Any Real Need for Micro?

I felt unsure about microbiology as well but I gave it my best shot and am so grateful that I did! Currently, my nursing classes have referenced topics in class such as bacterial, viral and fungal infections which originate from microorganism as well as the cellular needs of microbes to thrive. Knowing all this basic information has helped me to understand why certain medications are used to treat illness as well as the importance of universal precautions. Needless to say, my advice is do your best because understanding microbes really comes in handy in nursing school.

BTW even though I was unsuccessful at identifying my "unknown" I still received a "B". The "B" kept my GPA up, and the GPA of "required prereqs" is often taken into consideration for selecting nursing applicants from all that apply.

My first, quick thought is that you need to understand the differences between the types of bacteria (gram neg vs. pos, mycobacteria, etc.) in order to better understand their effects on the human body and why certain antibiotics will work on some organisms and not others.

Another thing that sticks in my brain in the difference between RNA and DNA viruses and why DNAs are easier to develop vaccines against and why RNAs can be so lethal (rapid "drift" or mutation).

Otherwise, micro doesn't seem to come up a whole lot....

Heck ya you need it. Micro was a challange for me, but at least, my teacher related most subjects to a clinical setting. That helped allot.

It is useful information to have. You'll be checking lots of lab results including cultures, etc. and it's good to have a general understanding of what it all means. Certain antibiotics are only sensitive to certain species of bacteria, etc. Give it your best shot, it's actually pretty interesting stuff. Good luck!

Yes, I think it is essential to understand micro. Even if you don't directly use it everyday - many practical applications stem from the basics of micro.

I know a lot of folks who struggle with it, so don't feel alone! BTW, there are MANY websites out there that can help you along. Do a Google search on the specific difficulty, for example, hung up on the chem? (that's usually the first pothole) search for "basic chemistry" or "chemistry tutor" or example "viral replication" good luck! SG

Thanks for quick replies everyone, the first test is on Monday.

my first micro test is on tuesday. It is cool though our book has areas where it shows you how you will be dealing with micro in health care practice. As an LPN I know that I deal with which antibiotics work on which microbe. It is wasteful for the patient to have an antibiotic that is not going to work properly. Also cleaning agents.....there are certain microbes that can latch on to your hands or clothes and you need to know how to send those germs on their ways.

Think of it this way: Until microbiology developed as a science, people were dropping like flies from all kinds of diseases because they didn't know that microbes even existed.

So it's probably pretty useful info.

Uhhh yeah you need Micro. If you didn't why do you think you would be required to take it???

i think its needed. at first i thought to myself "why do i have to take this i want to be a nurse not a scientist"?, but now after 4 wks into the class i can definely say that you can use it. you will be amazed at how much you will learn.

micro was a great class not to mention it helps you when you need to tell a patient or family why you are giving something.

Also helps you interpret things to gain a better understanding of what is going on with your patient.

great class.

xo Jen

Harold, I felt the same way you do. Nurses don't work in the laboratory with test tubes and petri dishes all we do is collect the sample and send it down. When I took micro. there was so much that I didn't know that was very important to nursing and just for general knowledge. There are many diseases, bacteria some resistant to antibiotics that we need to know how to treat. In micro. you study the growth of organisms and how they act on the human body. Its a lot of info but very important.