So Fustrated!! Please help!!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello,

I been reading the advice on all nurses for a while now, but I need some advice of my own please.

I'm hoping someone can give me advice on effective ways to help study for my A&P course. I have tried flashcards, recording lectures, re-wrting notes, studying til dawn, etc, and I'm lucky to make a 70 on a test. I know the classes are hard and are designed to "weed-out" people, but I'm just so fustrated! I've passed my a&p I course (barley), now I'm in a&p II but it seems like I'm missing some key element to mastering how to study for this class. I know I'm not stupid, but I get upset when I bust my a** studying and walk away with a 60. Ironically, I do fine in labs ( all a's or b's), but I just can't get passed lecture. I've even talked to my professor about it, but the tips she gave me did not help improve my grade. This whole thing just makes me really wonder if I can pass nursing school if I can't even pass a&p II. :crying2:

If anyone can offer any effective ways to study that they don't mind sharing that really helped them I would greatly appreciate it.

Did you look at the sticky for a&p help?

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/p-help-my-334360.html

For me, it helps when I explain things to someone else. Talk yor cat, house plants, stuffed animals, etc.

Also looking at the tests to see what you missed is helpful. Identify your weak points and work on those.

BLESS YOUR HEART!

I SO hear you and completely understand the frustration that you are feeling.

I just went through the VERY same thing with Micro, the time that I put into trying to learn everything didn't reflect the grade that I was getting on tests. :p

I too asked my professor for advice, and was told to read each question on the test carefully! (that didn't help much of course!)

What I did find though was that by going on line and researching "how to study for A&P" (or in my case micro) helped immensely.

There are practice tests out there, as well as flash cards (as you said you use) as well as pictures (I am a visual learner) etc. etc.

DON'T GIVE UP, I have had to take classes twice just to get through them (chemistry) and they by no way define how I will be as a nurse in practice!!

You have started your journey, it will get easier as you go, once you get into a rhythm of the best way to study for YOU.

Keep pushing forward, I am convinced that this is more about endurance than it is about individual grades!!

:) BEST OF LUCK!!

Jen

I am sure this seems like... "Hello Captain Obvious.." But when I took A&P the teacher took 95% of the questions from the reviews at the end of the chapter. SO, being able to successfully answer those without exception may be able to help out. Just my 2 cents

good luck

Thank you for your help!

Leenak: I will check out that sticky, (didn't see it before). I tried talking to my husband, but he's not intrested in the workings of the body like me, so I'll try talking to my husky, She's impartial. lol.

Horseygirl2rn: Thanks for your encouragement! :D I'm going to take mirco this summer, so i'm a little anxious on taking it since I'm struggling in a&p, but hoping it will be ok. I will also go online like you said to find other study materials to try.

Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

I soooo know what you are talking about. I am taking A&PII for the second time this semester and still struggling. It's horrible. I feel just like you. Am I really this stupid???? I have also tried everything. I am feeling really down because this is my second time taking it. But with the same teacher. The only difference this year, and it is a big difference, is that my mother is currently in hospice and expected to pass any day now from cancer and I have been spending many weekends with her, when I would normally be studying. Sometimes I wonder if this is just an excuse and would I be doing just as bad. I mean really, this is my second time. You would think I should know a lot more than the others. So, anyway. I understand how you are feeling completely!! If I have to retake a third time I will. Thank God my school only looks at your best grade and allows up to three times to retake. I will also take with a different teacher as I have heard that those who normally do very well in classes are struggling in this teachers class as well. He is very hard, but I feel like I would learn the most from him. I am just praying I can pull off a "C" this semester. Good luck, and hang in there. You are not alone.

Have you tried youtube videos? Sometimes when you dont understand concepts its good to look at videos. Have you tried looking at notes on another teachers A&P website? Have you tried reading the summaries at the end of the chapters in the A&P book? Summaries usually highlight the most important things from the chapters. Does your A&P book have a website or actually you might even be able to find websites with multiple choice answer quizzes. Those are helpful.

