Published Jun 11, 2009
Di Deanna
259 Posts
i usually do pretty well in science, however, i know that microbiology is
supposed to be a little more intense. are there any games, videos, guides,
cards, books, or materials out there that can help me to get a jump
start before taking this class? i basically want to self-teach ahead of time...@
least what i can.
thanks in advance!
JenRN2011
90 Posts
I enjoyed Micro and I took in the summer. The lecture was not as interesting as the lab. Study and you will do fine.
Jenn
Chapis
400 Posts
i enjoyed micro so much, i wish it was a year long class because there is so much to go over that sometimes i wished we could go in detail, but anyways, the only thing i can think of is to ask which book your instuctor will be using for you to buy it before-hand and start reading it. if you know which insturctor you'll be having, send him an email and ask if you can have a lecture schedule, some don't go in order, and that way, you're reading ahead.
good luck.
donnasRN
74 Posts
I took it last fall and loved it. It's not all memorization like the A&Ps were, you have to perform experiments, stains, write papers, etc. To study the stains used, I'd get an index card with a droplet of each stain, the name and what test/bacteria it's for so you have a visual. We had to perform a gram stain for our midterm so memorize the steps if it's going to be on yours as well. Also, be able to differentiate between gram + and gram - bacteria, cocci, rods, staph, strep, etc. You'll learn all of this in class so just study your notes and you'll do fine. You can PM me if you ever need any help.
Thanks pals! Can any of you suggest a "beginners" book to me? LOL
I know that I will have A&P, so I have already ordered the study guides
and coloring books for them..just so that I know SOME stuff ahead of time.
I have never taken either one of these classes and I am determined to
keep @ least a 3.5 GPA in Nursing School....heck, I'm really trying for a 4.0, but
I want to be realistic LOL.
sbyramRN
304 Posts
I lived Micro. Much better than A & P.
Thanks pals! Can any of you suggest a "beginners" book to me? LOLI know that I will have A&P, so I have already ordered the study guidesand coloring books for them..just so that I know SOME stuff ahead of time.I have never taken either one of these classes and I am determined tokeep @ least a 3.5 GPA in Nursing School....heck, I'm really trying for a 4.0, but I want to be realistic LOL.
Not sure, I never purchase anything more than what my professor says we need... I just go by notes taken and textbooks, but I rarely use those either lol - I'm a good note taker so that's all I rely on, and I've been able to maintain a 4.0. You can check if there are any "Made Incredibly Easy" books for Micro, but I'd say wait until you've started and feel out the class before flooding yourself with a bunch of information your instructor might not cover.
Crux1024
985 Posts
Micro was SO much easier for me than A&P I or II (not sure why, I just throughly actually enjoyed it!). I purchased just the textbook and a recommended supplemental guide and I was fine.
What helped me through though, was doing a google image search to try and analyze/memorize the shapes and appearances of types of bacteria that I may have had on an upcoming lab exam or something similar.
Good Luck! Sounds like youre determined.
pagandeva2000, LPN
7,984 Posts
I adored Micro! You can consider purchasing a Microbiology coloring book. I did, and it taught me well! Also, there is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Microbiology to get a nice sense of it, and it's cheap...you can order it from Amazon for less than $20. In fact, somehow, Micro brought me to understand it's role in nursing moreso than Anatomy (if that was ever possible). I looked forward to going to the class, enjoyed the experience and it was my highest grade in the sciences to date.
dailybungalow
18 Posts
I found this website to be a great source while I was looking up my pathogens for reports: http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/index.html
It's easy to search and find the info that you need for the hard questions. There's a little more there than you probably need to know but who knows how much detail you might want to go into. I have it bookmarked cause it never hurts to have a FREE resource.
Micro was my favorite class too.
ECatSchClea
24 Posts
I found that when my Micro text/lab manual were lacking in photos of specific bugs, stains, procedures, etc the CDC's website was extremely informative!
I do have to admit that I found Micro pretty easy (I was worried about the class, too). I think this site may also help you get an understanding of what the course will cover: http://scienceprofonline.googlepages.com/microbiologyhelp
Ooooh, and this is pretty specific, but the topic I had the most difficulty with was DNA replication. There are some wonderful videos on YouTube that go over the lagging/leading strand concept very well when my text did not!
Good luck - let me know if you ever need help!
Platypus
161 Posts
Unlike a lot of people who have answered you, I found Micro harder than A&P. I am a visual learner, so A&P I understood better since there were so many pictures to connect the information. Micro was a lot of info about microbes and nothing visually to connect it with. I had to put the information into picture form to get it into my head better. It worked for me - I got an A in the class. I don't think you need to study ahead. Just keep up with the course content and you will be fine.