Will WGU accept Excelsior's A&P/Micro (non-lab) for the RN-BSN?

ShondaJ · Sep 8, 2014

From what I read on their Program Guide, You can take them in your BSN Program.

Here is the link.

http://www.wgu.edu/wgu/prog_guide/BS_NUR.pdf

It is best for you to call the school enrollment counselor than to ask here but there is the link. The program includes the sciences.

They don't take sciences without lab. It must be included.

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 8, 2014

They will not take them. I did my Micro and A&P through excelsior (although I had another anatomy class that DID count) - I had to retake physiology and micro with labs @ WGU. They are NOT difficult, so don't let that stop you - they are easier than the EC versions but you have the tedious lab to do. The price for the lab kits is included in tuition.

The program has everything you will need to fill in any 'gaps' - no need to take anything extra.

~agape~ · Sep 8, 2014

@ FeatherzRN--That's great news! I thought I might have to take them somewhere else before applying to WGU. Thanks for the info and the quick response!

~agape~ · Sep 8, 2014

@ShondaJ-- Thank you so much for the info and the quick response! I will be checking out that link you provided, and I appreciate you taking the time to include it.

featherzRN, MSN · Sep 8, 2014

Nope! We have lots of people who end up taking them - there's also math, history, arts, etc, for those who need to fill in the gaps. No worries. The anatomy lab comes with a cool big plastic skeleton (and also a fetal pig ugh!). Both kits come with pretty much everything you need to do the lab. It took me about one week to do each of the labs, then only a few days to re-take physiology and about a week to do micro. Much easier if you've already had it (and mine was a looooooooooooong time ago).

~agape~ · Sep 8, 2014

Nope! We have lots of people who end up taking them - there's also math, history, arts, etc, for those who need to fill in the gaps. No worries. The anatomy lab comes with a cool big plastic skeleton (and also a fetal pig ugh!). Both kits come with pretty much everything you need to do the lab. It took me about one week to do each of the labs, then only a few days to re-take physiology and about a week to do micro. Much easier if you've already had it (and mine was a looooooooooooong time ago).

The lab actually seems kind of cool! I wish Excelsior would do that for us. So it sounds like the labs won't set me back too much time wise. I already have pre-reqs that will apply to a BSN, such as, patho, stats, upper-level humanities (more credits than the associate level requires) and some others, but it does look like I will need the biochem class. I have 2 more nursing exams left, then both fcca in Oct, then CPNE. Hope to apply to WGU by next summer or sooner depending on how long it takes me to get a CPNE date. Thanks again featherzRN.

ShondaJ · Sep 9, 2014

Question.

Are you in California doing the nursing program through Excelsior or are you in another state? I Know California didnt approve the school but I see alot of student are in the program.

Was just curious about it. How is the program?

~agape~ · Sep 9, 2014

Question.
Are you in California doing the nursing program through Excelsior or are you in another state? I Know California didnt approve the school but I see alot of student are in the program.
Was just curious about it. How is the program?

I'm in another state and we do not have any restrictions with Excelsior . The program has been absolutely wonderful for me and my lifestyle. I am a Paramedic and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to bridge online. I honestly would never be able to do it if I had to go the traditional route. Although I really do love Excelsior, I seriously would not recommend it to anyone who can't register for their nursing exams by July of next year. That is when their program is scheduled for some serious changes. Instead of being able to bang out the nursing exams quickly, students will have to participate in a 16 week online conference for each exam before they can take the corresponding exam. This means more time and more money. I will take my last two nursing exams this Friday and the whole nursing exam process will have only taken me 6 weeks. I can't imagine having to do the 16 week conferences for the same exams as I do now, and I do 2 exams every other Friday.

Bnmb · Oct 25, 2014

Is there any help you can offer me about a&p? I take my test in 2 weeks and was wondering what to study

msa9179 · Oct 25, 2014

I just finished my BSN through WGU. I did my RN through Excelsior and took their A&P and Microbiology classes. So, essentially, I was in the same position. Since there is no lab component with Excelsior's A&P and Micro classes, this must be satisfied through WGU. However, in order to be able to take the lab, they also require you take the didactic course with the lab. So, at WGU, there is one microbiology class with one microbiology lab. You have to take the class and the lab. At WGU, there are two A&P classes (I and II), and one lab. Since you have taken A&P at excelsior, they will not require you to take both A&P classes, but you will have to take one A&P class and the one lab. Again, I did this exact thing over the past few months. The A&P class was one of their "performance assessments", where you have to submit work (as opposed to taking a test). however, I think it was more like submitting worksheets where you have filled in the answers after doing online exercises and online lab simulations. honestly, it was not bad at all. The A&P lab requires you to do dissections and things at home. They send you a lab kit, and you have something like 10 or 12 "labs" you do, and then write a 1-2 page paper discussing your results, etc. They are very clear in the instructions, so it is not that bad, just requires dissections at home. They sent me an entire fetal pig, a sheep brain, a sheep heart, and a sheep kidney, if I remember correctly. The microbiology class is satisfied with one of their "objective assessments," which is just taking a test. It is quite similar to Excelsior, in that you just learn microbiology on your own, and take their test. I found it to be pretty doable. The microbiology lab requires, again, at home lab work. They send you supplies, and you do the usual microbiology stuff.....growing bacterial cultures in petri dishes and whatnot. It is pretty time consuming, but doable. Then you write up a 1-2 page paper discussing your results and observations per their instructions. Overall, the whole thing of repeating those classes and labs was a bit of a drag, but I got it done, and it was just one hurdle to get over to finish the program without having to go back and sit in a classroom somewhere to satisfy those lab requirements. Don't be afraid of it. WGU has been great for me overall!

~agape~ · Oct 27, 2014

Thank you msa9179, I appreciate you taking the time to post all of that great information. Very helpful!