Starting A&P I tonight, need tips!

Thujone · Sep 7, 2011

I'll offer you some study tips that I have learned over the years.

1. Read the book, not only the text, but also the pictures and their captions.

2. Highlight information that you think is important, or is discussed in class.

3. Do your assignments as soon as possible, don't get behind.

4. Write down the major points of each heading.

5. Recite the information to someone.

6. Take time for yourself to relax and clear your mind.

7. Only study 2-3 hours a day, no more.

8. Have fun, AnP is not the beast that everyone makes it out to be, the class is very fun and interesting, but does require a certain amount of attention.

Camwill, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, LPN, APRN, NP · Sep 7, 2011

The only other thing I would include is to record your lectures, find some topics on YouTube about what you are doing in lecture it helps prep me, and make learning it fun color or draw. I find that I maintain the information better if read, watch, write, and discuss the information. Also be a active participant in class. I have my axial quiz today I am excited to take this exam, I am ready!!!

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Sep 7, 2011

I just started teaching A & P II this semester. There are several supplemental items I use and suggest students to use. The first is Barron’s E-Z anatomy and physiology. The book covers key points without going into too much detail. So, it makes for easier reading. The second is Atlas of Pathophysiology. As part of the curriculum for the course I teach, I must introduce three pathologies of each system covered. The book does a great job, again without a significant amount of technical jargon, of explaining the disease process.

I have been doing some research in nursing education and found some great articles on how to teach the disease process and A & P for better understanding. It also outlines how to make the connections. I do a lot of visual and hands-on in class. I make associates with concepts in an easier way to understand. I just finished lecturing the endocrine system (one of the more difficult systems, I think) last week. My class had a test on Friday. The lowest grade was an 86 and highest was a 98. The class average was 94.8. So, the method appears to be working.

So, I suggest getting a supplemental book like the one mentioned above and read over it for a general understanding. Then read the textbook. I made the same suggestion to my class. Textbooks are often times difficult to read, especially the sciences.

Good luck!

pixie976 · Sep 7, 2011

thanks for the suggestions! just super nervous in general since i am so out of practice when it comes to the school thing. Almost in complete panic mode but trying not to let it get the best of me :)

ames2009 · Sep 7, 2011

I just started 8 week A&P a new weeks ago.... and the best tip I can give is don't get behind, I think the sticky on this site about A&P from my brain to yours by polka-dot is awesome!!!! :) You will do great, don't worry so much! :)

willowita, ADN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

Agree with others here, don't fall behind. Stay on top of the class.

Memorize a few things every day and eventually you'll build up your knowledge. If you try to learn the entire skull the night before a test, for example, you'll be hurting. There are also a lot of self tests online for bones, muscles, organs, etc. The website that I referred to outside of lab time was the PSU Anatomy Class site dissection. That's not my school but my professor recommended it because it has lots of pics. That came in very handy for muscles and blood vessels.

YouTube also has pretty much everything. Not sure if you've taken chem or bio or if you remember any of it from 15 years ago but if you need refresher on stuff like protein synthesis, DNA replication, basic cellular bio, it's all on there with animations. I think we have it easier with the amount of info available to us than if you had gone to school 10 years ago. Make good use of it! :)

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Sep 8, 2011

thanks for the suggestions! just super nervous in general since i am so out of practice when it comes to the school thing. Almost in complete panic mode but trying not to let it get the best of me :)

I understand that completely! While I was only out of a classroom setting for almost 6 years...I still almost let it get the best of me! It went so much easier than I had my mind set it would...everything went so smooth and I felt so great and relieved. You're right, it's a pretty complex course, but nothing ample amount of studying can't fix. I just started A&P towards the end of last month, here are some of the things I've discovered that works for me.

