help w/ prerequisites

windmill182 · Mar 25, 2011

I would definitely take as many classes as you can before you start actual Nursing classes and Clinicals. Anything to lighten the load. Especially if you are a Mother... :twocents:

Nursing School will be more than enough work. I couldn't imagine throwing Micro in there. We had to have it completed before we could even apply. : )

RNtrauma · Mar 25, 2011

Okay Great! Thanks so much.

caliotter3 · Mar 25, 2011

Take it before you start nursing courses. Once you start nursing your time will be taken up and you will be in sad shape to take anything but nursing courses. I have spent hours upon hours into the night working on nursing care plans for clinical the next day. Where does that leave time to spend on a difficult course like micro? Get it done now. You will be glad you did.

NCRNMDM, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2011

I was just accepted to nursing school for the fall of 2011, and am currently taking microbiology. Some of what you've heard is true, there are parts of micro that are very difficult, however, it isn't impossible. Since you work full time and are a full time mom, you may have a harder time as far as finding time to study and completing class work. In my experience, the hardest part of micro was the biochemistry and DNA sections. I was okay with the beginning of the class, where we talked about cell anatomy, Gram staining, lab procedures, and the nature of microbes, but I was totally lost during metabolism, biochemistry, and DNA. Somehow I managed to pull through those sections and pass the mid-term exam. Now we are studying bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and disease and everything makes sense. I've even started tying previous material into what we're covering now, and I think I'm beginning to see the big picture. When I first started micro, I was told all the typical horror stories but, overall, they haven't proved to be true. I won't lie and say that micro isn't a lot of work, because it is, but I think you would be better off doing it now than trying to do it while you are in nursing school. My RN advisor told me that I needed to get as many prerequisite classes out of the way before nursing school so I would have as much time as possible to focus on learning all the nursing material that would be thrown at me. I think this is a good piece of advice for you, also. Good luck!

DarkBluePhoenix · Mar 25, 2011

Yes start taking everything before you get into the program (i am actually surprised its not a pre req into the program itself but alright....)

As for micro, I just took my first micro lab quiz (i got a 100% on it) and my first micro exam (got a 91% :) )

Micro is NOT hard, at all...

It actually is easier than physio (which I am also taking)

First exam covered basic prokaryote v eukaryote including comparisons

Also Staining and cell wall of gram+/- acid fast +/- capsule stain, endospore stain etc...

You need to know atypical bacteria

You need to know why you stain and what happens to the cell wall

need to know growth of bacteria, their classifications (halophiles are salt-lovers lol)

you need to know the methods of counting bacteria, if they count live, dead, or junk, direct or indirect

you need to know different ways to classify bacteria based on series of tests, whether they need a pure culture or not.

stuff like that.

Second exam (coming up in 2 weeks)

is all gen bio stuff

ie. cell resp, photosynthesis, dna replic, transcription, translation

and I think my last two exams are about immunity and chemotherapeutics

you will do fine

good luck!

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2011

I have to agree with the previous poster about Microbiology.. it is so far the easiest science course I've taken! It's fun too!:) My current average in the class is 96% and that is after 2 major lab practicals and 2 major lecture exams. My teacher is awesome though, so I'm sure that makes a difference... he makes it fun.

Having said that, I'd take it and get it out of the way so you can focus on all your nursing classes exclusively.. it'll be best to give all your time to the meaty nursing classes! :) Good luck.

SugarNSass · Mar 25, 2011

As someone who took microbiology and anatomy while working full time and still nursing my first (and only) baby, I implore you to take microbiology before you start any nursing classes. Your sanity will thank you.