how important is microbiology in nursing

petunia2016 · Jun 24, 2009

Microbiology is very important. I learned about bacteria and viruses and how they grow, infect, and multiply. I also learned about disinfecting and treatments. I learned where I can find certain bacteria on different parts of the body. You may not need to remember everything, but I think basic Microbiology knowledge will take you far and make you a better nurse. It's just another piece of the puzzle.

Mike A. Fungin RN · Jun 24, 2009

I almost hate to say this... but honestly, microbiology is the class that I have used the least. It's worth giving it your best, like any other class, but throughout my BSN education there wasn't really anything after it that built on micro, and I don't know that it's really been relevant to my daily work as a nurse either.

The only settings I can think of where your retention of that information might matter are certain specialities within research or community health.

rachelgeorgina · Jun 24, 2009

I think once you've passed the course what you learnt is important stuff to have sitting in the back of your mind and should effect your nursing practice subconsciously - things like having an understanding of why you wash your hands a million times a day and why that's so important etc.

CuriousMe · Jun 24, 2009

We also used info from micro in pharmacology when learning about all the classes antibiotics and when we learned about antivirals. So, just like A&P/Pathophysiology....folks who didn't learn it the first time were forced to learn it then, before they could learn the new material.

Microbiology is the basis for all the infection control measures you take.....and really hammers home why they're necessary.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jun 24, 2009

In my clinical practice area (ICU), a knowledge of microbiology is essential. We need to understand the differences between pathogens and the pharmacology of tons of different antibiotic/antimicrobial meds that are used. How can you even explain differences between Gram pos & Gram neg culture results to patients & family if you don't understand what it means?

We need to understand underlying mechanisms of various different infections - in order to anticipate physiologic reactions to them and treatment options. Example: bacterial versus fungal versus viral encephalitis.

Granted, there may be some clinical areas in which micro is not that importatn (Behavioral med?) but Nursing licensure is based on "generalists" - so microbiology is an essential part of the curriculum.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2009

i have posted weblinks to microbiology on post #45 of this sticky thread: https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/pathophysiology-p-microbiology-145201.html - pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources. you can go onto these websites and see for yourself what you will be learning about in a class of microbiology. i took microbiology during my second semester of nursing. i thought it was a fun class because we were doing very practical experiments on our own bodies and doing cultures of swabbings of objects to prove what microbes exist on them waiting to infect people. we learned about the microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, viruses) that cause disease in humans, how the body naturally defends itself against them and how the healthcare professions assist in supporting the body as it fights against these organisms. why wouldn't anyone see that as important to know? we live in a world surrounded by microbes and that is a fact. a good many of hospitalized patients are there because of some kind of infection and iv antibiotics are one of the most commonly given medication by rns. infection control to prevent others from getting contaminated with microorganisms hanging around hospitals is a big part of every hospital's practice. i can assure you that people such as florence nightingale, alexander fleming who discovered penicillin, or barry marshall who is one of the physicians that discovered the existence of the h. pylori bacteria responsible for peptic ulcers would assure you that microbiology is extremely important for any nurse setting foot in a healthcare facility today to know. before the work of these people revolutionized their clinical practices patients were dying because of what microbes were doing to them. you need an understanding of the microbes that surround us in order to appreciate what it is they can do to patients and us; you need to understand the importance of the treatments that are going to be ordered for the diseases that these microbes cause; you need to understand why you will be learning later why you will be taking precautions to prevent the spread of these microbes to others. every time you wash your hands before you eat or after you go to the bathroom you are respecting microbiology. every time you cut yourself and rinse that cut under clean, running water you are practicing microbiology. whenever you have a sore throat, cough and fever and go to the doctor for antibiotics you are concerned about microbiology. in nursing school you will learn much more about what we can do to treat and protect patients from microbes that are constantly around us. and that is how important microbiology is to nursing.

seasoned hopeful · Jun 24, 2009

i really enjoyed micro. it is so interesting to see what appears and lives in an area that you can not see with the naked eye. just like a&p and patho it is a part of the same puzzle. it helps to make sense of how things work.

enjoy the journey of the body:yeah: :yeah:

D.R.A. · Jun 25, 2009

I took Micro YEARS ago, so I will have the priveledge of taking it again next summer, lol. But as others have said, it will give a foundational knowledge about what is causing many of the illness you will help to heal as a nurse. Alot of the info is touched on in general biology courses and re-worked in other classes as well. Knowing how bacteria and viruses work is vital in treating them as a med pro.

Alternator81 · Jun 25, 2009

On the most basic level, it is important for professionals to have a general understanding of the sciences. This is the same reason that microbiologist have to take physics or calculus.

I could say the same thing about the O-Chem that I had to take- the only chemical reactions I see on a daily basis is when we squeeze and pop the ice pack bag for a patient. BUT- when I talk to my friends who are chem majors, I can kind of keep up with them, and I think that is awesome!

Remember: A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimensions!

shann106 · Jun 25, 2009

Very important. It is a very interesting class, don't let anyone freak you out about how hard it is, it's no where near as hard as nursing classes. It was one of my favorite classes, I took it during the same semester I took Med/Surg I and OB, and therefore it was my easy class that semester

Micro makes pathophysiology and pharmacology much easier to understand.

petunia2016 · Jun 25, 2009

i have posted weblinks to microbiology on post #45 of this sticky thread: https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/pathophysiology-p-microbiology-145201.html - pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources. you can go onto these websites and see for yourself what you will be learning about in a class of microbiology. i took microbiology during my second semester of nursing. i thought it was a fun class because we were doing very practical experiments on our own bodies and doing cultures of swabbings of objects to prove what microbes exist on them waiting to infect people. we learned about the microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, viruses) that cause disease in humans, how the body naturally defends itself against them and how the healthcare professions assist in supporting the body as it fights against these organisms. why wouldn't anyone see that as important to know? we live in a world surrounded by microbes and that is a fact. a good many of hospitalized patients are there because of some kind of infection and iv antibiotics are one of the most commonly given medication by rns. infection control to prevent others from getting contaminated with microorganisms hanging around hospitals is a big part of every hospital's practice. i can assure you that people such as florence nightingale, alexander fleming who discovered penicillin, or barry marshall who is one of the physicians that discovered the existence of the h. pylori bacteria responsible for peptic ulcers would assure you that microbiology is extremely important for any nurse setting foot in a healthcare facility today to know. before the work of these people revolutionized their clinical practices patients were dying because of what microbes were doing to them. you need an understanding of the microbes that surround us in order to appreciate what it is they can do to patients and us; you need to understand the importance of the treatments that are going to be ordered for the diseases that these microbes cause; you need to understand why you will be learning later why you will be taking precautions to prevent the spread of these microbes to others. every time you wash your hands before you eat or after you go to the bathroom you are respecting microbiology. every time you cut yourself and rinse that cut under clean, running water you are practicing microbiology. whenever you have a sore throat, cough and fever and go to the doctor for antibiotics you are concerned about microbiology. in nursing school you will learn much more about what we can do to treat and protect patients from microbes that are constantly around us. and that is how important microbiology is to nursing.

yes, what you just said, which is way better than how i worded it. i blame the insomnia. besides, if it wasn't important, why would it be a part of the nursing curriculum?