Microbiology help?

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2011

I'm trying to remember any chemistry we've done in Micro and nothing is springing to mind.. Micro is definitely not like chemistry.. you're learning about microbes (mostly bacteria).. I actually LOVE this class. The labs are fun, the lectures engaging and I even got a 101.2 on my last lecture exam. (We got 2 bonus points for bringing canned goods in for the food drive) I dropped Chem because it was so hard and I wasn't getting it, so if I can do this well in micro- you're golden. We did a little pharmacology, not the chemical make ups so much (though he did mention them) but what class of drugs, what it does (cell wall inhibitor, etc) and what infection is it the DOC for. We did KREBS and ETC, some translation and transcription,.. now we are learning a.bout gram positive microbes. its fun... don't freak out... this is the easy science course.

RHIA, RN · Apr 15, 2011

KREBS is enough to make me cringe!

Thanks for the information.

Nrevous1 I will be looking for the books you mentioned. Thank you.

Nomijen · Apr 15, 2011

I hated Chem, and loved Micro. With very little effort got nothing less than a 98 on any test. Pick a good professor though! I have heard some awful horror stories.

Compassion4Others · Apr 15, 2011

You shouldn't fear Micro, it's like BIO 1, except with a focus on bacteria. I found chem way harder than micro.

microtutor · Apr 15, 2011

I did great in Micro and now I tutor it. I think the key to doing well in the class, for me, was doing well on the unknowns project. I read the labs thoroughly and tried to memorize the media and tests, what types of cells they identify, why you perform them, etc. I think another key thing is to master the techniques - it is like a cooking class, and if you really learn to cook (master gram stains, really put in the time to do all the identification tests necessary to identify your unknowns) you will do great. Luckily, my professor allowed us to work in the lab during other people's classes and on the weekends. If your school allows that, you might want to take advantage of it.

Other things to focus on: you need to know organic functional groups and their basic properties (shouldn't be too bad if you already made it through Chem - just review 'em), enzyme actions and inhibitors, glucose catabolic pathways, krebs & electron transport chain, protein metabolism, calvin-benson cycle, genetic transcription, genetic expression and mutation, DNA repair, protein synthesis, infection controls, colony morphology, slant and broth growth patterns

Have fun! It really is a fun class :-)

blackandyellow · Apr 15, 2011

I took micro last summer. I heard so many bad things about it but ended up loving it. I liked learning about the bacterias that cause diseases and I liked the lab portion. I studied every day and it was time consuming but got an A. I bought microbiology flash cards that ended up being a waste of time and a microbiology coloring book was a waste of time. But maybe that's because what my teacher taught was different from the text.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2011

KREBS is enough to make me cringe!
Thanks for the information.
Nrevous1 I will be looking for the books you mentioned. Thank you.

Krebs isn't nearly as scary as people make it out to be.. once it clicks, it clicks. And we didn't go nearly in depth into it as we did in A/P and general biology..

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2011

I was terrified of the thought of taking micro before I actually took it. Once I was in it, I realized it was not as intimidating as I had thought. I had a pretty good professor and even got an A in the class. I found chem much harder than micro, and the chem they review in micro is all you need to understand the subject matter.

The Barron's Microbiology The Easy Way is what I had as a study aid along with my textbook, it was pretty good. Never go to lecture without reading your chapters beforehand. Even if you don't understand everything you read first time, that's OK. You just don't want to sit in lecture and hear things there for the first time. Reading beforehand keeps things in your subconscious and it will click after lecture.

One other thing that saved me: Prof. Fink videos on YouTube explaining cellular respiration (series of 7 videos), here is the first:

You will thank me later!

ptbunny333 · Apr 16, 2011

I agree, go to every class. Read the chapter beforehand. Ask questions. Also, Micro was fun because of the hands on lab. And the "Unknown" portion? SUPER EXCITING! I also got the microbiology coloring book and it was helpful. I do best when I learn the information in several different ways, rather than absorb directly off of power point lecture notes.

bubbasmom · Apr 18, 2011

i love micro more than any science class i have taken.the unknown project was iffy at first because i couldnt get a gram stain to show.but dr cain is awesome and reassured me that everything would turn out right and it did!i loved the chapters on diseases...makes me want to take patho!

johnny depp23 · Apr 19, 2011

Well, I put Micro off until the end and now I have to take it . . . I'm dreading it. I barely survived chemistry and the thought of micro brings flashbacks of chemistry! This summer I will be taking micro and nursing role transition. Anyone have tips for getting through micro? Websites or study guides?
I really thought I had seen a Microbiology for Dummies book before but when I looked on Amazon, nada.
TIA!

I thought Micro was a breeze! Most people who have trouble with it either A) don't bother to read their notes or B) have a horrible teacher. You should buy a book and read the chapters reviews and answer the questions at the end of the chapter. Thats what I did at least. Also- try and get a copy of your school's micro syllabus if you can. That will help bunches!

Whatever you do-- don't take Microbiology online! You will HATE it with a passion.

RHIA, RN · Apr 19, 2011

Wow, I cannot believe that everyone is saying it isn't so bad. In every day life all the nurses I have worked with or talked to all cringe and tell horror stories. Thank you, everyone for your input and sharing your resources.