Semester is than half over- How is everyone doing?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

Specializes in School Nursing.

Hi fellow prenursing students! I thought I would check in and see how everyone is doing in their classes the semester. Check in and let us know how your classes are going, what are you loving or hating, what is challenging you or what you are surprised isn't so difficult after all. Bascially- how you're doing!

I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Microbiology and Pathology. I was taking Chemistry 1 and ended up dropping it as it was too hard taking three science w/labs at one time when one of those classes is CHEM! I started A/P 2 off bumpy but am back to an A thanks to a 103 on my last lecture exam over cell respiration, metabolism, blood and blood clotting. We're doing our last cat lab Thursday and I'm nervous but confident I will be ready!

Microbiology is the most fun I've ever had in a science class. It's interesting, the labs are a blast and I'm doing AWESOME in it. I'd literally have to stop showing up to lose my A at this point. (Ain't happening!) ;)

Check in!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Former CNA &PCT.

Awesome mjmoon! :up::up::up:

I have a course load of nothing but sciences this semester so on a given day I'll be loving my classes and occasionally I get slightly frazzled! So far I'm doing fine and have 3 As and a B (no grade curve for this class!). I'm also a member of a science bowl team so now I'm going to be cramming in some physics and astronomy into my schedule. It's a lot but it's only for two more weeks and I'll be back to my regular studies....whew! I enjoy coming to this thread to see how everyone is doing. It's not a walk in the park for sure so I feel good when I read that another person is closer to reaching their goal!!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics, med surg.

I am taking A&P II- getting a really strong A; Chemistry (just the lab)- getting a high A; Prealgebra (blah!!)- getting a high B; an online Phy Ed class (he he he!!) which I love and am getting 100% in; and Microbiology I am getting a low A in (thanks to the lab)! I love, love, love, A&P II and very much dislike microbiology!! Oh, did I mention that Microbiology is online??! I study so much, take good notes, do the fill-in-the-blanks study guide, participate in the chapter discussions... I always feel like I am understanding the material but never do better than 80% on the tests. Mostly, my tests are in the 70 percentages. So heartbreaking and discouraging. I hate to be "that" student that blames it on the teacher, but I kind of do! What are some things that I could do to help me study? The test questions are all multiple choice but they are all applied questions, coming way out of left field, as far as I'm concerned! So difficult! I never consecutively recieve less than A's on exams. :confused:

But YAY!!! Over halfway through the semester!!! Next semester I'll be finishing up my AA degree and taking 17 credits of much less interesting classes... yikes!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Hang in there Loving This. An instructor can make or break an online class and of all the online classes I've taken (about 9) only 2 were structured in a way that helped me learn anything at all. I believe most online instructors think it's enough to throw the stuff up there with a few tests with absolutely NO instruction and that be enough. IMO- there should be just as much teacher communication and instruction in an online environmental as there is in an in person. Online education has a long way to go, if you ask me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hang in there Loving This. An instructor can make or break an online class and of all the online classes I've taken (about 9) only 2 were structured in a way that helped me learn anything at all. I believe most online instructors think it's enough to throw the stuff up there with a few tests with absolutely NO instruction and that be enough. IMO- there should be just as much teacher communication and instruction in an online environmental as there is in an in person. Online education has a long way to go, if you ask me.

I would second this. I just finished up online classes from last quarter. One was great (English 101) the other was an Applied A&P class. Instead of having labs that correlated to the chapter material, we spent the entire quarter talking about obesity and eating habits along with charting physical activity. It did not help me at all. I am a very conscientious student and managed to only get in the low to high 80's on the tests and passed with a B+. It was disappointing because it took away my 4.0 for a class that I felt wasn't taught well.

That being said, try emailing your instructor and ask him/her for some clarification on the items you missed and ask the instructor if you should be focusing on something different. It can't hurt, and they might surprise you with some good tips and or real help on what they are testing on.

Good luck, hang in there.

I am just starting Phlebotomy this morning, along with Psych and Intermediate Algebra.. here we go... I am really happy to be back in classes.. just means closer to NS!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Geriatrics, Progressive Care.

Other than patiently waiting (yeah right lol) for my acceptance or denial letter for nursing, I am actually doing well. Whenever I get mad and frustrated, I study. I am taking Anatomy and Physiology I, Home Health Care, Medcial Terminology I, and Nursing Assistant II. So far I have all A's. Hopefully this will not change.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Glad everyone is hanging in there. Keep it up.

I have about 6 weeks left. I'm doing AP2, Lifespan, and Socio. I have As so far. Not at all worried about Lifespan and Socio., have very high As but AP2 is riding the line about a 92 or 93. I think I will still get the A because we have so much work and I do well but my last test was barely a C. Only 4 chapters left there and in Fluids now. Not looking forward to it but going to do the best I can. Last three Ch. should be a breeze for me because they interest me and I already know a lot about them. I also start a CNA class next week, which will last a month.

Mostly just looking forward to being done sweating APs and moving on to my last semester of pre-reqs. I think I'll go ahead and take one or two classes in the summer, probably pharm. and arts. That should allow me a light load in Fall with Micro. (blah!) and english. Then I'll be ready to apply. I could also take a Microcomp. class if I want to apply for another program.

Luck to everyone finishing up the semester.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm taking 4 classes this semester, some just for the hours and others for the pre-req's for my eventual BSN bridge.

Sociology-A

Spanish-A

Statistics-A, but will probably end up with a B

Art-B (the teacher is pretty unorganized and I'm frustrated with the class)

6 weeks left and then I'm done with these for good!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Psychology is my weakness, I barely staved off a bad grade in into Psych and not Developement Psy is threating to destroy my GPA...

The rest of the smemster is going well, just this one dang class that is going to kill my GPA if I can't figure out how to study psy...

Then there is the admissions process (mid to late april...) and scholarship applications (which will be useless if I dont get into school).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Everyone!

I'm taking:

Eng 101 (getting results of midterm tonight :eek:) So we will see, but I think it should be an A

PSY 101 A

Pre Algrebra (gross!) B

Health Career Intro A

Can't wait to be done with these!!! :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I'm only able to take one class right now while working fulltime (this will change come Sept.). I currently have an A in anatomy and am really enjoying it. The only thing I struggle with is learning how to memorize so much different kinds of info at once. Our next exam is in 3 weeks and is rumored to be the hardest so I'm a bit nervous...I have to have the nervous system, PNS and spinal cord, special senses, endocrine system, cardiovascular system and blood circulation down to a T! Any suggestions on things that helped you memorize this info the best? (Writing over and over again, notecards, reading over and over again?)

To those doing great: CONGRATS! KEEP UP THE HARD WORK!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Holy cow, that is a LOT of stuff to learn for one exam!!!! Does your teacher give you a power point or his/her notes? I do best going through the notes and making flash cards on just about everything. Also, for the memorization stuff, definitely find some mnemonics. Do a search- like if you need to learn every cranial nerve, do a google search on 'cranial nerve mnemonics' and pick one that clicks. Then copy it over and over again. I find mnemonics work awesome.. it's how I learned the acids in the krebs cycle and the clotting factors.. and the cranial nerves last semester (can't remember the mnemonic now..lol) The rest is just study. Remember the difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous system.. and go slow- the nervous system and endocrine system seem overwhelming, but once it clicks it clicks...

It's also helpful to make note cards of where hormones are produced and stored. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment