VERY NERVOUS ABOUT A&P 1

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2005

Although I took biol and A&P I II a few years ago, I remember they can inter relate some, but A&P's are a lot of memorization. In lab, I would look at say, the ULNA bone. I would orient it's position to where I could recognize it from other bones. Most bones have several things to name (different parts of the bone). I would start at the top and name the place. Then name it again along with the next place down the bone to remember. Then I would start again from the beginning, each time adding the next point on the bone to remember. By the time I got to the last point, I would have it pretty well memorized. Then I would hide my notes and name all the points at least 3 times. I hope that makes sense. (Just in case...)

Say each letter represents a point on the (bone, organ, vessels, etc)

I would learn it in this format

A then

A + B then

A + B + C

A + B + C + D

Funny thing is you will be the last one to leave lab (on time though). Everyone else will have left an hour ago but they are the ones that also get C's and D's on their tests. And the instructor is much more willing to help you than the others.

When the test comes around and you are asked to name "C", and cant remember, you can start from the top (in your mind) and most of the time, the rhythm you worked with before will help you.

That must have been so confusing!

I was bored in Biol, but I found A & P so interesting that I think all high school kids should HAVE to have it to graduate. I would hate to go through life without knowing where my kidneys and liver are.

It's the only thing I truely own!

Woogy

carveronica · Aug 8, 2005

Thanks Woogy,

That was great advice! I really appreciate it,you are an :saint: for giving me some valuable advice. I went to Barnes and Noble today to check out the A & P coloring books. I heard this is also a valuable tool for students. I think the store also carrys the micro book. I'm really nervous, I just want to get into nursing school before i get to old. I'm raising my kids alone and want to have a better life for them and I also love helping people. Thanks again.

Are you a nurse now?

Race Mom, ASN, RN · Aug 8, 2005

Not yet! I was in nursing school in 2002 but had to withdrawl. Now I am waiting for acceptance for Spring 2006. Just found out today that there were about 300 apps taken (128 spots).

I am going to be in Micro this fall. Tried it in the summer session but the professor was not clicking with my learning style. I dropped it after day 2 and am taking it at CC with a highly recommended prof. Not to highjack, but it seems like youre going into micro, so any study ideas there would be great too!!!

Woogy

Lilac · Aug 8, 2005

Hi there. I'm an older student who has survived a couple of anatomy classes (I changed schools and credits didn't transfer).Anatomy is a lot of memorizing. It does require a lot of study time. I study at least two hours for every hour of class and lab time.I prefer using index cards over premade note cards, as the process of writing the information on the card helps me to memorize.

Before class, I try to read the appropriate chapter in the book.I attend lecture and take notes (over and beyond the lecture notes we have to purchase). After lecture, I drive home and think about the information that was covered while I drive. I then have a snack and start translating my notes onto index cards right away.

I have a schedule of how much info I need to transfer to index cards per day. The schedule is based on when our tests and quizzes will be given. I carry my completed index cards with me in my purse. Whenever I have to wait in line or have a few moments to spare, I take my cards out and go over them. I try to look at each completed card at least five time before my test or quiz.

To study for the test or quiz, I go over the index cards, my lab worksheets, and my notes. I also will often get onto the website listed in my textbook and take the practice exams.I use the coloring book while studying for exams and quizzes, if time allows.

Take advantage of the time you have for labs. Don't leave early if you can manage that.If you aren't feeling particularly confident with a certain body system, try to go back into the lab during open lab times for additional study. While studying the bones and muscles, try to study both the complete models and individual muscle models. Pay attention to the landmarks, such as trochanters, notches, etc. These are what confuse many people when it comes time to identify certain bones on exams.

Most likely, the first few classes, you will learn about anatomical positions, planes, and regions. Pay very, very close attention! These will be very important down the line, and knowing them will help you learn other terms much easier.

If it looks like you aren't learning the material after your first test, get help early!! There are often tutors or study groups for anatomy classes. Ask questions during lab times, and talk to your instructor also.

I don't know how old your children are. If they are older, like mine, you may need to sit them down and let them know that you must have time to study, and that it's nonegotiable time. If youre children are younger, you may need to find someone to trade off babysitting with in order to have a quiet enough environment to do the type of studying you need to do.

It's not uncommon to feel like you aren't learning a thing, because of the pace of the material covered. If you are scoring in the B range or above on your tests, don't worry about whether or not you are retaining the material. I find that the info often pops back in my head when it's discussed at later times:)

You are doing a wonderful thing, taking on this challenge so you can give your children and yourself a better life. Good luck:)

Krystal_loves_babies · Aug 8, 2005

I just finished A&P 1 and 2. I took A&P 2 in an ultrafast three week class with four hours of lecture each day, five days a week. With that said, I cannot emphasize enough how important Lab is. Unless you spend extra time in lab, it seems like none of the lecture concepts make sense. I am a visual/hands on learner, and going in and looking at the cats and cadavers and all the labeled models was a tremendous help for me. Not that everyone learns like me, but nailing down what is presented in class by actually looking at it will help a lot. Good Luck to you guys who are starting A&P! :)

Laura77598 · Aug 15, 2005

Hi again. I signed up for Anatomy and Physiology for fall, I am so nervous because all this science stuff is not making sense to me in my bio(intro) class. It just all seems so confusing. I am hoping A&P might be more interesting to me. I did well in all my other classes but if I can't do well in Science I wonder what my chances will be doing well in NUrsing School. Does anyone feel this way. Is this class just going to be alot of memorizing. I just keep hearing how horrible and hard it is. Any suggestions, study idea, should i buy a book b4 i go into the class??? THanks everyone.