TO: BUTTERFLY0238

I just want you to know that I have been there with my Mother and Hospice, the fact that you are in school right now is AMAZING, as the year my Mom passed was an absolute blur for me.

YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS...THIS CLASS DOES NOT DETERMINE the kind of nurse you will be, and believe me, you will bring a level of compassion that most have never experienced. (I am speaking from experience)

Hang in there, don't beat yourself up you are going through a lot. One foot forward at a time, and like you said, you can always take it again if you have to, I had to take chemistry and algebra TWICE!!

Hugs,

Jen

Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
TO: BUTTERFLY0238

I just want you to know that I have been there with my Mother and Hospice, the fact that you are in school right now is AMAZING, as the year my Mom passed was an absolute blur for me.

YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS...THIS CLASS DOES NOT DETERMINE the kind of nurse you will be, and believe me, you will bring a level of compassion that most have never experienced. (I am speaking from experience)

Hang in there, don't beat yourself up you are going through a lot. One foot forward at a time, and like you said, you can always take it again if you have to, I had to take chemistry and algebra TWICE!!

Hugs,

Jen

Thank you soooo much. I really do appreciate the support. It has been very hard. Even just as hard to see my father suffering with her. They have been married 55 years. I am just so worried about him. I also work full time and have had a few issues at work, all of my own fault. My mind is just so frazzled. Thankfully I have been with this company for over 22 years and they are working with me. But, one more mess up and I will also be unemployed. Also, my son is serving in Iraq and I just learned he had a breakdown, suffering PTSD and is being sent back home with possible discharge. So, yea. This past year has been very challenging. What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger. I will get through it, by the grace of God. But thank you again. I just love this site. I know I can come here and give and get support. :)

Bless your heart your plate is FULL, FULL, FULL!

(and yes, what doesn't kill us DOES make us stronger, although I am sure you are thinking at this point, how much stronger do I need to be God?!)

I am so sorry about your Mom and your son, you must be feeling so helpless right now. It's so hard to have such major things going on in our lives and not being able to reach out and "fix" everything.

It may not seem like it now, but it's all part of a bigger plan, NONE of this is happening "just because".

Consider grief counseling for BOTH you and your Father, it helped my family immensely.

Also, find out if your prof. offers extra credit, that helped me boost my grade a little.

:) Hang in there...hug, hug

Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
Bless your heart your plate is FULL, FULL, FULL!

(and yes, what doesn't kill us DOES make us stronger, although I am sure you are thinking at this point, how much stronger do I need to be God?!)

I am so sorry about your Mom and your son, you must be feeling so helpless right now. It's so hard to have such major things going on in our lives and not being able to reach out and "fix" everything.

It may not seem like it now, but it's all part of a bigger plan, NONE of this is happening "just because".

Consider grief counseling for BOTH you and your Father, it helped my family immensely.

Also, find out if your prof. offers extra credit, that helped me boost my grade a little.

:) Hang in there...hug, hug

You are so right. I keep saying, " God, just how strong do you want me to be?" LOL

I have just had to put my trust in Him. My son is especially hard because as a mother you want to make it better, protect them. I hate not knowing the details, and not even knowing when he is returning. He wants so badly to attend my moms funeral, as she watched him enter this world and they have a special bond. But if he is in the military hospital getting treatment for the PTSD he won't be allowed to attend. He is in a bad place right now. So, if you are a prayer, pray for him. Thanks again.

OP-So sorry to have gotten off topic.

Butterfly 0328: my thoughts are with you and your family. My husbands grandfather passed away either this semster and I just had surgery myself two weeks ago, (I still did class however, my teacher and I agreed to skype for class while I was out recovering). Plus I also work as well. So I just keep thinking to take things one step at a time, but I still get discouraged as well. But I feel better knowing I'm not alone. Hang in there!

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