Which topics in microbiology are the most useful in nursing?

[Copperismydog]

I'm taking my nursing pre-requisites this semester and next. I have actually already taken microbiology, but it was 7 years ago, and I don't remember much. However, my school still gave me credit for my microbiology class. So now I am thinking of just getting a microbiology textbook and studying at my own pace to refresh my memory before I start nursing school next fall.

I was wondering what the most important topics are in microbiology that I should be sure to understand before I start nursing? Does EVERYTHING you learned in microbiology come back in nursing school?

Thanks for your help :)

[anonymousstudent]

viruses

bacteria - especially how they work and how antibiotics effect different kinds - Gram +/- maybe? Maybe not even that specific.

Honestly I don't think you need much! A very general understanding would be about all you'll ever encounter.

[kayty2339]

Honestly, I felt like it was just another useless class to get me towards my goal. I don't remember any of it and it hasn't hurt me at all.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Immunology.

[cheezwhiz]

basics of chain of transmission and aseptic technique are pretty much all you need.

detailed understanding of different microorganisms and their relevance to disease may be nice to know but really amounts to icing on a cake.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think being able to take data and make some conclusions from it might also be helpful along with the suggestions posters made above. I don't think it was a useless class but you certainly won't need to remember all the details of replication.

[clucito01]

Just the basics! Virus replication, basic & common bacteria (especially the ones you see the most in hospital acquired infections) other than that it was just another class to pad my pre-reqs and a complete waste of time and money!

[Despareux]

It's all important, except for the history portion = not so much.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

We had very little of an immunology component in our micro class. That said, the useful things are probably aerobic and anaerobic respiration, Gram stain, which bacteria types stain what, endo/exotoxins, viral replication, and pathogenic parasites if you get any of that. Food associates bacteria and proper food handling and storage is kind of handy to just know, plus I suppose you could use it in patient education.

[anon695]

There was nothing important in Microbiology that wasn't taught in Nursing already. It was just another filler class to add 4 extra credits to the total count.

[tech1000]

I took micro this past summer during nursing school. The only thing it helps with is maybe some minimal understanding with what medications do to bacteria/viruses. So I'd say pay attention to that but most of it was pretty useless.

[TC3200]

As the nursing instructors have explained the nursing course sequence(s) to me, the nursing instruction is divided into units, and they review the essential parts of microbiology and A&P that you need for that unit. I'm not saying that you can wait around and coast until then. But there are usually nursing textbooks on the racks at Goodwills & other thrift stores especially near colleges. Certainly some dirt cheap on ebay. You can look through one and see what micro or A&P they emphasize with that particular section of nursing and review ahead.