Medical Terminology

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. Is medical terminology helpful day to day?

    • 1
      Eh...
    • 2
      It helps, but I could make do without it.
    • 12
      I find it useful, and use it daily.
    • 8
      Med term, is like a drug (pun intended). My day would go south without it!

23 members have participated

Hi,

I'm pre-nursing student, taking a medical terminology course online and I'm writing a paper on healthcare professionals and their use of medical terminology. I would really appreciate the perspective of a working nurse.

Would anyone out there mind giving me their thoughts on how they use medical terminology day to day as a nurse. Do you find it beneficial? Why or why not? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Uh I basically know what the heck the ER docs are talking about in relation to fx, diagnosis, organ involvement etc. Even if you dont know the exact term, you can break down the words and get a general idea.

I still find it appalling my program didnt require med term.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I love those Latin-based roots of Medical Terminology that can be dissected and understood.

Besides, it sounds soooo cool when we Talk Techy.

Even not knowing what caused something- Idiopthic Etiology- sounds really intelligent, don't you think?

Really, now: One Medical Term can talk Volumes that a Bunch of Laywords can't hold up to.

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Thanks for your input! Any other thoughts are appreciated. :nurse:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

Nurses use medical terminology constantly. I can't even imagine being in this profession without a good understanding of medical terms, you would be lost! Medical terminology covers everything from patient diagnoses (septicemia, osteoarthritis, cardiac disrhythmia) to treatments (colonoscopy, arthroplasty, endarterectomy), just to name a few. Without a basic understanding of those basic Latin root words, none of these words make any sense. Medical terminology is one of the most important things that you will learn as a nurse.

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Medical terminology is simply a fancy way to say words commonly used in your occupation. Every job, every household, has its own terminology for commonly used phrases, objects, chores, etc.

When you work in the medical field of course there are medical terms that are standardized to use so care givers in a given area, country, around the world, can communicate and understand each other.

Similar to what I have been lead to believe is that all airlines, air traffic controllers, etc, around the world use English and of course use the same terminology when getting ready for landings or takeoffs, etc.

Nothing really special about medical terminology different from any other field.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Question for you, OP: is it even possible to work in xyz field without using the terminology appropriate to xyz?

"Medical terminology" is not a foreign language superimposed on nurses. It is part of the body of knowledge necessary to work as a nurse.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I would not consider a nurse professional if he/she is not familar with a lot of medical terms.

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You won't be able to work in the profession without the terminology

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Specializes in ICU, Intermediate Care, Progressive Care.

I understand everyone's answers so far and I agree with them. However I voted "eh" in the poll because although I took both Latin in high school and a Medical Terminology course, I don't feel that either of them helped in learning medical terminology. This could be because I have always had a basic and innate understanding of words from context and from being an avid reader. But I have not encountered very many words that were totally unfamiliar to me during my nursing education, and those that I have were either immediately explained in my textbook, or I was able to ask someone, etc. So since my med term class was a boring pain in the butt that really did not teach me anything (truly, I don't think I learned a single new thing in it) that I still got a 100% A in because it was so easy, I have to say I would not retake it again if I could go back in time (it isn't required by my program). Most of the folks in my classes hven't taken medical terminology and they're doing just fine.

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My most demanding instructor in nursing school ALWAYS told us: You will never be faulted for using the proper [medical] terminology, and by gosh! She was right!!! Using same is the most universally beneficial "language" when describing a wound, an IV site, an infection, a cough, nasal drainage.....you get the picture. Medical terminology is also the most non-judgmental way to describe any given situation; it eliminates any bias, in my opinion, and keeps the situation professional.

Good luck on your paper! Please let us know how it turns out for you (-:

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I use at work and at home, Most people tell me they don't speak my language...LOL. because of medical terminlology I can dicipher new things. it also helped my with trick questions during nursing school. .... very important.

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