Stedman's Medical Dictionary vs. Taber's Medical Dictionary

allnurses Guide · Feb 12, 2008

I was going to purchase one or the other for my PDA but before I do I was hoping someone could recommend one over the other? My patho teacher hates Taber's with a passion, she says it has many, many errors. Which would you purchase?

I always liked Taber's. Did your patho teacher bother to tell you what some of the errors were, and when/what edition these were in?

jbjints · Feb 12, 2008

Honestly, she didn't specify the exact errors nor the edition but I do know she has gone to the powers that be to have the school make it mandatory for student's to purchase Stedman's and not Taber's but to no avail as of now.

melsman1904 · Feb 12, 2008

I use Taber's. So far, it has been just fine.

jbjints · Feb 13, 2008

I have the written version of Taber's and I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. I am going to buy the PDA version tonight.

lvnhopeful · Feb 13, 2008

Our class uses Tabers, but I have found a lot of errors, and what gripes me the most, you find a word, it tells you to look for it elsewhere, and its not there. Some of the definitions are woefully short and are next to useless. I use it a lot, but sometimes I just go online to find the answers.

Having never seen the Stedman's, I have no idea how good it is, but I would hate to think it was worse. Maybe I am expecting too much from it...:icon_roll

nurz2be · Feb 15, 2008

I have both books and PDA versions. I also have a Dorland's PDA and book version. Now, the Stedman's I have is specifically for Nursing profession. The book comes with a disk that can be placed on OS and/or desktop. The neat thing about the desktop version is it has audio so you can hear how the words are pronounced.

The reason I have all three is for that very reason, Taber's has several slip-ups. I use the other 2 for confirmation, having it on PDA makes the rechecking very simple. Personally, Dorlands is my ALL TIME fave. I used it when I did medical transcription work and I use it religiously. The physicians I worked for all used Dorlands and they were advised to use it during medical school. My thought is if Med schools are preferring it, maybe nursing schools should too.

Best advise I can give is to get the free trial versions of the ones you are deciding between and look them over and see what works best for you and your situation.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Feb 15, 2008

Tabers got me through nursing school just fine. Every place I have worked I usually see a Tabers rarely stedman.

Mexarican · Feb 15, 2008

Taber's RULES, Stedman's DROOLS!!!

Mex

allnurses Guide · Feb 15, 2008

Our class uses Tabers, but I have found a lot of errors, and what gripes me the most, you find a word, it tells you to look for it elsewhere, and its not there. Some of the definitions are woefully short and are next to useless. I use it a lot, but sometimes I just go online to find the answers.
Having never seen the Stedman's, I have no idea how good it is, but I would hate to think it was worse. Maybe I am expecting too much from it...:icon_roll

What are the errors? I always liked tabers, but you guys have got my curiosity peeked talking about errors.

trepinCT · Feb 18, 2008

any specific errors that we can check out? I have Tabers..both the print and the PDA version..the book was a requirement for nursing school..I have had no problems so far..just wondering if there are examples so I can check it out.....In the hospitals I have done my clinicals and where I work( In Connecticut- where we have a few excellent med schools) I have always only seen Tabers..

lvnhopeful · Feb 18, 2008

I tried to remember one of the problems I've had over the past seven months that I've been in school, but nothing comes to mind at the moment. I did look up coup and it directed me to contrecoup. If you didn't know that they were opposites, likely for a student, you might assume that it meant the opposite of what it is.

If I run across anything, I will post it, just not going to try to go over stuff thats out of my study area at the moment...