Microbiology....help!!!!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi I'm taking microbiology this semester! The good thing,it's my only class this fall & nursing school in spring so it's very important I pass this class or I won't b starting nursing in the spring!!!(that's motivation in itself! I just need a little guidance from someone who has successfully passed this class.please just tell me ur tips and tricks on studying , note taking , etc.,thanks

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, yourPhutureNurse_:

https://www.youtube.com/user/amparker1981 is great for microbiology.

]Here are some links that may be useful in terms of improving overall study skills, taking notes, reading text books, etc.

]SQ4R Study Method

Note Taking Systems - Academic Skills Center: Study Skills Library - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Cornell Notetaking System Explained--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

Google Image Result for http://kenpitts.net/images/cornell_note_how_to.jpg

Time management

Reading University Level Materials--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Read Effectively in the Sciences--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Read and Study Medical Texts--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

More About Effective Textbook Study--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

An Effective Textbook Study Strategy--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

How to Mark a Section of a Textbook Chapter--Textbook Study Strategy--Academic Support

Thank you.

Specializes in CNA.

Don't skip labs/lectures :-) My best advice for anyone.

I will be facing this beast too soon. I know attending class is a huge help. Also making connections with other students to form study groups would help. Good luck!

As much as I loved the labs, this class was the hardest I have taken out of all my pre reqs. Don't skip any classes, take notes, talk to classmates if you don't get concepts, also tutoring! I barely passed this class never want to take it again!

Specializes in MedSurg, Tele, ER, ICU, Float.

I'm taking micro and Chem plus sociology this semester with nursing next spring as well. I hope I don't regret those 2 hardcore classes in combination. Yikes.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

Micro was a tough course, and certainly filled it's role as a Nursing Program weeder course. I graduated with an A in the course and how I did it is no secret. I did the reading (about a week or so ahead), did any homework assignments, parked my butt in class and lab every day, and reviewed the material often. If you're not familiar with college level writing (by now), use some resources available to show you the framework for it because once you have a framework, filling it out is remarkably easy. If your professor wants a slightly different format, it's easy to modify what you know to suit.

Once you know how to write papers and write them well, you'll find that you'll groan less and less as your professors ask you to write longer and longer papers. By the time someone asks you to write a 25 pager, you'll do your research, sleep on it, write your rough draft, sleep on it, finish it, and turn it in with lots of time to spare.

During lab, concentrate on doing the various techniques as best you can so that you don't contaminate anything. Remember how to do those tests because as you get to the point where you're required to identify an "unknown" bacteria, you'll have to select those tests to narrow down what the bacteria is. If you have any contamination, you won't be able to properly ID the critters...

I also took micro by itself but during summer time. I thought micro was a very interesting course. There is quite a lot of material so if you could study daily that is a plus. Like someone else mentioned try being on schedule or slightly above schedule because you don't want to fall behind reading wise. A test in micro covers more than one chapter and I could imagine crammed reading would be not a good idea. If your professor posts powerpoints before class you should go over it and write notes on it during class. A voice recorder could also be beneficial in case you don't have one. I find them great for adding more detail to class notes which are a little sporifice sometimes. In lab try getting the techniques down and don't worry about being the second to last to leave lab. I could tell you that a lot of people in my class did their stuff and left as soon as they could and some also stayed way beyond others. I was one of those people who stayed almost till the end. You'll get used to lighting the bunsen burner many times for sterilizing purposes and also using many colored dyes.

You'll want to pratice your microscope skills as well, and lab time is the place for that. I thought the last exam in micro was the most difficult or brain scratching one out of the entire course. Pay attention to the way answers are worded because they can be tricky and details may set one answer from another.

You will do awesome in micro if you put time and true effort into it. :cat:

I loved micro, but it was definitely not easy. I read the chapter that we would be covering in lecture ahead of time, the printed the powerpoints that my professor gave us and took notes on those as she went over them to flesh them out. Once I had those notes, I made flashcards and used them religiously. At stop lights, while I was laying with my daughter to get her to go to sleep, every chance I got. During lab, I always stayed the entire time, even if we were done early, to practice techniques.

How did you do in your other 4 credit science classes; did the information click in your head like a puzzle?

Thank you all for the awesome tips!!! We have a quiz today so this will b a true test on how I will do on the bigger exams!!!! And oh yea, I took a&p 2 this summer && made a B.but a&p was easy to me,plus my teacher made it fun& interesting, but micro is just,kindve boring lol! But I'm determined! I REFUSE TO ALLOW A CLASS TO HOLD ME BACK FROM MY DREam! So close to nursing school I can taste it!

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