Microbiology Blues

[CareteamRN70]

Well here I sit nearing the end of my 4th quarter of an 8 quarter RN program...almost halfway done.

I have done okay so far A's and B's..and the program is considered accelerated because they combine pre-reqs in with the core nursing classes...and then I started my Micro II class...my micro 1 class did nothing to prepare me for the micro II class. The class is taught at a medtech level and I and my fellow students just feel lost. I am actually failing the class and do not have the option of dropping and retaking it. The school allows for me to fail and go on with my class into the next quarter as micro II is not a pre-req for my remaining classes but I need it to graduate and the school seems hesitant to give me a straight answer on "when" i could retake the class if I do fail. All they say is if I withdraw from the class I will be withdrawn from the RN program (I actually think there is a $ issue...school is for private for profit).

I'll be honest I was doing well, learning a lot, practicing my critical thinking everyday even when not in class, and boom...my first major stumble, and gang, its got me shook.

I am now the last "male" in my class since losing the other two along the way and as silly as it sounds I almost feel a certain obligation to stay with my class at all cost to represent men in nursing. The class in general see's me more of a mascot I think since losing our other two men.

Oh well just wanted to drop my rant somewhere it would be understood. Whats really bad is my wife is a microbiologist...one of those kind that can look at almost any slide or plate and identify the organism instantly, and she is just flabbergasted..and I think abit disgusted, that I can't comprehend the material. AND before you ask, no having a microbiologist in family does not help as much as you may think....Stephen Hawking explaining string theory to me wont make me understand quantum physics any better then her talking waaay over my head on microbiology.

"whew...someone get me a beer..and I dont even drink"

wish me luck

Semper Fi

[rholman]

Much luck... i feel your pain.

[CareteamRN70]

Thanks, and God may have thrown me a lifeline...next few chapters are over bioterror agents and I actually had all my old Marine Corp training on that subject come flooding back. I actually for once knew what the instructor was saying. Hopefully I can use this chapter as momentum to keep from failing and manage to squeek by with a passing grade. I will say one thing, I have a new found respect for microbiologist, medtechs, and lab techs.

Semper Fi

[rholman]

Thanks, and God may have thrown me a lifeline...next few chapters are over bioterror agents and I actually had all my old Marine Corp training on that subject come flooding back. I actually for once knew what the instructor was saying. Hopefully I can use this chapter as momentum to keep from failing and manage to squeek by with a passing grade. I will say one thing, I have a new found respect for microbiologist, medtechs, and lab techs.

Semper Fi

I can totally relate, I just finished my Biology class and passed with a C by 1 point. I had talked to my professor a few times about my concerns with my failing grades in the class. It was like a foreign language to me... it seemed the harder I studied the worst I did on the test. However, my professor called me today and said, after totaling up my grades I failed by 1 point... but she gave it to me anyway because she knew how hard I tried. Glory be to GOD.. like you, If I didn't pass BIO I was stuck, I couldn't take any other science classes and it would put me back a semester. I asked my friends and family members to say a prayer for me and the prayers were answered.

Our stories are somewhat similiar. My professor is a MD and her test were unbelievably ridiculous. I think she was trying to prepare us to be med students. Half the class dropped out and half of the remaining 15 failed the class. It was exhausting, mentally, physically and emotionally.

I'm so glad that i reached out to her when i did. Maybe if I hadn't talked to her she might not have passed me.

Don't give up.. keep on trucking, there is hope. It ain't over till the fat lady sings:p

[Redfoot]

"Microbiology made ridiculously simple" is a great book to get if you do not already have it. My Microbiologist friend tuned me into it after I told her I was attending the class last September. Micro is bane only topped by Organic Chem.

Micro classes are kind of weird, and it definitely depends on the instructor/school. My class had a lot of Vet-tech students in it (50%+), so we explored alot of stuff concerning animal infections. What always kills me is when you attend all the lectures, labs, and read the text, and the stuff still looks foreign. My Air Force medical training and CBRNE training did come in handy concerning Gram +/-, acid fast bacteria, and whatnot. In the end, I lucked out-my instructor flaked and we had a bunch of take home tests.

Good luck man.

-Redfoot