to refresh your memory. No one can remember everything. As you are introduced to each disease a brief review of the pertinent A&P is usually presented.

shae_smiles · Jul 13, 2009

My first A&P was in 1999 and my second was in 2005. Don't stress yourself over it, you will have plenty to worry about .

NoviceRN10 · Jul 13, 2009

In my nursing program the clinicals we do coincide with the theory classes we are taking, so if we are learning assessments, then we are on a med-surge floor just getting used to basic assessing techniques and learning how to give injections, etc. When we were studying renal/cardiac, we were on a cardiac unit with those types of patients. I think you will be okay without reviewing your A&P, unless your school doesn't have theory courses along with the clinicals.

ermill2 · Jul 14, 2009

thank you everyone! I learned a little from everyone! I was definately thinking about doing the CNA thing, for a little extra cash and the experience couldn't hurt! plus I am really antsy to start, I am really excited :) thanks again!

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jul 14, 2009

If I were in your shoes I would take pathophysiology! I took that before my clinicals (isn't required by my school) and it has really helped me a ton because it makes all the patho review and I can focus my study time more on what I'm going to do as the nurse (interventions).

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2009

I worked as a nursing assistant on the weekend night shift in a nursing home during my second year of RN school to help pay for my apartment rent. (We didn't have CNA designation in those days. CNAs are something that came about because of federal legislation.) It was one of the best experiences of my career. I constantly tell students who are beginning their careers that the one thing that we nurses do that separates us from other healthcare professions is attend to people's ADLs. And working as a CNA is how you learn how about assisting people with their ADLs. Go for it!

anoon · Jul 14, 2009

While I can't tell you whether or not to retake your classes, I can tell you my experiences. I have found that Anatomy and Physiology is not the same in nursing as it was in lecture. You DO need to know general concepts (i.e. kidney filters urine, problem with kidneys equals problem with urine output...) but I have found that you do not need to know the concepts in the same amount of detail as you did. Also, most nursing schools will have an Adult Health class that is concurrent to your clinical rotation. This class should refresh your A&P memory, I know it certainly did for me! The cool thing about clinicals is that you will learn so much on your feet - it is one thing to learn about cerebral hemorrhages in a textbook and a totally different thing to care for a patient with one.

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bananimal · Jul 15, 2009

I am in a similar situation. I last took anatomy 1&2 in the 2005-2006 school year. I was going to take an online refresher course over the summer, but after talking with several people in my program-- everyone told me it was NOT necessary. If there is something you don't understand or remember, just look it up at the time. No use in going through that whole program again. I still have all my anatomy books-- but even if you dont, and there are plenty of great websites you can look things up on if you're a little rusty. Good luck!

shrimpchips, LPN · Jul 16, 2009

The anatomy does not play a huge part in clinicals, except for the basics (like...where your heart and lungs are :lol2: ) but like others have said, the physiology is very important. You will take a pathophysiology class that is like A&P, only geared towards disease processes in the body - and of course it's all about the physiology. For patho, I would definitely know acid/base balance, fluid & electrolytes, and inflammation. The latter sounds pretty basic, but seriously, almost everything leads back to the physiological process of inflammation. For specific diseases...CHF, diabetes & ACF/CRF/ESRD might be good to really know frontwards and backwards (and maybe things like COPD) especially since you will see a lot of patients on a medical-surgical floor with those conditions (I also saw a lot of patients on the A.C.E. unit (acute care of the elderly unit) during my geriatric rotation...but of course, a majority of med-surg patients are age 65+ :wink2:) with those conditions).