Hi very nervous,

I just took AP 1 and I got an A in the class! let me tell you how I did it.

I am by no means a straight A student! In fact, this is my first A in any science class. Zoology bored me and I got a C, Chemistry was exciting and I got a B, Botoany barely held my attention and I convinced myself that I could pass without studying too much because of my other classes, I got a D!!!!

These three classes I took about 15-20 years ago, and I took them with other classes. BIG mistake!!!!!

If you want to be a nurse bad enough, you know that you muct take Anatomy and Physiology, right? O.k. Now take the class with as few other courses as you possibly can! Pretend that this class is your baby and you do not want to do it wrong. Devote as much of your time to it as you can! Also Sit up front and ASK MANY QUESTIONS!!! Get the teacher to teach YOU act as if you are the only student in the class, and you are the only one that wants to know everything about what he/she is teaching! Remember, YOU put down your money for this class, GET everything you can from it! if the college offers tutoring outside of class, get some. Set up a study group but limit it to only 4 or 5 people. Too many people can cause more problems than help. Do all study questions, read the chapter and see what the paragraphs are talking about. Pay special attention to the prof's notes. That is where your test will come from! Visit your teacher after class as often as possible! Not just to ask questions, but to tell hem or her that you just read the chapter, or that you wanted some clarification on the notes, or just to see what specifically he/she wants you to study for the test. Your prof is your best friend. let him or her know that you will do whatever it takes to get an A in their class, and you will.

Think of the military:

Not one of those pilots, or troop leaders, or bombing crew has a clue in the world as to what they're doing any more than the guy next to them, but if you ever have watched TOP GUN, ole Pete Mitchell equates nearly being killed flying a fighter jet plane as "just a walk in the park!"

You need to pretend to be that student! Act as confidently as you possibly can, let your prof and other students know that you are there to GET AN A IN THAT CLASS, not to do well in it! And you will!

NO ONE IN THE ENTIRE CLASS WAS MORE SURPRISED THAN ME WHEN I GOT AN A IN THIS CLASS, AND IF I CAN DO IT ANYBODY CAN!!!!!!!

I remember one specific day, when the teacher was asking questions and asked us if we had questions, as he frequently did at the end of a segment, and I was the only one in a class of 52 people to ask questions. They were stupid questions too! (could you go over that one more time, but what does this part do) That kind of thing. I never felt so stupid in my entire lefe as I did when I took this class. However, I am 39 years old da#* it and I want the teacher to teach ME and not have me to guess what he wants me to know!! You put down your good money, Now make him or her WORK for YOU get the services you paid for. If you don't understand something, say so, and ask to see them on office hours. Stay as late and go as frequently as possible. If you are serious about doing well, you will do whatever it takes. the teacher will gear heis lectures to you and your understanding rather than making you keep up! My teacher always made me feel like I was the most important student in the class, and he would not continue or go on until I was clear on the material. Forget about everyone else, Laura have YOU got it? Good!

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!!! All the students in my lecture all 52 of them were coming to little ole me for help and I did not have any more info than anybody else. I just went in before tests, and asked questions on the material. Frequently when you ask questions on the material covered in class, the prof will fill in all the blanks and tell you, oh don't worry about that, that's not going to be on the test. You will get very valuable information everytime you visit your teacher. Also visit your lab instructor. He or she will give you clues as to what to expect from their quizzes and tests.

After you get your questions cleared up, study your material. study frequently, and study with others, and then study alone.

I frequently find it easier to take a highliter and simply color the paragraphs in the book. I don't actually read while I color these paragraphs, but I color each paragraph a different color ( yellow, green, blue, pink) and then I go over the important parts of the paragraph with a different colore pen or other marker. I usually underline the important parts of the paragraphs rather that color the words wholly. This will gear your attention to only the important parts of the book or chapter.

Never procrastinate! If you wait till the last minute, you will do poorly! The last piece of advice I have to give you is to study like you are failing and you will do better than you expect! also, many books have practice tests and websites! If your book has any of these, take full advantage of them!!!!

Best of luck,

Study hard,

Laura

carveronica · Aug 15, 2005

Laura,

Thank you for your wonderful advice. I really appreciate you taking the time out and replying to my e-mail. I will begin this class tommrow and will use all your valuable advice. I'm a 40 year old single mother of eight and I have been school for many years. I'm starting to take my education quite more serious now. I want to give my children the best possible life. I was married for almost 12years and divorced for seven. It has been diffcult for me to go back to school and start over again and my fear with science classes have been something I have been trying to over come. I have three more classes to get into an ADN program and four more to get into a BSN program. I have been working very hard to achieve my goals. My GPA isn't the best but I will need good grades in these last four science classes to make it possible for me to get into a program. Are you a nurse? Thank you again and wish me luck today with this class I will need it. I will talk to you soon!

Carla