Microbiology - Summer 2012

mbazan17 · May 11, 2012

I took micro in the summer 2011. Different factors take into place. Do you work? Are you a mom? A wife? I did not have those responsibilities being a 19 year old, so I took full advantage of those 7 weeks and got an 'A' in the class. I took micro along with nutrition for nursing, I also got an 'A'. It was a challenge, but I had the advantage of not working, taking care of children, or being a wife.

Best of Luck, the class is awesome:w00t:. Our professor incorporated microbiology into the health care system, which allowed me to understand something simple as antibiotics. It destroys peptidoglycan, which is part of the cell wall of bacteria. Viruses do not have peptidoglycan at all, so antibiotics are not effective for treatment. *I knew viruses and antibiotics are a 'no' 'no' but the rationale helped clear it out.

truckinusa, BSN, LPN, RN · May 11, 2012

I'm knee deep into it. Did my first lab this week which was using the microscope capable of oil immersion. I had microscopes as a kid so no big deal. Second lab was aseptic technique. I use to haul milk and had my weighing and sampling license. Basically the same concept. Still haven't learned anything new except the media was something new. We used nutrient agar to isolate bacteria with the streaking method. That was pretty interesting, but I understood what was going on.

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · May 11, 2012

Haha, trb76 I was actually thinking about opening up my books and reading ahead a little, too! Good luck to everyone on here...I can't wait to start and tackle this beast of a class! :-)

no micro here, but i am taking pathophysiology!

and like you, i want to get ahead as well! i just finished my first semester of nursing school and know how you automatically start out behind and feel that way thru out the semester!

best of luck in micro! i took that in the fall of 11, it was very interesting, boring at first, but when we got into the disease process, it was very cool!

leenak · May 11, 2012

Best of Luck, the class is awesome:w00t:. Our professor incorporated microbiology into the health care system, which allowed me to understand something simple as antibiotics. It destroys peptidoglycan, which is part of the cell wall of bacteria. Viruses do not have peptidoglycan at all, so antibiotics are not effective for treatment. *I knew viruses and antibiotics are a 'no' 'no' but the rationale helped clear it out.

Not to be nitpicky but... there are multiple ways that antibiotics can act on bacteria. I believe Pennicilin-class antibiotics work against the bonds in Gram-positive bacteria but other antibiotics work different ways and on different types of bacteria.

Although our course didn't have a healthcare bent, we did learn about the different modes of actions against Gram-positive/negative bacteria as well as viruses.

I thought Microbiology was a great class overall.

Cherry02 · May 11, 2012

Yeah, like someone else said, there are different ways of killing bacteria...not all antibiotics specifically/primarily/directly act on the cell wall. They just have to target traits specific to bacteria (cell wall, DNA, protein synthesis/ribosomes, etc.) so that host cells won't be damaged. Viruses take over host cells...so of course that is why viral infections are harder to treat.

Anyway, I took microbio this past spring. I loved it! Didn't think it was much like A&P, though. It was definitely very interesting! Good luck everyone!

jocy_anne · May 12, 2012

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I can't wait to get started...it's only been 4 days since the Spring semester ended for me and I'm bored out of my mind, lol.

Darkstar1485, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 12, 2012

I'm taking a 12 week course. It's my last pre req. I already applied to nursing school. I can't blow it by getting a C in micro (if I get accepted before the course is over.) My lab partner took A&P 2 and micro with the same prof and got a D in A&P 2 and a B in micro. She said micro was awesome but A&P II was much harder. She's not good at science BTW. So I think if I work hard, I should get an A. Let's all strive for greatness this summer!

sandanrnstudent · May 12, 2012

my micro class starts on the 24th

tmmycarson · May 12, 2012

Good luck everyoner in Micro! I just completed it along with A & P II together, got a "B" in both but was really difficult. My favorite part of Mico was the Labs, I really learned alot. The class was gruelling but rewarding. I will take the TEAS V test next month.. worried.

disnurse91 · May 13, 2012

omg good luck. i am taking microbiology now, and its easier to me than physiology. i really like it, plus always ask the professor what you can do to get an A in the class. Don't worry, you will be fine. I got an A and i was taking it with physiology and nutrition.

VIMom · May 14, 2012

I'm taking Micro along with Physiology and an online psychology class starting June 3. I'm really nervous about being able to do it all, if I can't maintain my current GPA...well, you know, lol. But since I have a few weeks before school starts back up, I'm trying to enjoy as much time with my husband and three kids as possible. Seriously, if I'm only going to have three weeks of summer, I'm gonna enjoy it! I'm sure I'm gonna be busy soon enough. I ordered my books last week and expect them tomorrow but that makes me nervous, too. I rented them this time, and saved $400. Not kidding. I just hope it was worth it! Has anyone ever rented textbooks? I used Barnes and Noble, so I'm assuming they're a reputable company and I shouldn't worry...but how awful would it be to get the wrong book, or something, lol.

truckinusa, BSN, LPN, RN · May 15, 2012

I'm taking Micro along with Physiology and an online psychology class starting June 3. I'm really nervous about being able to do it all, if I can't maintain my current GPA...well, you know, lol. But since I have a few weeks before school starts back up, I'm trying to enjoy as much time with my husband and three kids as possible. Seriously, if I'm only going to have three weeks of summer, I'm gonna enjoy it! I'm sure I'm gonna be busy soon enough. I ordered my books last week and expect them tomorrow but that makes me nervous, too. I rented them this time, and saved $400. Not kidding. I just hope it was worth it! Has anyone ever rented textbooks? I used Barnes and Noble, so I'm assuming they're a reputable company and I shouldn't worry...but how awful would it be to get the wrong book, or something, lol.

I was going to pirate the textbook, but $1 and $3 shipping seemed like it was worth it for me to buy it. I spent a total of $4 on textbooks this summer on two classes. All the students in my class bought the $140 newer edition of the Bauman Microbiology textbook. Its the same as the 2006 edition I got.