Medical terminology class or not?

2ner · Jul 31, 2003

My school doesn't require it either. I've looked at a couple of books at books-a-million that looked cool, but I also did a search for med. term tutorials on google and found all kinds of good stuff. I think i'm gonna go that route, but that's just me :)

Genista, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2003

If you have the time, take it. It wasn't required for my nursing program, but I took it anyway. It was fun and easy compared to the rest of my pre-reqs (Chem, Micro, etc). Years later, I still benefit from having studied Latin/Greek roots. I can have an idea about certain diagnoses & deciphering H&Ps, etc. without having ever looked up definitions. It's a great class; icing on the cake, so to speak, if you have the time. Good luck.

FutureNurse2005 · Jul 31, 2003

I think its very important to take a med. term class! I am taking mine right now via correspondence/internet, and I am loving it!

Its not required for my school either, but by taking it, I will have a slight advantage and a better understanding of the material!

Good luck!

Ms. Pomfrey · Jul 31, 2003

I'm going to try to test out of the medical terminology class, which is a requirement for both the surgical tech program that I'm starting next month and the RN program that I'm starting next year. I have a very good vocabulary and already know how to break down words to their roots; I scored in the 99th percentile on the English portion of the NLN exam, so I think I have a shot at passing the test even though I'm not currently working in a healthcare field. However, even if I do test out, I still plan to purchase the text for the class and work through it on my own. I know there will be some terms that are new to me, and I want to give myself every advantage possible. The only reason for me trying to get out of the class is so that I have another weeknight free instead of having to go to class.

neonatalRN · Jul 31, 2003

It is actually part of our first nursing class, as is pharmacology.

Heidi

pedi-RN · Jul 31, 2003

I just got the medical Terminology Made Incredibly Easy book and I plan on studying through it once I finish summer term in another week. I have a pretty good grasp of medical terminology already, but I know it will help.

dosamigos76, RN · Aug 1, 2003

We had the choice of Medical Terminology or Sociology and Sociology will transfer over to a BSN whereas Med. Terms won't. So I took Sociology and just bought the Med Term book w/CD. It personally wasn't worth the time studying to maintain my GPA... I hope I won't regret it, but that's how I approached my decision. Good luck whatever you decide!

Cheryl

giggles66 · Aug 2, 2003

Hello,

I am not a nursing student yet but if I were you it sounds like a good Idea to take the course. I plan on taking the course as I get closer for entry into a nursing program.

Carmen

ainz · Aug 2, 2003

I have been in healthcare for 24 years, been an RN for 18, many different roles, have an ADN, BSN, MSN. One of the first classes I took (in the Army) was medical terminology. I have found this class to be so helpful I would advise taking it no matter what the impact on your GPA, transfer of credits to BSN, etc., etc.

TAKE THE CLASS!!!! YES YES YES YES YES TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT.

Another suggestion. You never know what you will do in the future. I kept all of my textbooks from college, didn't sell them back as I finished the course. I have used EVERY SINGLE one of those books at one time or another as I continued my education. I still use some of them today. I had to prepare a long speech last week and actually used some of my old textbooks as a referenc.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 2, 2003

Well I think I will take the medical terminology class then :) Even though it is not required what can it hurt ya know?? i just want to be as prepared as possible.

Thanks you guys and I am glad I got so many responses to this question!

Marilyn

farmmom · Aug 3, 2003

getting ready for medical terminology and pharmacology both prereq for nursing

I have no reason for food and nutrician with four kids that require different eating habits but that is also a prereq

Nurse2bSandy · Aug 3, 2003

I took a short medical terminology course... 6 hours... and it was a total waste of time and money! It was a 6 hour advertisement for the RN instructor's 16 class course. The course was more for medical transcriptionists than nursing students. I had been advised that it would help, and was very disappointed. Be sure and check out exactly what you are signing up for!

I bought a Medical Terminology made Incredibly Easy and have been working my way through it. It not only gives the terminology, but has been a good review of A & P for me. I also got a dosage calc's book... also an Incredibly Easy book... to work through when I'm done with the Med Term's. I have one month before classes start. I will have a busy semester and wanted to get math for meds done this summer but couldn't. I hope to understand it some before I actually take the course to lighten my load.

Good luck!