worried about dissection

[Fruit Sucker]

I'm taking Anatomy & Physiology next semester, and I've heard people mention having to dissect cats in the lab.

I don't eat meat or dairy, for moral reasons, and I would have extreme difficulty dissecting an animal. Is it a definite that I'll be faced with doing this? And if so, is there a way to request a substitute assignment on moral grounds?

Please don't insult my beliefs, I just want to know what the academic situation is. Thanks!

[LVNBSN2]

I wasn't thrilled with the idea of dissecting ANYTHING. But, your grade may depend on it. Ask the instructor at the beginning of the class, and if there is no option for you find a partner willing to dissect, adn you do labeling and reports, or whatever.

[orthonurse55]

Oh, I feel your pain! I am a cat LOVER! When I took A&P and found out what we were about to do - I dropped out! It was a pretty expensive lesson to learn, because of course I needed the class to become a nurse. So I took it again and just suffered through it. And honestly, I don't think I learned a thing from cutting into that poor little cat. I would have rather had a cadaver. But I HAVE been an RN for 30 years so it was well worth it!

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I think it's awful to dissect a cat or a pig. There are cadavers now and that seemed cool to me. I learned so much more than looking at the inside of a cat. How do you feel about cadavers? If you're okay with a human body, then look for an A&P class that offers that. Good luck to you!

[LaughingRN]

I think it's awful to dissect a cat or a pig. There are cadavers now and that seemed cool to me. I learned so much more than looking at the inside of a cat. How do you feel about cadavers? If you're okay with a human body, then look for an A&P class that offers that. Good luck to you!

I'm sorry, I just don't get this sentiment. I think animals are cute and all...but I would never hold an animal more sacred than a human.

We dissected cats, and I had no issue with this.

[Fruit Sucker]

I don't have a problem with a cadaver. A cadaver is someone who chose to leave their body for such a purpose and then died during the normal course of their life. The animals that are used don't get to choose, are often euthanized in inhumane ways, and are often abducted off the street by animal control people.

If humans were kidnapped, killed in an inhumane way against their will, and then used as cadavers, I would be morally opposed to that as well.

I'm going to take you guys advice and ask about this at the beginning of the class.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry, I just don't get this sentiment. I think animals are cute and all...but I would never hold an animal more sacred than a human.

We dissected cats, and I had no issue with this.

I don't believe I ever stated what I hold sacred. A human can make the choice to donate themselves for study, while animals cannot. Most animals end up in shelters or get donated. Either way, they had no choice. I may pass on and leave my body for science and that is my choice.

The cadaver I worked on was much more educational than a cat or a fetal pig. I nurse human beings not animals so why use an animal for study? Check out some web sites that are even doing a great job with computer generated disections! Again, this was just a better educational tool for me than an animal. Still think its awful.

[Fruit Sucker]

Thanks so much for your message, @JMomBaby. It says I can't use the pm system yet, so I couldn't reply. :hug:

[montecarlo64, ASN, BSN, LPN]

I am also a cat lover & I was also a 'seasoned' nurse when I had to do the cat...I had been an LPN for 17 years & we did not dissect anything in that program; however, when I pursued the LPN to RN transition, I had to take A & P over since it had been so long...The cat was one of the tasks...I did not like doing it, nor do I think I learned anything except that the gallbladder really is green...I just kept thinking of how stupid this task was...We did it in groups & some of the younger students were eager to do the cutting, so that was fine with me...I helped with the tagging & labeling of the parts...Trust me, you CAN and WILL get through this...There are a lot more unpleasant tasks that you will be dealing with as a professional nurse...Good luck & let your desire to get through the program help you through this part:)

[Assailants]

Seriously cats? I don't see why your school can't get some cavadars. Dissecting is terrible...the worst part is removing all of the fat...it takes forever...then some ppl ruin it by removing things they anit supposed to.

[♑ Capricorn ♑]

@ captainmeowbot

as terrible as it is, there honestly is no other way. you'll need to put aside your differences for one semester and just get through anatomy. sad, i know. i am an animal lover, having 2 cats of my own and a dog that i love very much. its not an easy thing to dissect something that you love. my anatomy professor has cats of her own. and, on the first day of class she showed the class pictures of her cat "fur-babies" and a home video she made of her kitties playing. she is an animal lover and proved to us that dissecting cats was not because she hated them, but because they resemble in their own way a similiar resemblance to humans. which is true. it really could be much worse, you could be dissecting cadavers, which future doctors do in gross anatomy. if you want to think of it that way.

just take it for what it is and learn from the cats. they are already dead, you didn't kill them and most likely they probably felt no pain before they were put down. as bad as it is, anatomy lab is a necessity. all nursing students and nurses had/have to go through it. you will need to decide for yourself what is more important, becoming a nurse or not dissecting cats. the choice is yours.

good luck. :)

[PMFB-RN, RN]

The cadaver I worked on was much more educational than a cat or a fetal pig. I nurse human beings not animals so why use an animal for study?

*** For the very simple reason that it is highly effective training tool and it is inexpensive. The choice for most programs is animal disection or nothing, not animal or cadaver. Cadavers are very expensive and involve a lot of reulations that most programs can not afford. I was lucky and learned A&P in the army. The army seems to have an unlimited supply of cadavers as my group of four students had one all to ourselves. As a life long hunter and farmer I can tell you the anatomy is very similar and at the cellular level is exactly the same.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Seriously cats? I don't see why your school can't get some cavadars. Dissecting is terrible...the worst part is removing all of the fat...it takes forever...then some ppl ruin it by removing things they anit supposed to.

*** Cause cadavers are VERY expensive and there is tremendous regulations involved with keeping them. Far, far out of reach of most nursing programs.