Fall 2012 Microbiology Students -- STAND UP!

[Exhaustipated]

Since we had these threads when I was in A&P I and II, and I thought I'd start one for Microbiology. Anybody else delving into the world of bacteria and viruses this fall? Let's start a support thread! Let's share our victories and failures, exchange study tips, and cheer each other on.

My first lecture and lab classes are tomorrow. I'm looking forward to this class.

[Limik]

Am I the only one not really enjoying the lab portion of micro? I just feel as though I am fumbling around in there making mistakes all the time. The results of my first lab were actually really good, I got all my points, and my gram stain that we did yesterday turned out well. I just never feel completely comfortable with what I'm doing. I admit I am a bit of a perfectionist, but I just really hope I can gain some confidence in lab soon!

[Boxer Mama]

I had my first lecture exam on Monday, but I will not know my grade until Monday, I think. I think I did okay. I am loving lab. We did spread plates yesterday of a swab from our mouth and this gets to incubate all weekend. Those should be pretty interesting by Monday!

[CordaeP]

Okay so am I the only person that can't get the stain to stick on my slide during a Gram stain. Can someone tell me what the hell I am doing wrong please!!!!

[Limik]

Did you heat fix your specimen before you applied the stain to the slide? If you don't pass the slide through the bunsen burner 3 times and allow to cool before applying the stain, the stain will just wash the sample off.

[CordaeP]

Did you heat fix your specimen before you applied the stain to the slide? If you don't pass the slide through the bunsen burner 3 times and allow to cool before applying the stain, the stain will just wash the sample off.

Maybe that is where I am going wrong. I do pass it 3-4 times. Maybe I do it too fast. Maybe I don't let it cool.

[Limik]

Maybe that is where I am going wrong. I do pass it 3-4 times. Maybe I do it too fast. Maybe I don't let it cool.

The only other thing I can think of is if you don't let the slide dry completely after you do your smear and before it passes through the flame it can aerosolyze (sp.) the bacteria and you could lose your sample that way. I'm not sure what else could have gone wrong but those are just things I thought of with my very limited experience. Don't give up CordaeP, I'm sure you can do it!

[kjohnson1]

I'm really liking micro so far. We just had our first exam yesterday. I was so relieved when I realized I knew everything that was on it. Hopefully it continues this way. We have already lost about half of our class of 32 though

Hang in there guys!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Also, you might not have washed the slide long enough in the stain before rinsing. Take your time, it will come...don't worry! It's more of an art than an exact science.

[britthohenbrink]

Got my grade today and I am very depressed..... I made a 67%... I thought I did much better than that! I dont know what to do now.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Got my grade today and I am very depressed..... I made a 67%... I thought I did much better than that! I dont know what to do now.

Britt...don't despair! One test will not kill your grade. What you need to do now is analyze the questions you got wrong. For example, were most of the wrong answers on one particular aspect? (e.g. cell structure of a prokaryote? cell membrane structure? historical figures in Microbiology history?) Examine those and review the correct ones. Believe me, you'll remember them later because now you know what you did wrong.

Also, look at the types of questions you got wrong. Were they multiple choice and you were undecided between 2 answers? Was it fill-in-the-blank and you blanked on the answer? Was it an essay question? Was it a labeling or matching question? It may be that you perform better with certain types of questions.

If your school offers supplemental instruction (aka "tutoring"), you might want to go to a session or two to review the test with them. That can also give you some insight on what to expect for the next test and they can help you review & prepare because they'll be familiar with your professor and how he/she runs the class.

Keep doing well in lab and any other assignments that contribute to your grade. If your prof offers extra credit...do it!!! I always prep for a test by trying to explain (in my own words) the concepts to someone who knows nothing about the subject to see if they understand me. If you can do that, then you know the material :)

Chin up and keep telling yourself you're going to do great on your next one

[britthohenbrink]

Thank you!!!! :) Deep down I know that one test is not going to kill me but I was wanting to start off on a positive note. My college does have S.I. but I do not think they have started yet because I have not received an email or seen posters talking about it.

[EMT89]

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