Oh geesh, classes have just started and ALREADY I have a problem.
You see I'm a vegetarian and my lab for Anatomy and Physiology has a part to it that is dissecting a cat. Problem is I have a respect for life and am a strict vegetarian (no leather, meat of any kind, etc.) This is part of the reason why I want to become a nurse - to help the world not hurt it. If I dissect a cat then I will be directly responsible for that cat having been killed. What should I do? The lab (as a whole) looks like it is one third of the final grade. I've already emailed the dean of students, and I'm waiting to hear back from him. I can't imagine that I'm the only one to ever have had this problem. Nursing schools weigh GPA very heavily. I want to kick ass.. any suggestions?
I can look in on others doing a dissection (as that is their own choice), but if I do it myself then I become responsible. Sigh.
I understand and respect your feelings on the cat dissection issue. However, the animal is dead and it's purpose is to serve our knowledge. For instance, if you were to become a veterenarian (Obviously they adore animals) they would have to dissect animals too so they could educate themselves so that they could potentially save them. Also, seeing the real organs is much different than lokking at them in books. Try to think positive thoughts and know that what you will be learning by being hands on will help you down the road. I understand how you feel because 2 nights ago we had to dissect a fetal pig. It was so cute and it was really hard to not be upset, BUT once I got inside and examined it, I was fine. One reason was because I knew it was an essential part of learning anatomy the other was because it would be on the test. :chuckle Hang in there, and if you feel this strongly against it then I would consult your instructor about it and see if you could do another project instead. Good luck to you! :)
I will admit to not having read all 10 pages of this thread..
At my school we had 2 cadavers. We had to identify stuff but didn't do much hands on... I think I only saw the cadaver one time in A&P II cuz the teacher didn't like dragging them out. I almost think I'd have rather had the cat because hands on=better understanding at least for me.
However, some options may be to choose another school to take A&P that doesn't use animals or find a school that offers online A&P with a virtual lab.
One day I just woke up and was a vegetarian (practically vegan). I didn't decide to do it. I just was.
...and some day you'll wake up and be a meat eater again. When that happens you'll be upset that you couldn't get through nursing school because of a stupid dead cat. I'm a guy, I went through my veggie phase, I grew out of it (steaks are yummy once again!), and I'm guessing you will too.
If not, the cats already dead and you're not required to eat it (right?) so relax and take solace in the fact that you're putting some feral cat to good use.
...and some day you'll wake up and be a meat eater again. When that happens you'll be upset that you couldn't get through nursing school because of a stupid dead cat. I'm a guy, I went through my veggie phase, I grew out of it (steaks are yummy once again!), and I'm guessing you will too.
If not, the cats already dead and you're not required to eat it (right?) so relax and take solace in the fact that you're putting some feral cat to good use.
ty
:uhoh21:
Just because you 'grew out' of it doesn't mean everyone does. I have been veggie for 12 years and if someone said something to me like you just said to the OP I would have some not-so-nice words for them.
Wake up! Not everyone is the same- and as a nurse (or student, didn't check) you'd think you'd know that!
I never responded with my opinion on the topic- lol.
As someone who DID NOT do any dissections in high school (did them all on computers instead, which I had to talk to the principal about just to be allowed) I know that to become a nurse I WILL have to do the dissecting now. I hate the idea but I feel this is different from the many, pointless dissections you have to do in high school.
Nursing (obviously) involves medicine and the human body and for that you MUST know how the body works. I don't think you can get quite as in depth with it by watching a film or doing it on a PC.
Unfortunate- but we will both have to suck it up and deal if we want to become nurses.
Just because you 'grew out' of it doesn't mean everyone does. I have been veggie for 12 years ...
Good for you! I'm genuinely happy for you and envious, as I agree with many of the principles usually associated with vegetarianism. I was referring to the OP's "...I just woke up..." comment. I did say I was "guessing" he would grow out of it, I was sharing my own unique experience (after all, isn't that all one can do?), and he did ask for the opinion of others.
