Why You Should Know Your Anatomy
Achilles tendon. Femur. Superior and Inferior Vena Cava. These are just some terms you encounter when studying one of the most dreaded subject in college – Anatomy.
Anatomy and Physiology, the study of structures related to the human body and their respective functions may not be the most appealing subject there is in nursing school. It may sound boring and some might even think of how utterly irrelevant it is to take up a subject way too complicated for their already confused minds. Why not just skip the subject and then proceed to nursing concepts? Why the need to burn midnight candles and memorize all those tricky body organs when you can proceed to studying treatments and nursing intervention? Why, because in every course, there is always a reason why educators include certain subjects in the curriculum. A curriculum, that if properly arranged, can help provide students with best learning experiences in becoming competent and quality nurses.
Anatomy, Physiology and Nursing
A fine perceptive of the human anatomy is clinically significant to members of the health care team, including nurses. It is important to know the human body and how it functions in its healthy state. By knowing such, it will be easier to learn about pathophysiology, clinical assessment and many other nursing procedures. Those are exact reasons why we, nurses, have this subject as a prerequisite for other nursing subjects.
We cannot detect a problem without knowing the normal flow first. Certain treatment plans are focused on what organs and bodily functions are affected. The human body is said to be compared to a machine. It is composed of different parts which have specific functions that must work collectively in their optimal state in order for the machine the function fully well. A breakdown of one can result to the whole machine working ineffectively. If organs are not functioning properly, then a person is known to have a disease.
In order to understand what is wrong, we need to understand how a particular organ is supposed to work first. And to understand function, you must initially comprehend structure. You cannot just expect to master about disease processes and their effects without being knowledgeable of human structure and their function beforehand.
In order to fix the problem, one must go to its root and find the appropriate handling it needs. However, we cannot address the problem of that specific part if we, ourselves, don’t know how it is supposed to work. Let alone know how it normally functions. Just like a car, you can’t just hope to fix a broken car engine without knowing how it functions in its best condition.
In the actual clinical setting, patients and folks tend to ask about their diseases, which if we do not answer well might result to loss of trust on us as their nurses. By having apt knowledge on the human parts and normal functions, you may be able to explain that to the patient in simple ways which they can understand. You can never explain what you do not understand. It will only lead to confusion and mistrust on the patient’s part if you, yourself, appear to doubt your words.
If truth be told
The journey to being a nurse isn’t easy. It’s not always smooth-sailing and downright simple. The rough road to success is paved with trials that we must overcome. Difficulties, such as complicated subjects like Anatomy and Physiology that if we only try to patiently understand and value, will help us learn to become efficient and quality nurses someday.
Liane Clores, RN MAN
Currently an Intensive Care Unit nurse, pursuing a degree in Master of Arts in Nursing Major in Nursing Service Administration. Has been a contributor of Student Nurses Quarterly, Vox Populi, The Hillside Echo and the Voice of Nightingale publications. Other experience include: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Obstetric, Emergency and Recovery Room Nursing.
