Scared of Microbiology ... Advice?

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I'm looking to take microbiology in spring 2010, but I am experiencing some anxiety about taking the class. My cursory review of textbooks and guidebooks on the topic make me think that this is going to be an extremely hard class for me. I have managed to get A's in two A&P courses and two general chem courses, so people may think I would be OK ... I don't know though. Perhaps I need some encouragement or advice on how I can get over this anxiety. I have even gone as far as getting a copy of the fall syllabus for the same professor I will take in the spring (who I hear mixed reviews about but I have really no choice as she is the only one offering it online and I need to do it online due to work -- lab is in person, but I can handle that at night -- and I would have taken it this fall but it's the busy season @ my job through December). I was thinking of doing some pre-reading before the spring but not so motivated to do it right now.

This is also my last major science prereq remaining for nursing school (that is, the last one I need that's common to all nursing schools I am considering) and I don't want anything less than an A. Thanks in advance for all replies.

[amandabrown23]

From what I understand if you can pass A&P then you should breeze through micro. I got C's in A&P but I am hoping to do much better in micro. Good Luck!

[Veganmom]

Microbiology was a fun class for me. I took it this summer in a 5 week class and had no problems learning the material. It was much easier for me than the A&P 2 class I took the second half of summer.

[GrayMatter]

I think what throws people off is that so much seems completely foreign at first- some of it is the organism names like psuedomonas aeruginosa or group a beta hemolytic streptococcus and so on..... But I used to teach micro labs (my bs is micro now trying to go to nursing school) and IMO you will do GREAT having taken chemistry and A&P!

Does your class involve identification of an unknown? If so it's not as hard as it sounds if you use a flowchart. I have always thought Anatomy was much harder and you've already aced that. Relax and have fun, intro micro isn't that bad and the labs are different and a lot of fun and extremely hands on which is what I love the most about the topic in general....don't worry you'll do fine!:)

[shrimpchips, LPN]

If you did well in A&P and general chem, microbio shouldn't be a problem for you. I really enjoyed microbio - it was the more "interesting" science class that I took (A&P was too, but A&P to me was HARD). Microbio was probably the easiest science pre-req that I had, too. Don't worry about it!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

A&P I struggled with, Micro was easier for me and more interesting.

[rainydaydream]

Microbiology was one of the coolest, most interesting classes I've ever taken!

Be sure to study a lot. Read all of the book information, make sure you understand it, and understand how what you learn in class applies to labs. I took photos of all my lab work which really helped me study for lab exams.

[conandcait]

I thought micro was completely boring! Maybe it was my teacher, I don't know but we had a lab quiz EACH class period, as well as 5 chapter exams. I got an A in that class, but A & P I & II were much better for me...more "tangible" concepts, I think. You will be fine- jsut do not slack! BTW, I do not know how you will do online- I have never heard of micro online!! I did my gen bio online with a lab once a week in person, and it was so wretched b/c the lab never matches up with what you are studying! I got all A's in my sciences, but I just did not like the micro!! Kelli

[lightsnoise]

Like everyone said, if you got As in A&P and your chemistry courses then Micro should be cake. There's very little memorization and the concepts are very easy to grasp. The hard part for me was streak plating lol...it's definitely a relevant course btw.

[MegoEgo]

I took Med Micro with four other classes, plus working part time. I had free time too. I mean yeah, it was the hardest class I have had hands down, but it is definitely do-able. We had tests and quizzes like every other class period so it involved a lot of study time. I made lots of flash cards with different assays on them and for different bacteria, etc. It was definitely harder than A&P 1 and 2, but definitely doable. Getting that A makes all the work worth it! You can do it, trust me. You just have to have a battle plan going into it. Keep on top of the material every night and you should be just fine. :)

[2ndLife]

I think what throws people off is that so much seems completely foreign at first- some of it is the organism names like psuedomonas aeruginosa or group a beta hemolytic streptococcus and so on..... But I used to teach micro labs (my bs is micro now trying to go to nursing school) and IMO you will do GREAT having taken chemistry and A&P!

Does your class involve identification of an unknown? If so it's not as hard as it sounds if you use a flowchart. I have always thought Anatomy was much harder and you've already aced that. Relax and have fun, intro micro isn't that bad and the labs are different and a lot of fun and extremely hands on which is what I love the most about the topic in general....don't worry you'll do fine!:)

I completely agree. When I was getting my B.S., I didn't think I'd enjoy Micro but I LOVED it! I would have loved to have worked with the CDC, hunting bugs. I found it much easier than almost any science course I took. I ended up working in the lab for work-study and co-taught the labs. Then from there I went on to take Microbial Genetics and Virology. I think you'll do fine. It sounds like you're a good student.

[Sand_Dollar, BSN]

I loved micro! I took it along with AP2 and psych this summer and got all A's. Besides AP it was the most relevant course to nursing yet. I will be reading the rest of the text on my own just because it is interesting!