stressing over microbiology

[CherryB85]

hello everyone I am in the central NJ area. I work fulltime on a sub-acute unit LPN for 2 years mother of two boys a 7mth old and a 7 year old and microbiology is killing me. I enrolled into excelsior back in march & finally decided to get started. unfortunately micro was my course I didn't have to it is first. it has so much information I don't know where to start or where to focus. I have college network book, microbiology demsified, study group 101 & vangos notes. vangos note actually helped the most. I really cant afford to not pass this test, but this is so much information. any study tips are welcome

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

My suggestion would be to start with the areas with the smaller % first. Those areas don't have as much information in content based on the content guide. Really try to nail those areas. After that, move on to the next...basically starting at the bottom and working your way up. Address each area as if it is the only area that you're going to be tested on instead of looking at the entire subject as a whole. That minimizes the feeling of being overwhelmed with loads of boring Greek-sounding content. As you complete an area, go back and test yourself from the very first area to the current one. Then move on up to the next. By the time that you're done with all of the areas, you will have tested yourself repeatedly until you will be able to identify the answers before finishing the questions. That was the only way that I made it through micro since I'm not a biology person AT ALL. I was just so happy and thrilled when I didn't fail this exam! As life would have it, some things you learn and some things you memorize until you learn it. Good luck to you!