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Discussion

microbiology prof needs some input

I have been teaching micro for 25 years, being an ex-clinical bench microbiologist in hospitals. My audience is pre-nursing students, trying to get into nursing programs. I am putting together a presentation for a conference of microbiologists on the topic of WHAT nursing students and nurses need to know about microbiology. As you all well know, nursing and pre-nursing students gripe a lot about micro and the topics that they do not think helps them or will help them in nursing. Most students think that micro is an obstacle in their path, and want to just get over it without slowing down. I can certainly empathize with comments here about how to handle student complaints. When I try to stress to my pre-nursing students that this is information that they will need in nursing courses or that they need to brush up on their study skills, I get accused of being too negative.

I have previously sent out survey questions to nursing faculty asking about topics that they want stressed as well as NCLEX coverage of micro, and I have spent countless hours going through NCLEX prep books putting together a list of micro topics that could be on the exam.

Here are the topics covered in our course:

-bacterial structure and function

-bacterial growth and control of their growth (antimicrobials)

-antibiotics and antibiotic resistance

-biotechnology and bacterial genetics

-viral replication and features

-a survey of various microorganisms (bacteria, worms, viruses, fungi, protozoa)

-epidemiology

-pathogenicity of microbes

-host resistance and immunity

-immune disorders and some immune testing

-exposure to a variety of infectious diseases

I wondered if I could get some input from you guys for my presentation:

1. What are the important lecture topics that you want your students to have some knowledge of before they get into your nursing courses?

2. What major topics will likely show up on an NCLEX exam?

3. What are some important skills from the micro lab?

Thanks---I appreciate it immensely

Featured Replies

i wondered if i could get some input from you guys for my presentation:

1. what are the important lecture topics that you want your students to have some knowledge of before they get into your nursing courses?

the various classes of antibiotics and which bacteria they are effective in treating.

mrsa, vre, and other antibiotic-resistant organisms are "hot" topics of discussion. i would like the students to know how these organisms are transmitted, and how to best prevent transmission. also, they need to know the signs & symptoms of infection and be able to distinguish colonization versus active infection with these "super bugs."

2. what major topics will likely show up on an nclex exam?

biological warfare agents (such as anthrax, plague, smallpox).

avian influenza, sars, and other microbial candidates for disease pandemics.

mrsa and other antibiotic-resistant organisms.

3. what are some important skills from the micro lab?

how to safely handle lab specimens.

how to effectively disinfect an area of exposure (classroom, locker-room, patient's room, etc.)

proper ppe (and donning & removing sequence) for various organisms.

thanks---i appreciate it immensely

these are just a few suggestions "off the top of my head." i'm sure others will have useful suggestions as well.

btw, welcome to allnurses :balloons:

I loved micro.

Not an educator, but my charge nurse recently had the same nurse take care of someone on contact precautions for MRSA and another patient on contact precautions for VRE. Can we say, not too bright?

It sounds like you are doing a great job already! I think your students will really benefit from you taking topics of microbiology that could come up on the NCLEX and be useful information when they start their nursing careers! Some things I did in microbiology lab is really understanding the impact of hand washing as a first line of defense against the spread of germs. It still irks me to see some people not practicing this as often as they should in the hospitals! We grew cultures from our hands pre and post effective hand washing. Another good lab I remember is seeing all the microorganism growth that came from the lab tables, floors, and other surfaces. At my job, I always try to take 5 to 10 minutes first thing in the morning to clean my patients' work station area. I also agree with the above posts about the growing number of MRSA and C. diff in the hospitals. It is important for nurses to take all the isolation precautions possible when dealing with these patients. Unfortunately, during my senior clinicals, some health care workers would be lazy and not put on their gowns all the time when entering the rooms or they didn't take off their isolation wear properly, which would just defeat the purpose of putting them on in the first place!

Hi. I am not an educator. However the topic of micro as a pre-req came up in conversation yesterday. Seems to me that taking it once in nursing school as opposed to a pre-req would make the content more relevant and easier to relate what is taught to the real world of nursing.

If I had the extra time and money...I would love to take micro again. I think I would get much more out it! So continue your research! Your students will benefit from it for sure!

I think VickyRN hit the high spots. NCLEX questions might center on type of PPE required for specific germs and patient safety. Safety will include appropriate delegation (licensed vs. unlicensed personnel). I loved micro. I remember to this day what G. Lambdia looked like under the microscope. A MONKEY

  • Experts

I would ask a Hospital Infection Control Nurse what s/he wished graduate nurses knew more about. I was always amazed @ some of the "hocus-pocus" practices into which nurses put a lot faith.

What Infection Control practices have the most bang for the buck? What Infection Control practices are useless? (e.g., making TB pts eat off disposable dishes: demonstrates an inadequate understanding of how the disease is transmitted) APIC is a valuable resource. http://www.apic.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home RN's need to know what organisms in/on what equipment (gnr's in respiratory equipment, for example) are a risk to pts.

Also, what organisms are beneficial to us, and help fight off infection, esp on the skin.

One very instructive thing I did in Micro was to culture my own hair! Why? To know why it's imp't to cover your hair in some settings. Look for students w/artificial nails--they're a big no-no. If students discover why that's so in the lab, they'll be more willing to follow that rule.

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