Microbiology - Fall 2005

boomerfriend · Sep 20, 2005

We just stained for the first time last lab... no gloves...BOY did I have red fingers from Safranin(sp??) LOL! He didn't require goggles either.....which I guess was OK because nothing even came close to splashing on me...we did wear disposable coats for this lab......we stained E.coli, M. luteus, E. aerogenes and epithelial cheek cells.

After our second lab of staining, someone else splattered Safranin on MY labcoat. I was sure glad I had one on. Lab coats, goggles and closed toed shoes were required in our labs. She even docked someone points once for wearing sandals (we're in AZ so this was a challenge!).

It all was worth it when one gal spilled E. coli all over the lab table, her books, notebook, the front of her lab coat and onto her lab partner's stuff. It scared us all enough to be careful from that day on. By the way, everyone at that table (4 of them) were all sick with something or other within a week of this accident. Hmmmmm.....

RedSox33RN · Sep 21, 2005

Had first lab test today and got a 100%. My professor actually grades them the second you turn them in so you know your grade before you leave. It was pretty easy, though, compared to what it could have been.

Good job!!!

I need a kick in the rearend. Between 4 kids in sports, a divorce and going through mediation, AND trying to find a house and mortgage and an LNA job, studying is just getting put off too much. Which is not good because there is SO much info!

All this stuff on cell walls and membranes is putting me to sleep!

maliat · Sep 23, 2005

Did our first test this week and I got a 94%. Our test was 50 multiple choice. Had problems with the DNA part of the test - transcription, translation, I know the difference, but it's hard to remember in the middle of a test.

Meanwhile in lab, we had our first streaking project. I'm happy to say mine turned out well. Next week we're starting the major staining. Ugh. Wish me well, that I don't put on to much stain or wipe off the specimen (already done this once.)

Malia

maliat · Sep 23, 2005

Just a bit frustrated with one of my fellow students who is in both my lab and lecture. We had lab on Monday and he came up to me to ask me how I was studying for the test the next day. Well I said I though I knew everything, but needed to review again tonight. Though he didn't say anything directly, I got the idea that he had not done any studying at all. :uhoh3: We get these review questions that make up the majority of the test and it sounded like he hadn't gone over them at all. The next morning, I found out I was right. He was complaining about how he spent 2 1/2 hours going over the questions last night and wanted to know my answers becuase he didn't have answers to more than half of them. I was trying to be nice and not just ditch him right there. But I did scoot out of the room to hang around outside, once our instructor came in and he started bugging her. Ugh. I have this whole relaxation/review routine I go through before tests and doesn't help with other people bugging me. I have a friends in all my classes who I talk to as we try to help each other understand what's going on, but I'm not going to answer someone's question who had not even studied.

Sorry for the length. But a bit frustrated. My mum says I should be nice and help, but there are limits.

Malia

capgirl · Sep 23, 2005

I was happy to see I got a 90 on my lab quiz last week, but this week we had a lab practical exam. While I could identify all the microorganisms, I messed up on kingdom/phyllum. I think I switched all those answers :uhoh3: So much for that easy A+

BoonersmomRN · Sep 24, 2005

I understand Mailat....I had a person like that in A+P...they'd ask every day me how I'd know something and I felt like saying " Uh...it's in the freaking powerpoints she gave us...don't you read them? EVER?"....but normally I'd just say " I read it". You can't help those who don't help themselves!!

yvette76 · Sep 25, 2005

Every month, I have to summarize newspaper/magazine articles on a microbiology topic. If anyone sees any articles please let me know.

yvette

LKG6 · Sep 25, 2005

Every month, I have to summarize newspaper/magazine articles on a microbiology topic. If anyone sees any articles please let me know.
yvette

Can you use online articles?

Google News-Health has articles on microbiology.

http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=m

Katie

RedSox33RN · Sep 25, 2005

Every month, I have to summarize newspaper/magazine articles on a microbiology topic. If anyone sees any articles please let me know.
yvette

I don't have a link, but if you do a Google search on Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the New England states are getting hit with that hard now. There have been a few deaths in NH and MA recently. It's caused by the West Nile virus. Our prof was talking about it recently.

RedSox33RN · Sep 25, 2005

I understand Mailat....I had a person like that in A+P...they'd ask every day me how I'd know something and I felt like saying " Uh...it's in the freaking powerpoints she gave us...don't you read them? EVER?"....but normally I'd just say " I read it". You can't help those who don't help themselves!!

I don't mind helping classmates and friends, God knows I needed lots of help in A&P II, but it chaps my rear when people are constantly asking for notes, answers, etc. I finally had to say to someone that she needed more help than I could provide, and needed to see the instructor about extra help. I KNOW she wasn't doing the reading or going over the PPT presentations. That's 1/2 the battle right there!

missninaRN · Sep 25, 2005

I have this whole relaxation/review routine I go through before tests.

Would you mind sharing your routine, Malia?

Although I am able to review quite well, the relaxation part seems to elude me.

maliat · Sep 25, 2005

I happen to be on one of the most beautiful campuses ever. I can see the ocean from all over campus so the relaxation part is not that hard. (I try to remind myself of this when I'm stuck inside in a crappy building (always too hot or cold) in a crappy class.)

So what I do is first, I get to class 30-45 minutes beforehand. Some classes I can go right in and sit down. Others, I have to sit outside or go into another classroom beforehand. I then spend some time reviewing. Not everything, just what I know I'm having problems with. If anything else, I'll be able to memorize it to stick in there for the next hour. This is also the time when I bug my friends if I have any last minute questions. Then 15 minutes before the test, I'm usually in the classroom by then. This is also about the time that everyone starts pouring in. That's when I head outside, go to the bathroom, etc. Then I stand looking at the ocean (aren't I lucky) and start taking deep breaths, letting all the anxiety go. I remind myself how much I already know. After a couple of minutes, I head back inside, sometimes to check on my notes one last time. This is when I put my notes away. I don't believe that there is much use cramming until the last possible minute. I get out my pencil or whatever I need for the test. Then I close my eyes again and start the deep breathing again. For the first couple of breaths, it's all about the breathing, no thinking allowed. And this is the nutty part, recomended by my accupuncturist. I try to think like my teacher. Sometimes this doesn't work, but usually I can think about how they test and how I should I be answering the questions. By this time it's the last couple of minutes before the test and everyone else is still cramming. Try not to get up in their anxiety. I say good luck to any friend who is sitting near me and I am ready for test.

I think the key is a) do not study right up until the test is handed out and b) try some deep breathing with your eyes closed to relax a little before hand. Sometimes I feel my blood pressure go right back up when I start answering questions, but there's a question that I'm really having a hard time I can recapture the calm I had before the test to come up with some answer and move on.

Hope that helps.

Malia