Nursing Students... Did you take....

Nikki422 · Mar 9, 2007

I took an online med terminology class the semester before I started my program. I can honestly say that it helped me a great deal..so many people struggled with a lot of the terms, and still do! It's not a very time consuming class so if you have the ability to take it, I would!

Best of luck!

darlanow · Mar 9, 2007

Ditto to what the poster above me said: the time investment to take med term before beginning school is definitely worth it. I used a book that had a CD-rom with it full of exercises and, more importantly, an audio glossary. It's helpful to not only see the terms, but hear them as well.

Cheers!

Darla

Janus Rising · Mar 9, 2007

I didn't take terminology, but only because I have a pretty good background in the medical field. Even though it wasn't something I did, I would definitely recommend it for everyone... having some terminology helps with A and P too!

luvmy3kids · Mar 9, 2007

Thank you all! I think I'll take it... it will cost about $500.00 for the course, but it seems as though it will be worth it... I'll take all the help I can get!

msmahan · Mar 9, 2007

Wow... that's a lot of money!

Is there a certain course you must take? I just googled "medical terminology classes" and they were offering classes $35 with the certificate... I'm sure there is a difference in these classes for the big price difference but if someone can please state those differences

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 10, 2007

That's definately high for a class....unless you have the money to splurge, I think I'd look at alternatives...Daytonite posted some sites for med terminology with tutorials (do a search for either or both of those words)...also, do they offer some kind of continuing ed in your area? I think that's offered through ours and it's about $40 vs. the cost you mention!!

I would definitely recommend taking something to expand your vocabulary as much as possible...not a requirement for our program, but I do wish that during the 2 semesters I waited to get in that I done something...I spend about 10% of my time looking up words...and sometimes RElooking them up!!

amyk_ncsu · Mar 10, 2007

We have a required med terms class. You can either take it as a pre-nursing student or during your first semester of nursing school. I didn't do pre-nursing, so I'm taking it now, and I really wish I had already had it. The teachers use the terms taught in the class, so I can definitely see how it would be very beneficial to already know all these terms.

MelodyRNurse · Mar 10, 2007

For my nursing program it was not required, but there is no doubt that it would have been beneficial if I had chosen to take it on my own. I think it might have even saved me some time in nursing school.

queen47 · Mar 10, 2007

Didn't take it but it sure should help.... I guess I still would take it though alreay in my 2nd year, have one more year to go

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 10, 2007

No, I did not take a Medical Terminology course, but I heard that it is helpful to some. I own a used Medical Terminology textbook (the one used for the course being taught at my school) and I can safely say that I have yet to crack it open while in Nursing School. I have been able to pick up a lot of information reading this board, reading my textbooks, and reading related materials. On the other hand, I found my Medical Terminology textbook useful for A&P I when I was trying to memorize bones.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Mar 10, 2007

No I didn't take it and I would NOT spend $500 for a MT class either (can't you just buy a med term book at B&N for $50?), that is crazy and is not worth it IMO.

If you have that much money to spend get a good PDA with all the nursing stuff installed because your going to use it a LOT. I use mine constantly :)

You learn the terms as you go along, what you don't know you look up.

I have a PDA that has Taber's on it if there is something I don't know.