Why is there no medical terminology class for the RN program? Among others.

[amanda1266]

Hi all, I was going through my school information tonight, I am not yet a student. I noticed that the CMA program they have seems to have alot more "stuff" about basic healthcare than the RN program does. Like Medical Terminology. It's a whole class in the CMA program but not even mentioned in the outline for the RN program. Is that just something that you learn along the way in the RN program? I noticed a couple other classes to that aren't listed on the RN program. Just curious how this works.

[Natessy]

I think it depends on the school. My school had medical terminology as one of those elective classes that students can take and I paid the extra money and did it and it was well worth it. You might want to ask if you can take the class as an elective. I wish you goodluck on this great and rewarding career path.

[MochaRN424, ASN]

I too think it will be beneficial for you to take this course. It was not mandated at my school but I chose to take it. It is very helpful because it gives you the prefix suffix and roots of words. It will assist you in having an idea of what the word means. For example "plasty" means the repair of...so if you see rhinoplasty you would know it meant the repair of something...such as the nose. :)

[NikkiH]

I don't know the reason why it is not required, but my advice is TAKE IT! I am a senior nursing student graduating in May with little health care experience prior to this. Take Med terminology, take a nutrition class and a pharmacology class too if you have access to them. It will make your life and learning much easier, I'm sure. I did not have these classes and still wish I'd have them. Best of luck to you! Nursing is awesome!

Nikki

Hi all, I was going through my school information tonight, I am not yet a student. I noticed that the CMA program they have seems to have alot more "stuff" about basic healthcare than the RN program does. Like Medical Terminology. It's a whole class in the CMA program but not even mentioned in the outline for the RN program. Is that just something that you learn along the way in the RN program? I noticed a couple other classes to that aren't listed on the RN program. Just curious how this works.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Sometimes, continuing education programs may offer this class...such as programs like medical assisting, CNA, etc... I took it a long time ago when I was taking a medical billing course. Threw away the book at least 5 years ago, and then, for some reason, I decided to purchase Medical Terminology for Dummies. It was cheap, and you can never go wrong in having a reference.

[lilbelle]

Where I went to college, we had to take medical terminology as a pre-req. It was a one credit course offered in two semesters. We had medical terminology I and II.

[Nurseinpink]

I transitioned from the LPN to RN program and I never noticed that. If you can during your pre-recs, I strongly suggest taking a MED-TERM class. It was verying helpful to have it in a class all it's own.

[felixfelix]

buy a used terminology book before school starts and go thru it. also, try and visit a hospital and copy their abbreviations folder. That was worth it's weight in gold when I started clinicals, and on the job, too

[Henrik]

What school you are in? Which state you are in? In California, I attended Santa Monica College and College of the Desert. Both colleges offered medical terminology class for nursing or non-nursing student. It is not part of RN program, but the school recommends you to take it before apply the RN program. I am not agreed with the expectation that nurses should be able to pick up information or terms not familiar without proper training. Also not just medical terminology class, you should also take ECG reading class. It will help you a lot in the ICU and ER unit of study.

[pianowoman]

A class in medical terminology will help you in everything from anatomy and physiology, to pathophysiology to pharmacology. If a course isn't offered/required at your school, you can buy a book entitled "Medical Language" by Susan Turley. Be sure the CD is included as it has an electronic set of flashcards that teaches the words while you sit at the computer. I was head and shoulders above the other nursing students because I got the book and went through the book with the CD. It would be a great idea to do it now before you get overwhelmed with required courses. I still have the textbook and I use it as a reference b/c it has abbreviations, names of instruments, diagnostic procedures, symptoms, signs, diseases...you get the picture.

[pianowoman]

I attended a two year RN school in Ohio and a medical term class was not required. Then I attended a four year university to get my BSN and a medical term class was not required there either. So, I guess many places expect the student to "pick it up" as you go along, but I can tell you that knowing some terminology will help you to understand lectures, textbook reading, and all those moments when you are learning because you are listening when you're just in the presence of other medical professionals.

[Saysfaa]

I am a very global learner. The terms used for the concepts I'm learning or even that remotely relate to the concepts, stick with me. The terms I learn from a list of word/definitions don't stick.

I checked medical terminology books out from the library before I took anatomy. I wouldn't say it was completely wasted time, but it certainly wasn't a good use of the time. For me, these books are much more helpful to study after I've learned most of terms in classes that use them. Then it is helpful to see systematic explainations, like which transistion letters are used to add which suffixes or charts of the different plural forms. A review of terms is helpful also.

Most people aren't as far global on the sequential/global spectrum as I am, though, so learning terminology first would help them more than it did me.

[momology]

Medical terminology and other skills that are given short shrift because of some nonsense like the adult learning model, weeding out, critical thinking is a disservice to nurses and patients. Why pay tuition? Why dither around with silly group projects?

Hospitals do not want to pay for extensive new grad training with the huge surplus of student nurses hitting the market. It's already expensive to sacrifice income and pay for nursing school so now we should feel we need to self initiate and take side courses?

Phlebotemy courses are either heavily impacted with wait lists or very expensive.