College Network (EC)

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I am attending Excelsior College via The College Network, LPN to ASN. How does A&P work without the lab (which I thought was crucial to pass) and how does a distance learning ASN compare (once working in the real world as an RN) with a regular ASN from a local college with more clinicals and labs involved? Will I be as prepared as an RN? Any opinions are welcome!

Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.

A&P through EC is similar to a two semester course without Lab. I had to retake A&P for EC, so it was a nice review for me after 10 years.

I found the main difference in that EC's exam was focused much more on WHY and HOW the body functions (the physiology) rather than learning every muscle and bone, etc.

Being as I had learned the anatomy once before, and had the labs with naming the parts of the brain, dissecting different organs, etc, I didn't have too much trouble with this exam. NOT that its EASY by any means. It's a heck of a lot of material riding on ONE test of 160 questions, but it was doable. I took about 8 weeks to review before taking it, but I made an A. That was the first test I took through EC, I wanted to see if I could manage to study on my own, etc. After that I never looked back and finished all the course work (I had to take all the prereqs over again) in about 13 months.

I know a lot of RN's who went through this program, many in Management/Administration. But still a lot that changed specialties, from rehab/subacute to stepdown, PACU, ICU, NICU, etc. I don't know if they all had to take A&P through EC, but as far as being a grad of EC, I haven't heard anything negative about not being able to "handle it" on the floor. They all are doing well in their respective areas.

Have you taken A&P before? If you want to take a A&P with a lab, there are some online courses available with LAB. Do a search for it in the distance forum, I know it's been discussed many times before. There are lots of EC grads and alumni and current students here in the distance learning forum.

I'm not too great with searches or I'd pull one for you. Maybe another EC grad will come along and be better than me at finding a link to a past thread about a&p. I believe CCC online (?) or Edukan offers A&P with lab, but don't quote me!!! LOL.

Don't worry, someone smarter than me will be along here soon!!! :idea:

Out of curiosity, why are you using The College Network rather than going directly to EC?

www.excelsior.edu

Convenience, mainly. The materials are dropped off at your front door instead of embarking on a search for them. EC told me they will send you a list of reference materials but it is up to you to find the current ones. TCN seemed to eliminate the middle man.

plus, if someone needed the whole program...the study materials through Excelsior would total about 50+ textbooks.....who has time for that? Through The College Network, i got one guide per course...for a total of 13.

They have live academic support and guarantee my success with a gaurantee that is hard to pass up.

There are also FREE webcast/podcast through Berkeley Ca. Here's the link to an anatomy class...

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978375

I used a History one to supplement my BORING CC history class. It really helped. They have a class on pretty much anything. I am doing a Psychology one next that I plan to Clep. I already have a textbook that I got for next to nothing off eBay. (2006 edition) and a new Clep guide...also eBay.

Convenience, mainly. The materials are dropped off at your front door instead of embarking on a search for them. EC told me they will send you a list of reference materials but it is up to you to find the current ones. TCN seemed to eliminate the middle man.

I used a few TCN modules for convenience too. TCN eliminates the legwork of finding textbooks but it doesn't eliminate the middle man because they *are* a middle man.

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