Searching for a go-at-your-own pace online Anatomy & Physiology I plus lab course

caliotter3 · Apr 6, 2015

The University of New England offers open entry, open exit prerequisite courses:

Science Prerequisites for Health Professions - online classes | UNE Online College of Graduate and Professional Studies

However, like most such courses, it is not inexpensive.

karbs · Apr 6, 2015

Thanks for this suggestion. I like the flexibility but they don't offer a course that covers both Anatomy & Physiology. (It's either/or on the site). Does anyone else know of any options similar to this that have the Anatomy & Physiology together?

4everstudent15 · Apr 6, 2015

Your school may accept completing a stand alone anatomy and separate physiology course in place of A&P I & II.

Together both options usually equal 8 semester hrs and cover the same material. In my area schools accept either option. It's worth checking in to.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2015

Your problem is going to be the lab component. You are working excessive hours and trying to fit in an A&P class. Ivy Tech is a community college. I am a current student. You are not going to find anywhere cheaper or a class that is going to transfer and be cheap. Go to IndianaTransfer.net I think. You can see what credits from where will transfer into Ivy Tech. There is a world of difference in stand alone A&P and the way Ivy Tech does it. Their A&P 101 is basically bones, muscles, nervous system, and basic human cell biology. 102 gets into the systems. 201 is all physiology. At some point you will have to have all 3. Are you just trying to do the basics before getting into the program? I'm going to tell you, it's hard to get the coreqs done while in the program. I got everything done before getting in the program. People are trying to squeeze everything in the summer and fall. You cannot go into the final semester capstone course without having everything done. The way clinicals are scheduled in the fall, people are going to have a hard time. I know they lowered the prereqs, but I am telling you doing the bare minimum before getting into the program is going to screw you. Wait, and do it properly instead of setting yourself up for failure.

Can I ask why you think at this moment you want to be a nurse? I'm just curious as this sounds like a snap decision. You have your masters in business. I'm assuming you have a good job? Don't have this romanticized notion of what nursing is. Do your research and make good decisions. Becoming a nurse is not going to fix your problems.

karbs · Apr 9, 2015

Thanks for the advice. I have most of the science classes (Microbiology, Chemistry, etc.) already (as I graduated from a liberal arts school and they required everyone to take science) - I just lack the APHY 101. This is not a snap decision and I don't have any "problems". I have been thinking about becoming a nurse for years. Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to go back because I've worked full time plus raised a family of 5. I'm now at a point in my life where I can put myself first.

I am currently self-employed and work sporadic hours, but I make decent money. Going back to school will cause me to cut back on my schedule (and therefore less income) which is difficult when I have a large family to support (2 in college right now). My comment on starting "yesterday" has more to do with the fact that if I wait until the Fall to take the APHY101 course I won't be eligible to start the nursing program until the following Fall. Which means I'll spend an entire semester just twiddling my thumbs - and I find that frustrating.

I want to be able to move forward so that I will be able to complete the program and start working. I don't need the added stress of a lower income while I'm waiting to start. But it's beginning to sound as though that is my best option . . .

tiny_nurse · Apr 9, 2015

Try portage if your school accepts it. You can finish a class in as little as 2 weeks. They have lab components. Courses - Portage Learning

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2015

But you will also lack 102 and 201, which are 2 classes you need to complete your degree. I am telling you to get them done before entering the program. Get all of your prereqs and coreqs done. You cannot go into the last semester if you don't have everything done. You will have to take them as night classes. The way clinical and classes are set up you won't have the time especially if you have to work. I'm trying to give you some solid advice here. I have many classmates scrambling right now trying to get all of the coreqs done by the end of next semester. I am so happy mine are done.

I'm in my second semester. Here is my week right now. Mental Health Tuesday. Mental health clinicals all over the place. Some are Mon and Wed. Some are Tuesday. Some go from 7-1 and some 3-8. I had to find an NA meeting and write a paper and lab simulations on random days. I have MedSurg clinical 12 hours on Thursdays. 6:45-7. Then all day class on Fridays. 8:30-4. I have 2-3 tests every, single week. I am a single mom. My son is in activities. My boyfriend lives an hour away on the south side of Indy. Trying to balance it all is insane. And I don't work. I spend probably about 6-8 hours every week just studying for tests. My MedSurg II professor finds the most obscure things in the book to put on the test. It's crazy. That doesn't even include the assignments I have due every week. ATI testing, questions about the reading, one week I had to watch over 4 hours of videos and answers questions for each video. That day I spent over 5 hours alone on mental health homework. I have care plans and clinical journals every week. What I am trying to say is, there is no time to get in any extra classes. You will have a job. It's going to be that much more difficult.

The reason I say you have to take 201 because I noticed you said you already have micro and chem in. If you ever want to get your BSN, you have to take A&P 101,102, and 201 or the credits will not transfer to another college. So you will have to start over with that. Many people don't understand that. It's because of the way they structure it, which is why I am also saying what you are looking for won't transfer to Ivy Tech. Check out that website I told you about. You can check and see what will transfer. Portage learning, not going to transfer.

This is advice from someone in the program. The program is a whole different beast from the prereq classes. They are tough, as they should be. But there are weeks when I am so overwhelmed. I am an excellent organizer and planner but even I have trouble trying to balance everything. Especially when you have a nine year old who wants to be entertained. And when his homework is also your homework. So you can take my advice for what it's worth. My advisor when I signed up recommended that I get everything done before the program and I am so glad I did.

CaffeineCrusher · Apr 10, 2015

Not sure where you are located, but a few colleges in Texas offer a second degree BSN. If you have already obtained a bachelor degree even if it is unrelated then you are a candidate. They state it will take 12 months to complete.

CaffeineCrusher · Apr 10, 2015

Not sure where you are located, but a few colleges in Texas offer a second degree BSN. If you have already obtained a bachelor degree even if it is unrelated then you are a candidate. They state it will take 12 months to complete.

Jenngirl34RN · Apr 10, 2015

A lot of state universities offer accelerated BSN programs for people who already hold bachelors degrees. You might want to look into that instead of a community college (I am assuming ADN or ASN) program, especially if you want to get a good hospital job right away. That said, as far as your prereq options go, you will probably not find exactly what you are looking for...flex start programs at regionally accredited schools for low cost is a combo that not many schools offer. Colorado State University has some of what yu are looking for, but they are not cheap: https://csuglobal.edu/undergraduate/programs/academic-catalog/

PhillyRNtoBe · Apr 15, 2015

Hi, I am going for a career change and want to get started on my nursing degree YESTERDAY. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and an Masters of Business Administration degree and currently just need on prerequisite before I can apply to the nursing program at my local community college (IVY Tech). The deadline to apply in order to begin the next session is September 1st (that will allow me to start the nursing program in Spring 2016.) I cannot take the summer session for the Anatomy & Physiology I class because I will be working full time (form 6 am - 10 pm) on a contracted job from June1 - Aug 1 and I would have to go to a proctored site during that time period to take the mid term and final. So bummer. But prior to that I'm working a flexible schedule and after that I'm working a flexible schedule. Thus I'm trying to find an online flexible course that would allow me to get the course work done asap. Ideally I'd like to start now and finish prior to June 1. According to the IVY Tech website to transfer the credit it needs to come from:
The courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited post-secondary institution. The regional accrediting associations include: Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools, New England Association of Colleges & Schools, North Central Association of Colleges & Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, and Western Association of Schools & Colleges.
They also need to display a letter grade (because this course is considered an given a certain number of points to determine admission to the nursing program).
I also don't want to spend a fortune. So I've been researching and researching but I can't find exactly what I'm looking for. It seems that most of the truly go at your own pace programs are not accredited by the regional accrediting associations. And the online institutions that are accredited thusly, don't allow me to finish as quickly as I'm able.
Has anyone out there found the type of program I'm looking for without spending big bucks?
So far the only schools I have found are:
Thomas Edison State College - $491/credit online â€“ 4 credit hours $1,964
May term = May 4 - July 26, 2015 (Registration dates March 27 - April 18, 2015)
June term = June 1 - Aug. 23, 2015 (Registration dates April 24 - May 16, 2015)
and
Southern New Hampshire University Approx $995/course â€” Southern New Hampshire University is a growing online school with a campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. The school was founded back in 1932 and offers over 60 undergrad and graduate programs through online classes. SNHU is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
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But as you can see neither of those fit into my hope to start by the end of this week and be done by June 1st. Plus I'd like to spend less if possible.
HELP?!

I honestly think that most schools will not allow online core science prereqs. Every program I know (that can actually lead to getting a job) once you are done school will not accept online science classes. Online classes are a huge controversy in this forum and in the healthcare industry as a whole because they have held back some people from getting into the programs they want or getting advanced degrees, and are usually over priced etc.

I really hope you look into all of your options and find the right path for you. I'm in the middle of the application process for nursing school now and it's so competitive I wouldn't risk being overlooked because of A&P. The cheapest option is to take it at a community college and its a more widely way of cutting costs.

Just trying to be helpful and honest, I had a bad experience with online classes because I lost out on my grant money due to the newer restrictions for Financial Aid packages regarding online classes. You must have 50% of your classes be face to face to qualify for Aid.