Supplemental learning - I'm not by any means trying to encourage you to go out and spends tons out of your wallet, but some of these things might be a good investment depending on the way you go about learning. I bought Anatomy & Physiology for Dummies, Kaplan's Anatomy Coloring Book, and Kaplan's Anatomy Flashcards to name most. I did this because I find that I learn more efficiently when a lot of the material is broken down into a "dummy" form". :clown: Plus, I'm majority visual when it comes to learning, as well as hands-on, so the coloring books are really beneficial to me so far!

Reading - I have read each chapter from beginning to end and reread what I needed more time comprehending. Tables and Charts are very essential to learning this material to! Don't just look at the text, pay a great amount of attention to the detailed charts. My instructor tests over a lot of these himself.

Notes - I'm an avid note taker during lecture, while also listening to the instructor. I fill pages from front to back and I've been in class for about 3 weeks...I have about 12 sheets full of notes that I've taken to help me study and learn the material better. Although, notes during lecture is not always the best thing (not the entire time anyway), you might miss important information while you're busy writing out what's already passed in class. If your instructor offers Lecture Notes or Outlines, utilize these. My A&P instructor just got these up, and now I print them out and take them to class, and write little notes beside the printed text, that way I can pay way more attention to the lecture.

Flashcards - I use these very often, especially for the physiology aspect of A&P. Definitions also always go on my flashcards for studying. I'm able to study more in depth this way, instead of reading the definition that comes after the bold text in my textbook.

All in all, it does all come down to time management, due to time set aside for studies, and so on and so forth, but you'll find that it's easier than it seems to find this balance of time! Good luck! I hope I've helped a tiny bit! :)

pixie976 · Sep 8, 2011

all great tips guys! 1st class went well, took alot of notes that im going to retype today and look over later. so afraid of overstudying but i am sure ill find my stride soon!

stefanyjoy · Sep 8, 2011

Don't let yourself get behind. Study the material as you go along, not just when a test is on the horizon. Otherwise you'll be completely overwhelmed.

In addition to your notes from class & the book readings, look at YouTube videos on your subject matter to really tie it all together, such as ones by Mr. Ford. See this one on anatomical positions - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GAw9w1XNEI

I also recommend his online lectures at http://www.mrfordsclass.net/. You do have to pay $5 for each topic but there is a LOT of information covered and his teaching style is very cohesive and easy to follow along. I bought his skeletal system lectures and they were awesome for playing on the computer when my eyes were too tired to study words any more. Definitely worth the $5.

momtojosh · Sep 8, 2011

i clicked on the mrfords site and it only show A & P 1...does he do 2 as well?

myelin · Sep 8, 2011

Study less, but smarter. I can't tell you the countless friends I had who spent hours and hours studying for weeks on end only to get a A- or B or C or worse! I got a 4.0 in A&P 1 and 2 because I learned how to read my teacher and anticipate the types of exam questions I would encounter. I didn't waste my time reading the entire chapter and trying to absorb all that information. I focused on the things my professor stressed in class/reading guides while skimming the rest. Really, learn to read your professor. During lecture and labs your prof is literally telling you what is going to be on the exam. Yes, there will be things on the exam that aren't stressed in lecture or reading guides, that's why you skim the rest. I guess my point is focus your effort on what is stressed in class/reading guides. Don't try to read every little thing and learn it all. You can't do it and you'll end up without a strong understanding of the main concepts your prof stresses. I used no supplements, waste of money IMO. Half the battle is knowing the basic info. The other half is exam performance and knowing how to word answers in the way your prof wants.

I didn't study daily for this class. I studied weekly or biweekly. Pay attention in lecture. Ask questions. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you don't understand something ASK. That way you can follow each concept as it is presented. Your time in lecture and lab with your professor is worth gold. This is when the prof is presenting the information to you in the way it will be presented on the exam. Make sure you understand how your professor approaches different topics, how they present things and conceptualize it all. Then you can present it that way on the exam. Take excellent notes and write things out. Don't print out power points if you can avoid it. Writing things down will imprint them in your memory better.