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Medical Terminology in Nursing: How to Use Medical Terminology to Connect to Your Patients

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If you are a nurse, or thinking about a career in nursing, you want to do what is best for your patients. However, we also need to learn MCQs that don’t include clinical terms to pass the nursing board exam. By learning medical terminology, and a broad scope of knowledge, you can be better prepared for your future and your patients.

This article will show you the benefits of knowing medical vocabulary to be a better nurse.

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1. The Benefits of Learning Medical Terminology

Knowing medical terms helps you communicate with your patients and better explain why they feel sick or in pain. When you understand medical terminology, you can better explain to your patients what is happening to them and not just tell them that they have a cough or pain. You can apply medical terms even in social situations like when you go out to eat or where you live.

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2. Becoming a Better Nurse Means Being Able to Pass the Licensing Exam

You may be a great nurse, but if you can’t pass the licensing exam, you won’t be able to practice. Learning medical terminology helps nurses better analyze the patients and their medical history. This is an important part of the test that may help you pass or fail based on the quality of your analysis. Knowing medical terms will also help you to understand your own body better. This way, when a doctor asks you about the symptoms, you know what they are asking.

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3. Medical Terminology Helps Nurses Read Between the Lines and Understand Clinical Situations Unique to Specific Patients

Reading between the lines is essential to being a good nurse, and by knowing medical terminology, you will be able to read and understand what the doctor is trying to tell you. You will also be able to understand the clinical situations of your patients better. This way, even if you are not in the room with them, you can still make assessments regarding their current diet, medications, and exercise.

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4. Medical Vocabulary is Important to Do Your Job Well

Knowing medical terms is only half of the job of a nurse. As a nurse, you are an important member of the team that provides care for your patients. Being able to understand medical terminology so that you can serve your patients correctly is essential for you to be able to provide them with excellent care. You also need to take the information and make it mean something to your patient.

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Conclusion

For more and better care, nurses need to know medical terminology. It should be a fundamental part of their education. Knowledge is power for both nurses and patients when it comes to medical terminology – with the patient’s understanding of their condition being key in recovery, and nurses’ knowledge of clinical situations being vital for a practical health care experience. To learn the fundamentals of basic medical terminology, enroll in the course entitled, “How to Use Medical Terminology (in 5 EASY Steps!) (and USE IT in EVERYDAY Living!)” offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy.

To purchase scented soaps and candles inspired by healthy living, visit Avidity Medical Scentations.

For more health care tips and information, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog today.

Importance of knowing medical terminology - Doctor assessing a patient during a checkup.

5 Ways to Empower Yourself as a Patient By Learning Medical Terminology

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If you’re about to have an appointment with your doctor, you should know that it doesn’t matter whether it’s your first or your fiftieth time seeing them—you are still the most critical person in the room. Knowing medical terminology gives you the power to understand better what’s happening during your appointment and to get the treatment you need. 

These are five ways knowing medical terminology can empower patients, so read on to learn more!

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1) Speak Up at Your Next Doctor’s Appointment

When you know the medical terms for what’s going on with your body, you can more accurately describe your symptoms to your doctor. If you’re ever in the hospital, you’ll be able to understand what the medical professionals are saying about your care. By understanding your test results and diagnosis, you can take a more active role in your healthcare.

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2) Decipher Your Bills

When you get a medical bill, it can be challenging to decipher. However, if you know some medical terminology, you can often figure out the charges. This can help you budget for future appointments and get the necessary care. 

There’s also a chance that you might come across something fraudulent or erroneous in your billing. Knowing the language of healthcare will also allow you to do your research on treatments. This, in turn, may save time and money in terms of being an informed consumer.

3) Do Your Research

With so much information available online, patients are increasingly taking control of their health. But with all the medical jargon, it can be tough to know where to start. This is where understanding medical terminology comes in handy. By understanding the language of medicine, you can more easily find the answers you’re looking for. This information is also helpful when doing research on your own or when talking to a doctor.

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4) Educate Yourself About Illnesses

No one wants to be sick, but unfortunately, it’s a part of life. Learning about illnesses can help you better understand your health and the health of your loved ones. By understanding medical terminology, you can better understand doctors’ orders, medications and treatments, diagnoses and prognoses, and what your insurance will cover. 

It is also an empowering way to speak with healthcare providers on the phone or in person. If you can discuss with them what is going on with your body in their language, they will feel more confident that they know how best to treat you.

5) Use Words to Understand Procedures

If you don’t know the medical terms used to describe a procedure, it can be difficult to understand what is happening. However, understanding medical terminology can help you feel more comfortable with procedures and make it easier to ask questions. Using words to understand procedures when conversing with your doctor or provider may initially seem intimidating. 

Still, you will be surprised by how much of this language will come naturally when you begin looking up new words. If you remember these words, you’ll be able to take charge of your health care, understand your treatment plan, and even ask better questions about how you’re being diagnosed, so that every part of your care is tailored to your needs.

In Summary

If you’re ready to take charge of your healthcare and empower yourself with knowledge, enroll in a course offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy. You’ll learn the medical terminology to communicate effectively with your care team, understand your medical bills, and how to do your research. And while you’re at it, why not stock up on some scented soaps and candles from our online store? Visit Avidity Medical Scentations for more information on our scented soaps and candles. They make great gifts for the patient in your life!

Check out our website or contact us for more information about our training programs. We look forward to hearing from you!

Vaccine 101: How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works in Your Body

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COVID-19 vaccines have gone through numerous tests, with Russia being the first nation in the world to register such a vaccine. Russia’s president approved the Sputnik V vaccine after yielding positive clinical trial results in the early stages. Currently, mRNA, protein subunit, and vector vaccines are going through phase 3 clinical trials on a large scale in the U.S. 

To understand how the COVID-19 vaccine works in your body, you need to know how your immune system fights the virus.

How Your Immune System Works: Your Body’s Defense

When your body gets an infection from a virus, your immune system fights that infection. Blood has two types of cells – red cells and white cells. Red cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. White blood cells fight infections. Here are three different types of white blood cells and how they fight infections in your body.

• Macrophages 

They swallow and digest dead cells and germs, but leave parts of the germs called antigens. Your body will identify antigens as dangerous to the body and stimulate antibodies that will attack them.

• B-lymphocytes

These are white blood cells that produce antibodies that attack any pieces of the virus that macrophages leave behind.

• T-lymphocytes

This is another type of white blood cell. They attack infected cells in your body.

How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works in Your Body

These three types of vaccines will prompt your body so that it recognizes and protects you from the COVID-19 virus.

• mRNA Vaccine

This type of vaccine has material from the COVID-19 virus that instructs your cells to make a unique, harmless protein. Your body will realize that the protein is a foreign substance and will build T-Lymphocytes and B-Lymphocytes. These cells will remember how to destroy and fight the virus in case of future infections.

• Protein Subunit

A protein subunit vaccine carries a harmless protein of the virus. The vaccine recognizes that the protein is foreign to your body and begins to make T-lymphocytes and antibodies that will remember how to fight the virus in future infections.

• Vector Vaccine

This vaccine contains a live virus that is a weak version of COVID-19. Once the vaccine is injected inside your body, it causes your body to remember how to fight the COVID-19 virus in case of future infections.

Vaccination is one of the ways you can protect yourself and others from the COVID-19 virus. The vaccine will work with your immune system to fight this virus. If you want to learn more about preventing diseases in your body, enroll in the course entitled “How to Prevent Disease in Your Body (By Eating Fruits and Vegetables!)” offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy.