student needs Help please - medical terminology- what is an effective method to

SusanKathleen, RN · Aug 26, 2007

Learning the terminology is a long process, so be patient with yourself. Here are a few tips:

1) use your medical dictionary EVERY time you see a word or term you don't know

2) Flash cards may work for you: Try Mosby's Medical Terminology Flash Cards. Get them at the bookstore. Or, you could make your own. Take them with you everywhere you go, and pull them out while waiting in line or waiting for an appt. The store-bought cards have a nice big keyring to carry them with you.

3) learn the prefixes and suffixes well - once you know them well, you can understand the terminology much better

4) learn the organ system terms: for example, terms like 'hepato-, renal, cardio, venous or vasc- thorasc-, cranio-, metacarpal, neur-,

and so on will help you know WHERE in the body.

5) look online for terms. Type 'medical terminology' in and start making a whole folder from terms that you cut and paste.

6) There is a great list of terms on this forum posted by DeeDawnTee recently. She is a really good source for lots of things.

7) Several other people have posted particular websites that are good sources for terminology. Put in a few keywords in the search box.

8) Enjoy learning the terms - it is very interesting, and very mind expanding to do this. And you can't learn them all at once. So have fun with it.

9) If you are working with any medical people, start listening to them carefully - pick up on the terminology they use.

10) I have a really good comprehensive list of prefixes and suffixes. If you'd like it, email me and I'll send you a copy. (I taught biology and chemistry for a long time!)

Regards, Susan

tiffany311 · Aug 26, 2007

Hi Susan

Thank you very much for the wonderful ideas, you said if I would like a list of comprehensive list of prefixes and suffixes to email you back.

Please would you be so kind to send me your list you have:)

I really appreciate it:)

SusanKathleen, RN · Aug 26, 2007

Hi Tiffany,

I need your email address so I can send attachments. I couldn't do it from your information posted here. Post it to me via private message.

Susan

HotmaleSPN · Aug 27, 2007

Hi, med term was my favorite subject in Nursing school, I ended up with a 99 in that class and I still remember all the words. What we did was make a fun game like Jeopardy only using the med term words. You can practice this in your study group and have some fun with it while learning. Other than that I think we used flash cards, or keep writing each word and the meaning like 25 times per day.. good luck student!

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Aug 28, 2007

I was a medical office assistant for 13 years before taking the LPN course starting next week.

The text/workbook we used in that course all those years ago was awesome!! I'm actually re-reading it right now to freshen up on my terminology before my course starts. I have no idea if it's still in print or not, it if it is, I'm sure it's been updated. But the flow of the content, format, etc was the key to me learning the terminology well. I looked at the terminology text that I HAVE to buy along with my LPN course and it doesn't even come close to my old one!!!

The book is called

"Mecial Terminology

A Programed Text 6th Edition"

Authors: Smith, Davis and Dennerll

Publisher: Delmar Publisher Inc.

This was well before the internet, but they probably have a website and perhaps you could order one off there. I promise you, IT WILL MAKE IT SO MUCH EASIER!!!!

ETA: Medical terminology was also my fav course in my MOA course and I'm looking forward to taking it again!!

HopeJade · Aug 28, 2007

Hey! I am not sure if this will help you but I am about to begin LPN school next week, and to better my chances of getting in I took

Medical Terminology class at a local vo-tech center. It was so MUCH FUN! We learned the terminology watching videos. They called it

audionyms, it was really silly pictures, and it was amazing how it worked. You may be able to buy the video online? It was supose to have a 95% retiton rate. We'll see;)

peridotgirl · Aug 28, 2007

Hey there. I'm a SPN (student practical nurse) at my high school. I'm currently enrolled in the PN class as a senior. When I graduate I will enroll in the vocational LPN program at my high school for 6 more months to finish my training. Good luck in the medical terminology! It's really easy. The videos sounds like fun. When we were learning medical terminology, we had to memorize them. Thankfully, I have good memorization skills. The most effective way to learn the med terms and retain it is to study them on a daily basis and possibly include them in your class notes whenever possible. That way you won't forget them as easily. I wanted to wish you all the best of Luck in the LPN class.

tiffany311 · Sep 27, 2007

HI I would really appreciate the list of medical terms that you have accumulated if you don't mind, thank you so much for your kindness

peridotgirl · Oct 6, 2007

I know this might b a little late and I'm sorry for the inconvienence but here is the list of medical terms I have found on a website.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/hp.asp Just click on the letter that corresponds to your med term and it will proved a whole list from A to Az. Then click on the medical term of your preference. This website is an excellent resource because it not only provides the definiton of med terms, but it also has a meds search function, diseases, and s/s. hope this helps. :nurse:

jasonswife · Sep 19, 2010

Hello Susan,

I am a pre-nursing student and would be interested if you still have the list of prefixes and suffixes available to email me.

I have a really good comprehensive list of prefixes and suffixes. If you'd like it, email me and I'll send you a copy.

Thanks,

razzledazzle2013