Should I take Medical Terminology before Gen Bio?

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Hi everyone,

My school nursing program doesn't require Medical Terminology, but I've heard it helps understanding Biology courses. Do you recommend taking it before Gen Bio?

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I guess every school has the right to make its own requirements for admissions into their programs, but I do not think that having taken medical terminology class will significantly help in understanding many biology courses. I am sure it will come in handy, but I believe it will be a total waste of time and money. I, for one, never have taken such a course and I already have completed a lot of science courses such as intro to bio, genetics, and a few others. Yes, I do agree there are a lot of scientific lingo but it is very doable. But then again, no one learns in similar ways. Trust your gut: if you absolutely have to take medical terminology, then go for it.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Taking med term before bio is not necessary at all. The only prerequisite I have taken so far that has used med term is anatomy and a little bit in micro.

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I just finished bio with a 96 and NEVER took any medical terminology course. I DID take A&P before bio, but I really think you'll be 100% fine without the class, unless of course you just want to.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

Med terminology is slightly helpful, but not something you need to take a class for. Buy yourself a used copy of "Language of Medicine" for $5, and you can easily learn it on your own at your own pace.

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Med terminology is slightly helpful, but not something you need to take a class for. Buy yourself a used copy of "Language of Medicine" for $5, and you can easily learn it on your own at your own pace.

Thank you

Is this book useful for gen bio or A&P?

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.
Thank you

Is this book useful for gen bio or A&P?

I never took gen bio in college, so I do not know what that entails. But it was a little helpful with A&P, and VERY helpful in nursing once we began to delve into disease processes.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I have never taken a medical terminology course and done just fine in biology and other science and medical courses. It may be a useful course to take if you don't have much of a science or latin background but is not at all necessary before taking biology.

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I took medical terminology before general biology just to try out an online class one summer, and it really didn't make a difference. It did put me at a better starting point in Anatomy, but not everyone had taken that course and did just fine as well.

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Thank you everyone one

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