medical terminology

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CT Pixie, BSN, RN

3,723 Posts

Many times you can figure out a questions if you understand what the words mean. I am an LPN and started in the RN nursing classes the 2nd year. During my LPN schooling we had a very short Intro to Med Terminology class. The RN program does not. It's a learn as you go. My jaw drops when some of my fellow students don't know what some words are (regularly used, nothing out there) this far into the program (we graduate in a few weeks).

Getting some med term in won't hurt you at all, I would think it could only help. Get the prefixes, suffixes and roots of the words down and you can pretty much figure out any med term word thrown at you.

malonejr

52 Posts

Many times you can figure out a questions if you understand what the words mean. I am an LPN and started in the RN nursing classes the 2nd year. During my LPN schooling we had a very short Intro to Med Terminology class. The RN program does not. It's a learn as you go. My jaw drops when some of my fellow students don't know what some words are (regularly used, nothing out there) this far into the program (we graduate in a few weeks).

Getting some med term in won't hurt you at all, I would think it could only help. Get the prefixes, suffixes and roots of the words down and you can pretty much figure out any med term word thrown at you.

Ok great thanks! Would you suggest taking the class or just reading the book on my own until school starts in august?

Thanks

CT Pixie, BSN, RN

3,723 Posts

If you have money and time to burn, take the class. Otherwise, I think anyone with normal intelligence can get it down without much difficulty or needing a formal class.

As I said, my class in med term was a very brief 'class'. It was pretty much self taught.

babsy28

45 Posts

Ok great thanks! Would you suggest taking the class or just reading the book on my own until school starts in august?

I hope I don't get slammed for my spelling or writing style. I'm tired and I can't spell so be nice!

I would suggest taking the class. It's not complicated and you can study it on your own but there are a couple things a class gives you

1) hearing the proper way to say things. It sounds simple but hearing the right way to say some things can be immensely helpful. There's nothing worse than feeling embarrassed in front of a group when a doctor or professor corrects your pronunciation, or worse when a patient corrects you. Our pattern of speech is important and part of professionalism.

2) I haven't had any test questions that ask "what does X Y Z mean" but I have had question that have asked what test would u do for XYZ?" Many of the students did not take med term and they had no clue what to answer. I took two semesters for my previous degree (not nursing) and I've never gotten these type of questions wrong. I get at least 1-2 questions that end up being "free points" to me because I understood the terminology.

3) Some of the things you learn in term will help later in clinical. Nursing courses can't possibly teach you everything and when you get on the floor and start doing chart reviews you can figure out whats going on with your patient without looking everything up. You might not know what it means exactly but you can get the big picture.

4) I have struggled with vocab in other classes like micro or chem. You take time away from studying just to learn the jargon. It can be intimidating trying to study new concepts when all the words are foreign. When you know med term it takes some of the OMG-ness of seeing a whole page of new words away and lets you focus on concepts.

3) It can be a good way without the stress to get back into the nursing mindset before your thrown back into the semester.

Best of luck with whatever choice you make.

weemsp

65 Posts

I must say, I agree 100% with the comment written by 'fireman727'. It is imperative to use proper and complete English grammar.

To be frank, I am SO tired of " text speak" being more common than correct English! Are we really that lazy that we can't write a complete word?... Do we have to use text acronyms in everything we write?

This WILL NOT be acceptable in your course studies, nor will it be allowed in the workplace.

This is a forum to allow us to support and help one another. Sometimes that help is seen by offering hard but honest truths.

Tait, MSN, RN

2,140 Posts

Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I must say, I agree 100% with the comment written by 'fireman727'. It is imperative to use proper and complete English grammar.

To be frank, I am SO tired of " text speak" being more common than correct English! Are we really that lazy that we can't write a complete word?... Do we have to use text acronyms in everything we write?

This WILL NOT be acceptable in your course studies, nor will it be allowed in the workplace.

This is a forum to allow us to support and help one another. Sometimes that help is seen by offering hard but honest truths.

This is a thread on its own and has been clearly addressed by the OP.

In other more relevant news, I think with your schooling background you could pick up a med term book and just self-review. I feel nursing school preps you for any medical terminology you will need within the curriculum. I wouldn't necessarily throw much money towards the cause.

Tait, MSN, RN

2,140 Posts

Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

It's also against the TOS to attempt to start arguments or degrade other posters. I prefer the report button over derailing a thread about grammar or punctuation.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

As some have pointed out...allnurses is an all English site and while we strongly "discourage" the use txt speak

English Only:

While ALLNURSES.COM, INC hosts visitors from around the world, it is based in the United States and much of our membership is English speaking. Due to our inability to moderate threads in other languages, we ask that interactions be in English for the enjoyment of as many posters as possible.

Please do not type entirely in capitals as it is considered shouting on the Internet.

Desiring to maintain professionalism, text speak (also known as chatspeak, txtspk, texting language or txt talk) is discouraged. Along with using proper English spelling and punctuation, this shows respect for the owner, other bulletin board members, guests, and makes it easier to read your message.

it is not forbidden. If a member finds a post objectionable do not engage the poster please report the post by using the yellow triangle in the bottom left hand corner.

The OP asked a question about taking a medical terminology course as an adjunct to her program. I think if you are going into medicine you should know the terminology and if you have some extra cash.....the class will only help. But reading the book will help as well.

Lets stick to the topic of the thread.

Specializes in Neuroscience.

I took a medical terminology course my first semester of school. That course has proven more valuable in my science prerequisites. If the medical terminology book is a work book, I would suggest working through it over the summer without a class. It's fairly simple to understand and will only help.

As for test taking, I picked up a copy of "Fundamentals Success, A Q&A review. Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking." By Patricia M. Nugent and Barbara A. Vitale. The book has a bonus cd-rom, NCLEX prep, and Q & A Course review for nurses. You can pick it up at Barnes and Nobles or order it online at amazon. You may want to consider adding it to your summer reading. Best of luck to you!

malonejr

52 Posts

I took a medical terminology course my first semester of school. That course has proven more valuable in my science prerequisites. If the medical terminology book is a work book, I would suggest working through it over the summer without a class. It's fairly simple to understand and will only help.

As for test taking, I picked up a copy of "Fundamentals Success, A Q&A review. Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking." By Patricia M. Nugent and Barbara A. Vitale. The book has a bonus cd-rom, NCLEX prep, and Q & A Course review for nurses. You can pick it up at Barnes and Nobles or order it online at amazon. You may want to consider adding it to your summer reading. Best of luck to you!

Thanks! Yes, I have read a few "Fundamentals Of Nursing" books including that one. I will definitely pick up and read the Medical Terminology book this summer as well. Thanks for everyones help!

molls4

47 Posts

http://www.dmu.edu/medterms/

This is the site that my nursing school recommends to learn medical terminology. It breaks it down into mini lessons and has quizzes. Its really good. They're actually giving us a medical terminology quiz in two weeks, too. Look into this before you pay for a course. Also, the fundamentals book that someone suggested is really great.

malonejr

52 Posts

http://www.dmu.edu/medterms/

This is the site that my nursing school recommends to learn medical terminology. It breaks it down into mini lessons and has quizzes. Its really good. They're actually giving us a medical terminology quiz in two weeks, too. Look into this before you pay for a course. Also, the fundamentals book that someone suggested is really great.

Great! Thanks so much!! I will be using this during the summer.

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