Should I???

SweetGrL397 · Jun 22, 2007

Or should I just grab a good med term book and study it over the Summer...if so, what are your recommendations?

Dolce, RN · Jun 22, 2007

If I were you I wouldn't take medical terminology while you are in your nursing program. Your nursing program should cover medical terminology and test you on it, but if you want to get a jump on it ahead of time I would study over the internet. I am not sure of any specific books but you could probably research it on amazon.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

The couple of classmates I had that did take this course found out that they didn't need it to help with nursing classes at all. I never took it, and it was never a problem.

Your courses will teach you what you need to know; of all the things you will be learning, the terminology isn't a big deal.

fultzymom · Jun 22, 2007

You will learn that when you are in your nursing classes. I did not take one et I did not have a problem. I am not sure about books you could look at but like the other poster stated, you could try on the internet to look for one. Amazon usually has about everything. Good luck in school.

TrudyRN · Jun 22, 2007

Get a medical dictionary and start reading it. Cheap, handy to do wherever you might be, and it will give you a head start.

Here's a little head start right here:

pt = patient

STAT = right now

PRN = as needed (benadryl 25 mg. po q6h PRN itching = Benadryl 25 mg.

by mouth every 6 hours as needed for itching)

ad lib = as desired (up ad lib = patient can get out of bed as desired)

q = every, each (eye gtts OU q2h = Give eye drops in both eyes every

2 hours around the clock) OD = right eye, OS = left

eye

BID = twice a day

TID = three times a day

QID = four times a day

q day = daily; once a day

c (with a line over it) = with

s (with a line over it) = without

DC or dc or D/C = discontinue; stop

NPO = nothing by mouth (no oral intake)

po = by mouth

IM = intra-muscular

SQ or SC = sub-cutaneously

intradermal = into the skin

PR = per rectum

cephalad = toward the head

caudad = toward the feet

Here's your assignment: Google these abbreviations and come back and tell us what you find.

JCAHO = Joint Commission on ___________________

CMS = Center for ______________________________

HIPAA = Health Information_____________________

You can preview your textbooks, too. Start learning anatomy, such as names and locations of bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves.

Start reading about Nursing history and Nursing theories and theorists.

You can start teaching yourself about Nursing mathematics and dosage calculations. Get familiar with terms like cc, ml, mg, Gm, liter, and gr. If you're not good at math, you will be very glad you previewed this topic.

One thing to keep in mind - you will learn all of this as you go, so even if you just relax and do no studying this summer, you will still learn this. But it certainly won't hurt to have pre-studied a little, or at least gotten an overview. And now you already know a few terms.

Why not also research malpractice/negligence insurance. And ponder this - always CYA and chart with a jury in mind. (cover your butt).

And determine that you will take care of yourself, too, and make sure you get your break times. Carry some food with you, in case you can't get off the floor (ward, unit, patient care area) to go buy food when you do your clinicals.

Best wishes to you.

miss arron · Jun 22, 2007

i got a cheap med term book to flip through over the summer... just to jump start my brain... i've found i'm pretty familiar with a big chunk of it from ANP

HeatherB,CST · Jun 22, 2007

Wow, TrudyRN..are you sure teaching isn't your true calling? :wink2:

I am reading Quick Medical Terminology by Shirley Soltesz Steiner

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780471233596&itm=2

while I wait for school to start...it's been really interesting and helpful.

Also, look for an anatomy & physiology coloring book. I really enjoy mine, and it can only help to be more prepared!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

i taught medical terminology. years ago i took medical terminology before beginning my nursing classes and it wasn't adequate preparation. i still had to sit with my taber's as i read through my nursing textbooks, and so will you. medical terminology classes are only very basic information. i'm listing several online sites where you can get the very same information that is taught in medical terminology classes for free on the internet and not have to pay a ridiculous tuition. the trick is to be disciplined and work through the programs. there are about 4 or 5 combining rules that you need to know in putting together the prefixes, word roots and suffixes that are used in medical terms. once you know those you can pretty much figure out most medical terms--if you know the definitions of the word roots. the back appendix of taber's has a listing of them. notice i keep saying "taber's". i believe it's the better medical dictionary on the market (taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary, published by f.a. davis company). i also have mosby's medical, nursing, & allied health dictionary and it just doesn't compare. each, however, have their own unique features.

http://www.dmu.edu/medterms/welcome.htm - free online medical terminology course
http://www.training.seer.cancer.gov/module_cancer_terminology/unit01_sec01.html - a basic medical terminology course. click on the arrows on the top menu bar to move through the program http://www.training.seer.cancer.gov/module_cancer_terminology/00_cancer_terminology_home.html - main page, "cancer and medical terminology"
http://www.lcsc.edu/healthocc/enable02/medterm.htm - medical terminology in a nutshell with several short quizzes - organized into sections on word roots, suffixes, prefixes, how to read a medical term, and abbreviations
http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_rice_terminolog_2/0,4681,198650-,00.html - this is the companion website self study resource for terminology of health and medicine by jane rice.
http://www.sweethaven.com/free-ed/healthcare/medterm-v02.asp
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wnor/terminologyanatplanes.htm - this really is more for someone taking anatomy, but it is medical terminology. this site shows and tells you the anatomical planes of the body, defines terms of relation or position, defines terms of movement, and has a listing of frequently used medical terms in anatomy with their definitions.

sissyboo · Jun 22, 2007

Everyone else has come up with great suggestions!

I would just come up with a good medical teriminology book/dictionary and study that. Everything should be covered in nursing school. My school does not list medical terminology as a course, but a med term book is required in Intro to Nursing--so I guess we will cover that.

I came into a few med term videos that have helped me alot--your school might have a source or two you could use! Best of luck...

Always Learning, RN · Jun 22, 2007

Congratulations on getting into Nursing School!

I took the Medical Terminology class just because I needed the extra credits to stay full time the semester before I began the Nursing Program. I found the class to be so easy it hurt, but I will say that having the class was helpful when I started the program. My program expects you to know your terminology PRIOR to entering the program. We did go over abbreviations (briefly) and had to pass a test with 100% to stay in the program (including the Do Not Use ones), but did not cover the prefix, suffix and root word meanings. (aniso-, -phoresis, etc...)

Frankly, nursing school is too intense to worry about another class with the program, so I would not take it during the program. However, there are text books available and the terms are very easy to pick up on. I would advise you, the same as I have advised several friends who entered the program after me, to get a medical terminology book. Once you learn the roots, prefixes and suffixes it will help you understand what your professors are saying in class.

The book we used in class is Medical Terminology Systems: A Body Systems Approach by Gylys and Wedding, and it is made like a work book so you can work through the lessons, but any book would probably do. You should be able to find one in the library, school or public. Just work through it over the summer, I highly recommend it. Knowing the terms came in quite handy on more than a few tests - especially in the first few weeks of the first semester.

Congratulations again!

____________________

Counting the days until Graduation - December 2007 :monkeydance:

Megsd, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

Here's your assignment: Google these abbreviations and come back and tell us what you find.
JCAHO = Joint Commission on ___________________
CMS = Center for ______________________________
HIPAA = Health Information_____________________

Not to nitpick, but it's Health Insurance, not Health Information. :chair:

I think it's a good idea to know some medical terminology going into nursing school but I wouldn't want to take the class with nursing classes because the courseload is heavy enough as it is. I'd probably get a book and do some reading on the abbreviations and whatnot you're likely to see, and other things you see in class you can always ask questions about when you get there.