Summer Course Anatomy

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Hello I am a pre=nursing student and would like some advice on my pre-reqs. Has anyone taken Anatomy during a five week summer course and if so can you please give me some do's and don'ts advice. Is it doable and how hard is it? Thank you for all your help.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day,

I've taken summer science classes (this summer, I'll be taking two) in the past. They are harder; but doable. My advice is follow https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/how-get-any-846733.html as best as you can follow it. Stay on top of all reading, studying, and make sure you have a good system set up to keep track of what you need to do, and when.

One of my best sayings is "conquer early, conquer well." Try to get things done in advance so that when anything hits the fan, you are unphased by it. For any lab, stay for the entire lab. If your college has a model room, use it. If this involves bones, get into handling them, learning the markings by touch. If you put in the time, you should be able to name a bone with your eyes closed as well as be able to feel out and identify the markings; that's doable in the spring, fall... might be tough in the summer... but if this is your only summer class, it still might be doable.

Ask about tape recording lectures; if able, tape record. Then when you are driving, walking, cleaning, etc. listen and re-listen to the lectures. Take good notes, sit up front, and participate. For me, when I participate, I'm wrong here and there... AND I benefit from being corrected because the wrong information doesn't stick in my head for any length of time. Get it out, and either it will be right and then reinforced or wrong, and taken away; everyone benefits even those students who may sigh because you did participate.

Thank you.

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Thank you for the advice everyone says anatomy is the most important class is this true? If so should I take a full semester?

Magical Wishes Always,

Brenda Roman

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Also Most of the time I do not answer questions because I am wrong. Makes me feel dumb but that is true the humility might help it stick better?

Magical Wishes Always,

Brenda Roman

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Thank you for the advice everyone says anatomy is the most important class is this true? If so should I take a full semester?

Hello! It is true that Anatomy is an important class as many nursing schools believe Anatomy to be an indication of how well you will do in nursing courses. It's also important to understand the normal anatomy and physiology in order to understand the pathophysiology of a disease process. Summer courses are doable, but they require a lot of work and dedication to make the grade. A C may be okay in some classes, but it's definitely important to attain a higher grade as A&P is something that will significantly boost your GPA when it comes time to apply to nursing programs.

Best of luck!

PS: A word of advice- consider changing your username. In case your school administrators or potential future employers do an Internet search, it will eliminate the chances of being "figured out." A website avatar is also recommended to be of a random picture, not of yourself- keep your identity a secret! :-)

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

You are not dumb. To me answering means I either get correct information reinforced or bad information taken away (which is a good thing). While I do get sighs from time to time, I also get people thanking me because they had the same question. Never -- EVER, did I have a single person state the question was dumb or that my answer was dumb. To be blunt, those are illusions.

Yes, in terms of the prerequisites, A&P 1 (especially 1) is the make or break class. I do recommend taking it during a full semester unless you love science and are into science. If you've not had a science class in a while, I would take it during a full semester. Maybe take human biology or a related course in the summer to get your feet wet with applicable science that will help you in A&P 1 (I found human biology prior to AP1 to be a blessing; and it's still helping me in AP2).

Thank you.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I took A&P back in the 80s. Fast forward to 2012 and I had to re-take it because too much time had elapsed (can't have pre-req credits older than 5 years). Since I had already competed A&P, I figured I'd take it over the summer so it would be quicker.

While I did fine in the class (got an A, just like the first time), students who had no exposure to anatomy REALLY struggled with the fast pace of the 8 week summer term. Many failed out or ended up with a low C.

Since A&P is a very vital pre-req, I would caution you on taking it over the summer. There is a mountain of memorization and you really need to know your A&P well to do good in nursing school. Our instructors have said that students with lower pre-req grades in A&P tend to struggle mightily in Med-Surg.

If it's possible, wait until you have a full semester to devote to it.

BTW, I'm now halfway done with nursing school and knowing your physiology can make or break you in our classes.

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Hi Nurse Tinkerbelle!

I actually took both Anatomy & Physiology classes in the summer. At my university they are offered in 6 week blocks. I was also working at the same time. Let me just tell you, it was one of the most difficult semesters ever.

For twelve weeks I ate, slept, and breathed A&P. I would fall asleep at night with the disk from the book playing the chapter summaries to me. In my class, there were quizes and exams just about every other day. It is a VERY heavy load to take in the summer. I ended up getting an A in both classes, so it is doable.

One thing to keep in mind, some nursing programs require you to get a B or better in A&P in order to qualify for entrance in to their program. (mine does) So if for any reason you think you may not be able to keep up in the summer, wait until the fall where you have more time to concentrate, exams are a little more spaced out and you have time to actually absorb the information! Good luck with whatever you decide!!

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There are many prerequisite courses needed for nursing programs.

It is great that they are available to be taken over the summer.

I would put A&P and chemistry at the bottom of the list for summer courses.

There are probably variables that would allow a higher grade for a difficult course taken over the summer rather than a traditional semester.

If you can identify those variables and have control of them it may be OK.

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Hello everyone i am so torn on what to do i only have A&P left and then i graduate and start applying to nursing schools, the only Bio offered is Bio 3 is that helpful other than that i dont know what else i could take to benefit nursing... I do not work and have a 12 year old so not too difficult. Thank u! For urhelp

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Sorry for the spelling errors was talk to texting

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Hello everyone i am so torn on what to do i only have A&P left and then i graduate and start applying to nursing schools, the only Bio offered is Bio 3 is that helpful other than that i dont know what else i could take to benefit nursing... I do not work and have a 12 year old so not too difficult. Thank u! For urhelp

Is this A&P II? For me it was a lot less time consuming and memorizing than A&PI

Harder systems like respiratory and digestive/urinary. Cardiovascular was a bit of work but not more than the muscles & NMJ in A&P I.

If it's 8 weeks go for it , if less start planning your Destressing strategies now.

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