What Did Your A&P Classes Cover? Please Read/Reply!

[DiamondShortay]

I am currently taking A&P 1 at Miami University in Ohio. I am trying to get my pre-requisites done before applying to their ADN Nursing program. But I am just wondering what types of material is or was covered in your A&P classes. I know that A&P is not easy by all means... but at my school they treat us like we are going to be doctors. The book we are using is Hole's Anatomy and Physiology (12 edition) by Shier, Butler, & Lewis. The lab manual is Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual 9th edition (Cat Version) by Marieb.

Here are the chapters we have/are covering:

Chapter 1 - Intro to Human Anatomy & Physiology: This chapter covered what was the difference between anatomy and physiology, level of organization, metabolism, homeostasis, negative & positive feedback, body cavities, thoracic and abdominopelvic membranes (pleural membranes, pericardial,etc.), brief summary of the organ systems, anatomical position, relative positions (superior, lateral, proximal, etc.), body sections (sagittal, transverse, etc.) body regions (epigastric region, umbilical region, RUQ, LLQ, acromial, digital, mental, etc.)

Ok that chapter was a lot of info but I didn't think it was too bad!

Chapter 2 - Chemical Basis of Life: This chapter covered matter, elements, atoms, atomic structure, isotopes, molecules and compounds, bonding of atoms, chemical reactions, acids, bases, salts, acid & base concentrations,inorganic substances, organic substances, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, DNA.

Ok this chapter was way over my head! I never have taken chemistry in my life!

Chapter 3 - Cells: cell membrane cellular adhesion molecules, cytoplasm (ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, vesicles, mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxisomes, centrosome, cilla and flagella, microfilaments and microtubles) cell nucleus, diffusion, osmosis, filtation, active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis, transcytosis, cell cycle, interphase, mitosis ( prophas, metaphase, anaphase, telophase), cytoplasmic division, stem cells.

And again over my head!

Chapter 4 - Cellular Metabolism: anabolism, catabolism, emzymes, cofactors & coemzymes, regulation of metabolic pathways, energy for metabolic recations, ATP Molecules, release of chemical energy, cellular respiration, glycolysis, anaerobic reactions, aerobic reactions, citric acid cycle, electron transport chain, carbohydrate & lipid storage, genes, DNA replication, genetic code, RNA molecules, codons, mutations.

Over my head!

Chapter 5 - Tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous, etc *OK I am tired of typing! LOL*

This wasn't too bad!

Chapter 10 - Nervous System 1- Basic Structure & function

This Chapter was a lot of information (We are up to here as of 7-16-09)

Chapter 11 - Nervous System 2 - Division of the Nervous System

Chapter 12 - Nervous System 3 - Senses

Chapter 13 - Endocrine System

Chapter 22 - Reproductive System

Chapter 23 - Pregnancy, Growth & Development

I have had only a WEEK to learn the first 3 chapters! I have my 2nd exam tomorrow on chapters 4,5, & 10... I have only had a WEEK to learn this material also! I know it is a summer class but in reading all the other posts about the A&P classes students took... they didn't seem this difficult! I have read people on here suggesting a coloring book. In this class we don't use figures at all so I don't know how that would help me other than for studying the body regions. Someone posted a study guide with notes that they took from there A&P class... I looked them over and none of them helped me for this A&P class. Therefore I am wondering if this material is the normal/average A&P class. PLEASE LET ME KNOW! If all the classes are like this at all the other schools... I WILL NEVER MAKE IT AS A NURSE!

Thanks, Elizabeth

[adamsmom97]

OOPS... I forgot to mention in my previous post that the chapters I stated that were covered in A&P I, then in A&P II were for the FALL or SPRING semester.. This doesn't apply to a summer class.. Sorry.. I do hear this class is more intense in the summer, since they are trying to CRAM in more information in a shorter period of time....

[kgorndt]

Did you take any prior Biology classes before taking this A&P I? A human biology class or one like it, helped me out so much to make me prepared for A&P. No matter if you did, these classes are tough. You need to let this class consume you. Remember, it'll be over before you know it!! STUDY STUDY STUDY!!! MEMORIZE!!!

[sunflowersrose]

:up:This is the same exact book and lab manual that I used except mine is 1 edition earlier. I know it's tough, but really take the time to really get to know everything, because it will make things much easier down the road. You don't want to be looking stuff up about the arteries and veins when it comes time to learn IVs... you want to just know it and if you have to do a quick refresher.

Keep your head up and know you are not the only one who feels like you are doing an insane amount of work, we have all felt like that 1 time or another in our nursing journey, know that if you really want to be a nurse that you can do anything, and with some luck and hard work, ,you'll be great at it.

Good Luck!

[Benedina]

Two thoughts.

1. You mentioned that your class doesn't have an A & P "coloring book" as part of its materials. Of the various coloring books available, you might consider picking up the Marieb one. It has far less coloring and far more helpful review than the other ones I've seen. I tend to use it as my last pre-test activity OR if I run out of time, as a post-test review before going on to the next chapter.

2. The chapters on chemistry and biology are intended as *reviews* of previous biology and chemisty course work. I'm no chemistry whiz, but I'd be finding A & P hard if I'd never taken any chemistry at all. Would any remedial course work or tutoring be helpful to you?

Dina

[Netta239]

Hi I am in the beginning of LPN school and we are in AP now. My book is Holes. A little advice study the chapter summaries at the end of each chapter this sums up information that you need to know. Be sure to know your objectives in the front of the chapters. Good Luck!!!

[yesdog, BSN, RN]

Yes...this is what you need to know. Nursing school is hard! Being a nurse is hard! Study hard! Get a good grade! You can do this!

[Sand_Dollar, BSN]

It's about what we are taking, we are using Saladin's book. I had a week to do 3 chapters on the circulatory system: blood, heart, vessels and circulation along with a 16 page lab report. A lot of people in our class were complaining because the tests were SO darn hard and the teacher said our local nursing schools asked for AP 1 and 2 to be harder. Its definitely that! I got a 94 in AP1 and I can barely pull off a B on any of the tests in AP2, ugh. You can do this, just keep your eye on the goal of NS and you can trudge through any of this stuff.

One more thing, I find as I move further through the book, the stuff in the beginning actually makes more sense, which I think is because you can see how it all works together.

Good luck!!!

[bekindtokittens]

I took A&P I as a summer class as well, and this looks almost like my class' syllabus. Except that your chapters 3 and 4 were covered instead in Biology, which was a pre-req to get into A&P I.

We had exams in class, and practical exams in lab. So we had to know about everything, but also where it was in the body. So in our lab exams, our instructor would put pins in the cadaver, or in preserved brains, stickers on bones, etc, and we would have to name the structure, or what it does, things like that.

My advice to you is to make notecards. Notecards are what got me A's in A&P I and II. Ask if you can bring in a digital camera to lab. And use google images too, there are some great pictures there.