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?
Regarding my earlier post, I wanted to add that I took micro eight years prior to nursing school as a previous science major. I can't fully recall anything we went over, lol. What I suggested to be worth knowing can be found in places besides micro. You could work effectively without ever having taken the class, in my opinion.
I can't fully recall anything we went over, lol. What I suggested to be worth knowing can be found in places besides micro.
It's funny you say that because I'm not certain either where a lot of my knowledge comes from. I think learning and knowledge is a cumulative effect, i.e.you're always building on previously learned knowledge so it's difficult to pinpoint, "Where did you learn that?"
That's why I can't say with 100% certainty that micro was a useless class. However, I also realize that I'm a biology/medical junkie who loves the process of learning.
Since you have taken a microbiology class you will be fine. The concepts in microbiology are critical to understanding how antibiotics, antifungal agents, and medications work. As a staff nurse, a familiarity with the language is all you will need. If you work in a specialty or move into higher clinical levels (NP or Clinical Specialist) you will easily learn (or review) any additional details needed.
The way the education works best is when you have the basic science course (Microbiology, A&P, Chemistry, etc) first then follow with Nursing I, II, etc. Then the Nursing instructor can refer to aspects of the sciences without dwelling on how it all works. Unfortunately, with the way nursing education is set-up there is alot of duplication for most of us.
I don't know where you guys took micro, but I'm using every single thing i learned in micro...
I was thinking the same thing! My micro class was absolutely fabulous! I use all the info I learned about antibiotics and how they work, antivirals/viruses, the immune system, how bacteria grows, antibiotic resistance (how it's tested), vaccines, biotech, and so much more. My micro preparation really helped me when it came to Patho and Pharm too.
To those of you saying you are using every single bit of micro....are you in a BSN program? I'm in an AD program and we don't have to take pathophysiology or pharmacology. It's all worked into the core courses, but not anywhere near the depth that you are talking.
To those of you saying you are using every single bit of micro....are you in a BSN program? I'm in an AD program and we don't have to take pathophysiology or pharmacology. It's all worked into the core courses, but not anywhere near the depth that you are talking.
I use the immunology..knowing how the immune system works is super helpful. Knowing the most common diseases, signs for them, etc is helpful. I would say that micro was better than my second anatomy class, in terms of preparing me for nursing school...and the TEAS test
I use the immunology..knowing how the immune system works is super helpful. Knowing the most common diseases, signs for them, etc is helpful. I would say that micro was better than my second anatomy class, in terms of preparing me for nursing school...and the TEAS test
Wow, better than A&P2? Sounds like you had a good Micro class. A&P is where I learned the most and what prepared me the most for nursing. That's where you learn how the body works, which to me is much more important. I already knew how the immune system worked before I took Micro and I learned that in A&P. The diseases we need to know about and the s/s of them are taught to us in the core nursing classes and they are tought to us in the way that we as nurses need to understand them. This is why I felt like Micro was useless.
It was helpful for me because now I recall strains of bacteria and viruses and what they can do to us. We actually covered common diseases in our micro class and that is coming in handy for me. Isolation and infection control is also relevant. I agree with other people here, we use our micro knowledge but only in a basic sense; just skimming through a book will probably be all you need to refresh you.
You probably don't even need to review a textbook because that goes so in-depth....I've attached my notes from the class I took this summer. These notes have been handed down for a few years and are very detailed...most students don't even use the textbook and study straight from these notes. There are around a dozen modules put into Word documents but it covers everything in a condensed version.
Wow, thanks so much for the replies everybody, and for the notes, mspontiac! These are great to have! I looked at a couple so far, and ya, the information seems very familiar. I also took out a microbiology textbook at the library, but like you said, it is very depth. I think I will read the chapters if I feel like my knowledge is lacking in some area when I go through the notes. Thanks!
Immunology, the importance of taking full RX of antibiotics and how we need to patient educate that stuff, bacteria and anti-bactrerials. Noscomial infections and prevention.
ImThatGuy, BSN, RN
2,139 Posts
Regarding my earlier post, I wanted to add that I took micro eight years prior to nursing school as a previous science major. I can't fully recall anything we went over, lol. What I suggested to be worth knowing can be found in places besides micro. You could work effectively without ever having taken the class, in my opinion.