Peige

Thanks! Thats what I figured, and if it doesn't mean scholarship, it really does not matter... lol

I will finish my final for A&P II this week and must say that it is quite different from A&P I. While A&P I is mainly memorization of the body's anatomy, A&P II requires that you understand the body's phisiology which the technique of memorization is not as reliable. It really does depend at lot on the professor too. Ask around for who a good professor is at your school because it really does matter! My class was the "guinea pig" of a first time professor this year and let me tell you, we certainly paid the price! I will have to go back through the book to really learn all that he never taught!. Also, you may hear of a professor who is deemed to be "hard" and they usually are the best. I am not much of a visual learner, but I found that I needed more visual aids during this class than before. It really does help to see the heart pumping blood to understand it's mechanism. Our prof never used visual aids and so I found youtube to help with animations. If you are having a hard time visualizing a system of the body, go to google for help. You could search terms such as: Digestive System, animation, or interactive video. Also, it may help to remember that the phisiology of the body is a whole system of smaller systems working together. That means that one system effects another and so on. You cannot understand how one works with out understanding the other. I explained it to my husband as when you have car trouble, to understand whats wrong, you pretty much have to understand how the whole thing works. You can't replace your muffler without knowing what the muffler does and what other part of the car depends on the muffer or helps it to work. (btw, I have no idea of how a muffler works) My husband helped me a little too. He has a water purification company and works with reverse osmosis systems and when he explained how they work, I had a better understanding of osmotic pressures in the body. He also explained to me how an engine works in a car with pistons and gasoline which helped me to understand the action potentials of the heart. When you are learnig, there has to be a degree of organizing the information in your mind. The process of the body is not linear but rather branch out. I would imagine this like the mechanics of a clock. Or thoses baby toys where when you turn one wheel that is connected to 10 more all 10 move because you turned the one. I was always trying to understand how one was relative to the other and a knowlegable professor should help you do such. And finally, whatever you do.... please do not take A&P II with Pharmacology!!!!! I think I have developed an arhythmia, stomach ulcer, insomnia and hair loss and not to mention permanant PMS in the process of managing a B in both. My poor children! Instead of bedtime stories its, "Let Mommy read to you about the endocrine system and how it keeps the bugs away." Most importantly, you will understand Pharm a lot easier once you have completed A&P II. Good Luck to you! Enjoy your Christmas holiday and try not to worry! You will make it through!

Has anyone been elected by their university/college to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges? A few weeks ago I recieved a letter in the mail stating that I was one of 9 students at my college who had been selected to be in this Who's Who. Upon researching the internet, I concluded that it was a scam, or "vanity press." Now I haved recieved a certificate in an envelope with my colleges return address. Is this a scam? If not, what does it mean? I had never heard of this before and was not aware that my college participated. Are students with a certain GPA randomly selected or are there records reviewed by staff? Just a bit curious as I certainly haven't a clue as to why I was selected. Thanks for any info!

I am wondering if there are any experinced nurses who entered the medical field with high ideals only to discover that they were a bit disillusioned and nieve. For example, when you first began, did you have specific ideas about ethical issues, equality, fairness etc. that were markedly changed by experience? As a student learning about ethics, specifically "slow code," I am deeply disturbed by the issue. However, reading about individual cases I realize that I have never had to recessitate a very frail 90yr patient whose sternum was crushed beneath my hands, and who, if survived would have to suffer the pain of those injuries. I am nieve of the situation because I have never experienced it, and so should not orient my feelings so strongly against it. What other situations do you find that a new nurse is emotionally unprepared for and can you give any advise to the student to prepare for such events. Do many aspire to become a nurse because of the deep emotional root to care for people but in practice become hardened a bit? Im just feeling like I need a hard dose of reality in the heart department. Thanks!