Taking a class in which a lot of people seem to have a background in anatomy...

[PianoTiles]

Hope the title makes sense lol

Im 18 and I just started my first semester at a community college. I'm currently taking Introduction to Physiology, which is a class for people didn't place into Anatomy and Physiology when they took the biology placement exam. (And I was two points away from getting into A&P on my first try...)

The placement exam didn't have an ounce of anatomy and physiology on it. It was more like knowing about scientific notation, how to convert units, chemistry, reading comprehension questions, etc. The class that im taking is supposed to teach you biochemistry and then help you to integrate what you know into Anatomy and Physiology for next semester.

Today was our first lab, and my teacher was talking a lot about organs. Now, I remember her saying that she's giving us a glimpse into what A&P was going to be like, but I got a little worried. Everyone around me seemed to know the location of the major organs she was talking about such as the stomach, spleen, liver, pancreas, and I knew nothing. Absolutely nada. And im worried that there's going to be a lot of anatomy involved in this course even though it is not A&P. I mean, im willing to study and learn the different organs and organ systems if thats what It'll take, but Im not sure where to start, and I feel a little intimidated. Adding to that, I failed the first quiz because I studied for the wrong thing, so im feeling a little discouraged, but im not going to give up. I also was a bit slow in keeping up with what was going on in the lab today...so...yeah :/ I felt really incompetent and..stupid, for lack of a better word. I just feel like everyone is on a higher level than me in that class, which is an odd feeling because I've never been at the bottom of a class before. (Maybe im speaking too soon lol It's only the beginning of the semester)

Im about to email my professor and ask her whats going on with this, but I was wondering what you guys think of this? Thanks :) (Im gonna study my lil booty off lol, take advantage of open lab, look for tutors...I really want to succeed in this class)

[hstutz86]

if you don't know much about the topic - read about it in your leisure time.... no one is born knowing all this.. you just need enough exposure to feel confident..

good luck

[cupcakeluver]

I never took any kind of intro class. I had been out of high school for a while and was told I needed A&P, so I took it. Looking back, I wish I had been offered something like what you're doing now. In the beginning, everyone feels overwhelmed at one point or another. Those people who seem to know everything will surely struggle with a different topic your class covers. Some will struggle more than others. If you end up struggling, do what you have to in order to master the topic. I think establishing a good foundation in this class can only help you be more successful in the more advanced A&P class.

I think you've already got a good plan established with reaching out to the teacher and seeking a tutor. If you do those things, you will improve.

The bottom line is, every person has their own challenges. It doesn't mean you're stupid or incapable. It might mean you have to work a little bit harder, which will just make your success all that much more satisfying. Hang in there. You'll get into a groove.

[Stephia87RN]

It's really important to gain a full understanding of each organ system before you start the nursing program. In the program, most of the teaching is by organ system so having that strong foundation will ensure you won't be lost in your nursing classes.

I would email your teacher and explain how you're feeling. She can hopefully suggest some additional reading or maybe a tutor that can help you feel more on level with everyone else.

Keep your head down and keep moving forward. It'll be over before you know it :)

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

It is important to learn the organs, their placement, and connections. Physiology is how organ systems function and how they interact with each other. If one organ begins to fail, the other organs that depend on that organ to do it's job will eventually fail also.

[Honey Clover]

Don't worry. I was in the same boat. Never took an anatomy class in my life. I depended on my classmates a lot at the beginning of the semester and studied my ass off. Ended up getting one of the highest grades in the class at the end of the semester. Your introductory course is meant for new students; they probably don't expect you to know anything imo. Why does it matter how much your classmates know? Concentrate on yourself and how you can grow in your classes.

Regarding studying, I suggest you ask your professor specifically what you should study. Personally, I studied everything so I can have a good foundation for my other classes. You also might want to figure out how you study best. Visual, auditory... Etc.

[PianoTiles]

You guys are so kind and supportive. Thank you so much!

And holy-moly, I just realized that along with my textbook, a book called "A brief atlas of the human body" comes along with it! I feel so silly for not paying attention to this earlier lol! In highschool, I was so used to not ever looking into my class textbooks to get a good grade. Basically, what the teacher taught was what you had to learn, so there wasn't much studying that needed to happen outside of the classroom with the textbooks. Im going to spend a big part of my day looking through this atlas, and remembering to look inside my textbook for information prior to class as well.

[hstutz86]

Most learning occurs in the time your alone..... everything we know today - ideas, theories, inventions was a Peron's effort and time, reading and critical thinking.... you will be amazed how much you learn if you would just read! :)

[KlondikePete]

Oh, wow, you are describing me right now with pathophysiology. I signed up to take it this semester and I started worrying well before the first class meeting that I'm going to be so very far behind because...fill in the blank. Now it's true that it's been 3 years since I took anatomy & physiology, but I loved A&P and I'm not stupid. Yeah, I wish I'd spent the last month or two before the semester start to re-read my A&P text. And yeah, no doubt there will be people in that class who have advanced degrees in related fields (what the heck are they doing here??!?). But if I stop and breathe for a minute I realize the panic is mostly due to that doubting voice in my head. Sounds like you have the same voice.

Relax. Breathe. Tell the voice to go bother someone else. :-)

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Couple of books that will help you-- Anatomy Coloring Book (yes, really-- not a joke, a really good tool) and Physiology Coloring Book (ditto). Also, I am glad you have learned right now that the way you studied (or didn't study) in high school is not going to work for you anymore. On the contrary, a lot of nursing students are mad when they discover that their tests include material that wasn't mentioned in lecture at all...but it was expected that they would have learned it on their own from their textbooks and other supplemental materials (which they might have to identify and find on their own). "But it wasn't part of lecture!" totally doesn't cut it.

Word to the wise!

[emmy27]

Seconding GrnTea's recommendation of the Anatomy coloring book- it's really relaxing and spending the time to color the names and placement of the systems really helps cement it in your mind.