Summer A&P Crisis

[CordaeP]

Hi everyone. I am currently taking A&P I for the summer. The summer session is 5 weeks. I am feeling so out of my element. There is some much information to learn in such a small amount of time. I feel like so far I have not been able to comprehend what I am learning. This is my second week. I took my first test on Monday and I made a 77 on it. It covered the chemistry, cell form, and themes of A&P. I know that I failed my A&P lab exam, even though I have not gotten it back yet. It coved chemistry, cell form, cell function, histology. My lab instructor gave us the histology information the day before the test. I took that exam Tuesday. I just feel like if I can not catch on to this information than how will I ever become an RN. Should I look into another career? I need some advice. Thanks.

[CordaeP]

Thanks!

[TexasNurse2B]

Don't try and memorize everything you write down and read...much too much information to comprehend. Study what the professor emphasizes during class lectures. Does the professor provide an outline or review questions for exams? If so, be sure to work and answer those questions. Get a study buddy...quiz one another. When you have lab, be sure to physically touch the models and quiz your partner, I found out having to quiz someone and check their answer helped me comprehend the material. Make flash cards...some people are visual learners. I am not, but I used to transcribe my notes from my spiral notebook into a three-ring binder. Tedious yes...but it really helped me to retain the information.

You have plenty of time to make up for the bad grade...this is an endurance race...not a sprint. You are facing adversity...how bad do you want this? You need to have confidence and think positive. If you think your situation is helpless it will be...doubt is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Buckle down...study smarter...and think positively. Then good things will happen to you.

Good luck!

Great post!

[escapebigd]

Right now I'm doing AP2 in the summer and my teacher was amazing enough to release some of the assignments before class even started. So I was able to get my clinical project done and all of my clinical cases before class started. I love the online tests available the one listed above it great, but I also recommend holes human anatomy site.

[CordaeP]

Hi everyone I took my lab and lecture finals this week. I got my grades tonight and I make an A. Boy did I work hard these five weeks. It was I worth it beacuse I did not want anything less than an A. Thank all of again for the words of encouragement.

[want2beagreatRN]

Hey, I am in (almost) the same boat as you. I'm currently taking A&P 2 in 8 weeks. Wow! First you need to give yourself credit for taking such a compressed course. You obviously want to do well in it. My plan of study is to "layer" the material; I use my instructor's powerpoints and write my notes on top of them, then I reread the chapter and make some more notes on the powerpoints as I go. Another VERY helpful thing I do is to go to the textbook's publisher's website. In my particular book's site, there are lots of resources like chapter outlines with fill in the blanks, games, animations,etc. That may be a good resource for you. I hope this helps, and I know you will be FINE. Just relax! Then hit the books ; )

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I just took a 5 week chem/lab and I can totally relate to how you're feeling right now. It's a ton of material to cover in a short period of time. All of our tests covered something we didn't learn until the night before.. goes with the territory I guess. Luckily, we didn't have lab exams, we just did the experiments and filled out the reports.. that was our grade. Hang in there, sciences are hard in the mini semesters.. I pulled out a B. Edited: I see you did awesome. Congratulations.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Hi everyone I took my lab and lecture finals this week. I got my grades tonight and I make an A.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Cordae, can you please share with us you top 5 A&P specific study tips? I'm retaking it in the Fall. Your A is inspirational!

[CordaeP]

I know that you will do an excellent job if you truely want to suceed in A&P.

TIPS:

1.) Call friends or family and tell them that I have to take a break from them.

2.) During study time put phone on silent.

3.) Listen and take notes during lecture on my powerpoints.

4.) Read in my book the highlights from class to get a better understanding of class material.

(I did not read all the material in the book because I just wanted to focus on the main topics so that I would not become overwhelmed. I tried to read everything the first week and did not do so well on my first test in lab or lecture.)

5.) Rewrote my notes and read them back until I understood them.( Do this little by little. Instructors are right when they say don't cramp. It is just too much information!)

Good luck! I am ready for A&PII in the Fall.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Vintagemother- I found making my own flash cards really worked wonders to get me through lecture tests. Taking pictures in lab and making your own flash cards out of that helps tremendously.