So discouraged over A&P, ready to give up nursing plans

Paleobug · Aug 28, 2003

I'll be going through A&P I hell too, and it is scary. All I can do is devote as much free time as possible for studying when I'm not working.:stone

B.T.H · Aug 28, 2003

Devi,

Your recieving some very good advice from a lot of different people. I would just add that the secret for me is to simplify and learn what is necessary or what is covered in lectures. There is no way that your going to memorize everything so don't hurt yourself trying. Learn what the teacher lectures on(take good notes) and use the book to fill in the blanks. Most times, the teachers will quiz you, or test you mostly from the material they lectured on in class. You can learn a lot about your teacher's testing tendencies if you pay attention. This will help you to improve your test scores if you can narrow down these tendencies. Take good notes from the next lecture, then after the quiz compare the two to see if he follows the info from the lecture in the quiz.

Note cards are good also. But I usually only used them to fill in the blank where I felt my notes weren't enough, or where a topic is complicated or tricky.

For me the coloring book is a waste of time because they just add more to the work load. It might work for other people, but for me, the simpler you keep it the better.

Like John said, you have got to get mad and approach it with a chip on your shoulder. Hey, if however many nurses have taken and passed A&P, why can't I do it. Get the " this class is to hard" thought out of your mind." Study smarter and and don't accept that you can't do it, and you will be fine. B.T.H

allthingsbright · Aug 28, 2003

JOHN! You need to write a book-your messages are always so amazing!

Amy

allthingsbright · Aug 28, 2003

Evi,

Try to stick it out-take it one lecture at a time. You should have a drop period so see if you can take it in increments! I always get super freaked and nervous at the beginning of the semester, but then I remember how many people have made it through. IT MUST BE POSSIBLE, right? I'm in A&P right now and feel like I'm getting my butt kicked. But this is yet another doorway to my dreams, so I have to go through it-no matter how hard it is to get it unlocked!

Good luck to you and God Bless,

Amy

lunakat · Aug 29, 2003

evi-

I know how you feel. I took Anatomy this summer, not A&P 1 or 2. At the college I attend Anatomy is seperate from physiology and both are a semster long. So I crammed a full semster class into a summer course, 3 hours a day 4 days a week. I 1st test was over 6 chapters which included tissues, bones and muscles :eek: . I was freaked. Also it was alot to learn in a short amount of time.

I bought the dummies book for A&P which helped alot.

Also used the cds that came with the book and noticed they had interactive quizzes for learning the bones and stuff. Also there are a few websites out there that help too. Beleiev me you can do it. It may be overwhelming but just keep on plugging. :)

kahumai, RN · Aug 29, 2003

Evi,

Alot of people also get confused by the medical terminology used in the A&P books. If this is you, buy a medical dictionary or terminology book to help you remember the words, which helps you then figure out what they do. In my A&P class, I was the only one who had medical terminology, and it gave me an advantage and that'll carry me all the way through nursing school. Also, I had a more difficult time with A&P 2 because in my school, that's where we did endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular, and all of the other "big" ones (and I took in during the summer!!!!) Remember how important the information is and that it really is the foundation of nursing; what you learn tomorrow may save someone's life. That thought gave me the drive to learn; I owe it to my future patients to be the most educated I can be. Good luck!!!

evi · Aug 29, 2003

Everyone, I can't thank you enough for all the words of encouragement! I appreciate all the thoughtful posts about my problem. I'm still mulling it all over, not sure what I'm going to do...but I'm happy to see what great folks are going into nursing!

-evi

Catma63 · Aug 29, 2003

I am also taking A & P along with my nursing courses. What I found to help me out was these two coloring books. I purchases both of mine through eBay...I think I paid less than $7 per book. One was a little dog-eared but it hadn't been colored in and it was current.

They're titled "The Anatomy Coloring Book" and "The Physiology Coloring Book" by Kapit and other writer(s).....Kapit had a hand in both of them. Try and see about getting yourself a copy of each of these....didn't take me long at all to get them in and they're very helpful.

allthingsbright · Aug 30, 2003

i am liking my anatomy coloring book too. it just helps make the connection!

amy

Catma63 · Aug 30, 2003

Another thing I found helpful was surfing the web. Too, another nurse or nursing student (not sure) posted these links on a discussion list I'm on and I've found them to be very helpful. You could bookmark them for referrel.

http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html

http://www.eskeletons.org/

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 30, 2003

Evi, one more thing, if you can get you a tape recorder and record your A&P lectures.

There is always something you miss in lecture or something you just dont "get" at the time or you are to tired and worn out to really "be" there. That way even if I miss part of the lecture (going to the bathroom) or just dont get a part of it I can go home and study it over some more and listen to the lecture again.

For me this REALLY helps. I have made an A in every single class, even the harder ones (like Chem and Anatomy) and I feel this helps me. I also use any websites, CDs, etc that come with the book to quiz myself and see what areas I am lacking in.

You can do it!!

Marilyn

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2003

re: volunteering

What about volunteering during holidays (christmas break etc.) and during times when you can afford the time? Is there anything written about how much time you have to have in your experience?

And A&P is hard. It just is, and the only way to pass is to study. I gave up many things to get through nursing school. At first, I was overwhelmed and very very disappointed in myself that Ic ouldn't just breeze through, but eventually, as I gave up my social life and began to really buckle down, I was able to do it. I worked full time for the prereqs and 30 hrs a week during nursing school. Hard, but worth it. I was a desk jockey, too, before nursing, and now I can feel how worth it all of that struggle to get here was.