Should I???

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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...

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:

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.

Wow thanks everybody! Great responses and suggestions from u all...Thank u :)

Yea, I decided that it would be a bit much to do it while in Nursing school...so I am just looking into getting a good book and studying it over the Summer.

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.

That is something I definitely plan on doing...math has never been a much liked subject of mine :uhoh21: