Nursing pre-reqs

[authorized77]

I just finished a year of A&P and GOB Chemistry and while I think it's might have been possible to take chemistry online and do OK, you REALLY need to know the A&P stuff. I can only imagine how much we'll be using it as a foundation in pathophysiology. I had a great (hard) teacher who I really appreciate pushing me so hard. I know it will help in the future.

If you can really know the stuff and have long term recall without having a rigorous in-person learning experience, then I guess it might work. But I really can't imagine replacing our labs with online/home learning.

But as others have said, check with the school. I'm absolutely sure the program I'm shooting for would never accept it, as well as the program I was looking at before it.

[cookderosa]

I just finished a year of A&P and GOB Chemistry and while I think it's might have been possible to take chemistry online and do OK, you REALLY need to know the A&P stuff. I can only imagine how much we'll be using it as a foundation in pathophysiology. I had a great (hard) teacher who I really appreciate pushing me so hard. I know it will help in the future.

If you can really know the stuff and have long term recall without having a rigorous in-person learning experience, then I guess it might work. But I really can't imagine replacing our labs with online/home learning.

But as others have said, check with the school. I'm absolutely sure the program I'm shooting for would never accept it, as well as the program I was looking at before it.

Were there other home based labs that you're basing this on? I always like to pay attention when people have poor experiences.

[authorized77]

Were there other home based labs that you're basing this on? I always like to pay attention when people have poor experiences.

I don't have any experience with home labs, but I don't see how the two could compare. We used probably hundreds of models in lab, as well as preserved specimens (organs and cadavers) and real and plastic skeletons, some assembled and some in pieces. Also, we used some fresh specimens from the butcher, as well. Also, we had access to sphygmomanometers, ventilation devices, blood testing equipment, EKG, etc.

That said, I was homeschooled and learned plenty without labs. I'm not against the concept at all. But this is just one area where it can be so hands on, and the coursework later on really builds on this class (I'm sure of it, even though I have yet to take pathophys).

I've got to say, though, looking back on chemistry lab, that our labs were practically useless. We'd follow the instructions, do the job, and get out ASAP. There were no tests, no critical thinking, and sometimes the info didn't match class exactly. I have a poor view of our chemistry department, unfortunately. I would have taken it online, or CLEPed it, or anything if it was a possibility for me.

[cookderosa]

I don't have any experience with home labs, but I don't see how the two could compare. We used probably hundreds of models in lab, as well as preserved specimens (organs and cadavers) and real and plastic skeletons, some assembled and some in pieces. Also, we used some fresh specimens from the butcher, as well. Also, we had access to sphygmomanometers, ventilation devices, blood testing equipment, EKG, etc.

That said, I was homeschooled and learned plenty without labs. I'm not against the concept at all. But this is just one area where it can be so hands on, and the coursework later on really builds on this class (I'm sure of it, even though I have yet to take pathophys).

I've got to say, though, looking back on chemistry lab, that our labs were practically useless. We'd follow the instructions, do the job, and get out ASAP. There were no tests, no critical thinking, and sometimes the info didn't match class exactly. I have a poor view of our chemistry department, unfortunately. I would have taken it online, or CLEPed it, or anything if it was a possibility for me.

Respectfully, you don't know what you don't know. There were pros and cons to my home labs vs classroom labs, just as there are pros and cons of homeschool - and as you know- most of the real pros and cons are not even ones people think to ask about.
Anyway, of course we used "sphygnomanometers" in home labs, as well as blood testing kids, real organs, real & plastic bones, extensive histology slides, etc. Of course it's up to the student, but I'd happily lay out my A&P knowledge against any "butt in seat" A&P student...but then again, I pay attention and go for top grades. Obviously I didn't have a cadaver, but neither do 97% of any premed/prehealth students.

[clep3705]

The University of Texas at Arlington through their AP-BSN program offers pharmacology and pathophysiology online. If you want to be a well educated, academically solid nursing student, you really should take those two courses before starting nursing school.

Even if you can't transfer the credits, they are excellent preparation when you retake them as part of your degree plan. They are foundational courses and you really need to know them.

[authorized77]

Respectfully, you don't know what you don't know. There were pros and cons to my home labs vs classroom labs, just as there are pros and cons of homeschool - and as you know- most of the real pros and cons are not even ones people think to ask about.
Anyway, of course we used "sphygnomanometers" in home labs, as well as blood testing kids, real organs, real & plastic bones, extensive histology slides, etc. Of course it's up to the student, but I'd happily lay out my A&P knowledge against any "butt in seat" A&P student...but then again, I pay attention and go for top grades. Obviously I didn't have a cadaver, but neither do 97% of any premed/prehealth students.

Fascinating. How does that work, exactly? Do they ship you skeletons, and how do you gain access to equipment like microscopes? I just have never imagined such a thing. It sounds like an excellent lab!

[cookderosa]

Fascinating. How does that work, exactly? Do they ship you skeletons, and how do you gain access to equipment like microscopes? I just have never imagined such a thing. It sounds like an excellent lab!

You buy them. You can see an example of a good home-based-lab business here, but there are many. LabPaq Photos | Hands On Labs I used that company for chemistry, microbiology, biology, and A&P I / II. While anyone can order (like for my highschool son is doing for AP Bio) these companies work with your college's lab professors to assemble kits so the student does the same labs as on campus and can use the same lab manual, etc.

At Ocean, where I attended, we had a virtual cadaver, which was (is) an amazing- simply amazing- software program. It's called Anatomy and Physiology Revealed. Highly suggest to anyone who doesn't otherwise have access to a cadaver lab. You can see a quick demo here Created by Camtasia Studio 4

I have 4 microscopes: 2 field scopes, 1 with a digital camera eye, and 1 that accepts an oil immersion lens and no fewer than 50 prepared slides. The field scopes were just bought for fun but came in handy on the macro dissections. The equipment (beakers, burners, test tubes, scales, thermometers, dissection kids, stains, etc) are yours to keep. After doing several labs, I have a HUGE lab station in my school room. Anything I want to do with my kids simply means ordering the consumable supplies. You can buy organs, eyes, cats, pigs, elements, etc from companies like Hands-On-Labs or similar companies.

[authorized77]

That's pretty cool! I would *love* to have a lab set up like that someday.