I wonder how many self-professed vegetarians still keep the faith? Speaking from my own experience (knowing nothing of yours), I found it to be too confining and inconvenient. Futhermore, as an active, young male, finding adequate and complete proteins sources while eating enough calories proved nearly impossible...in my own experience.
Good for you! I'm genuinely happy for you and envious, as I agree with many of the principles usually associated with vegetarianism. I was referring to the OP's "...I just woke up..." comment. I did say I was "guessing" he would grow out of it, I was sharing my own unique experience (after all, isn't that all one can do?), and he did ask for the opinion of others.
I wonder how many self-professed vegetarians still keep the faith? Speaking from my own experience (knowing nothing of yours), I found it to be too confining and inconvenient. Futhermore, as an active, young male, finding adequate and complete proteins sources while eating enough calories proved nearly impossible...in my own experience.
ty
I have been a vegetarian for 27 years and I will also be a vegetarian when I am on my death bed. :)
...and some day you'll wake up and be a meat eater again. When that happens you'll be upset that you couldn't get through nursing school because of a stupid dead cat. I'm a guy, I went through my veggie phase, I grew out of it (steaks are yummy once again!), and I'm guessing you will too.
If not, the cats already dead and you're not required to eat it (right?) so relax and take solace in the fact that you're putting some feral cat to good use.
ty
That's quite a bit to assume of someone that you do not know.
Good for you! I'm genuinely happy for you and envious, as I agree with many of the principles usually associated with vegetarianism. I was referring to the OP's "...I just woke up..." comment. I did say I was "guessing" he would grow out of it, I was sharing my own unique experience (after all, isn't that all one can do?), and he did ask for the opinion of others.
I wonder how many self-professed vegetarians still keep the faith? Speaking from my own experience (knowing nothing of yours),
I found it to be too confining and inconvenient. Futhermore, as an active, young male, finding adequate and complete proteins sources while eating enough calories proved nearly impossible...in my own experience.
ty
Man, you really neeed to read, read, read!!! Complete protein sources? Come on. To help stop this FALLACY please read something on vegetarianism that is published within the last 25 years please. Also make sure it is not published by the cattlemans association.
Well the fact is we are not in school to be veterinarians, we are in school to be nurses!! Therefore, we should disect people. Right? Does not matter any way, disecting animals has been out dated for over 20years!! Disecting an animal will never ever prepare anyone for what lies ahead in nursing, period!! Anyway, institutions cannot force some to disect if it is a conflict to your beliefs. :)
I understand and respect your feelings on the cat dissection issue. However, the animal is dead and it's purpose is to serve our knowledge. For instance, if you were to become a veterenarian (Obviously they adore animals) they would have to dissect animals too so they could educate themselves so that they could potentially save them. Also, seeing the real organs is much different than lokking at them in books. Try to think positive thoughts and know that what you will be learning by being hands on will help you down the road. I understand how you feel because 2 nights ago we had to dissect a fetal pig. It was so cute and it was really hard to not be upset, BUT once I got inside and examined it, I was fine. One reason was because I knew it was an essential part of learning anatomy the other was because it would be on the test. :chuckle Hang in there, and if you feel this strongly against it then I would consult your instructor about it and see if you could do another project instead. Good luck to you! :)
SoulShine75
801 Posts
I understand and respect your feelings on the cat dissection issue. However, the animal is dead and it's purpose is to serve our knowledge. For instance, if you were to become a veterenarian (Obviously they adore animals) they would have to dissect animals too so they could educate themselves so that they could potentially save them. Also, seeing the real organs is much different than lokking at them in books. Try to think positive thoughts and know that what you will be learning by being hands on will help you down the road. I understand how you feel because 2 nights ago we had to dissect a fetal pig. It was so cute and it was really hard to not be upset, BUT once I got inside and examined it, I was fine. One reason was because I knew it was an essential part of learning anatomy the other was because it would be on the test. :chuckle Hang in there, and if you feel this strongly against it then I would consult your instructor about it and see if you could do another project instead. Good luck to you! :)