NU-100 Medical Terminology

Course Description:
This course introduces basic medical terminology used in health care settings.  The organization of words with prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms, special endings, plural forms, abbreviations, and symbols are included to support and reinforce understanding of anatomy and physiology and health related documents. Definitions, pronunciation, spelling, word usage, and analysis of unknown words within the context of medical applications are emphasized.

• This course also meets PLO #(s) 4 of the Nursing Assistant program.
• Prerequisite Courses: ESL 089; ESL 099

A. PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs):

The student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate self-awareness of personal and workplace actions based on the role of the nursing assistant, core nursing values, lifelong learning, standards of practice, and ethical-legal principles.
2. Communicate effectively using interpersonal, documentation, and technology skills. 
3. Provide a safe, caring, culturally relevant and therapeutic environment to improve patient/client care outcomes in a variety of settings.
4. Use medical terminology and abbreviations accurately to report patient/client health status, interpret nursing care plans and health records, and communicate health information.
5. Report basic health observations and prioritize deviations in patient/client health.
6. Organize and safely provide basic nursing care to individuals across the lifespan under the supervision of a professional or practical nurse.
7. Participate in basic wellness care of individuals in primary care and public health settings.

B. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)—GENERAL:

The student will be able to:

1. Identify print, media, and online resources for medical terminology.
2. Recall the meaning of common word forms: roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining vowels.
3. Interpret the meaning of complex medical terms by the analysis of word components for anatomical positions and body systems, organs, tissues, and cells.
4. Spell and pronounce common medical, health related words, and abbreviations correctly.
5. Utilize common terms that reference pathology, diagnostic procedures, therapies, and pharmacology.
6. Discuss the legal and professional workplace ethics related to use of medical and health terms in verbal and written communication.
7. Use medical terminology and abbreviations accurately to report patient/client health status, interpret nursing care plans and health records, and communicate health information.

SLO	PLO1	PLO2	PLO3	PLO4	PLO5	PLO6	PLO7
1				I, D
2				I, D
3				I, D
4				I, D
5				I, D
6				I, D
7				I, D

I = Introduced
D = Demonstrated
M = Mastered

C. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)--SPECIFIC

The student will be able to:

General SLO 1:  Identify print, media, and online resources for medical terminology.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
1.1 Search for helpful print, media, and online resources for medical terminology.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric) Group presentation (with rubric)
1.2 Select appropriate print, media, and online resources for medical terminology uses.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

General SLO 2. Recall the meaning of common word forms: roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining vowels.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
2.1 Identify and recall the basic word form of medical terms, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)
2.1 Identify the combining vowel forms to connect common word forms.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

General SLO 3.  Interpret the meaning of complex medical terms by the analysis of word components for anatomical positions and body systems, organs, tissues, and cells.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
3.1 Breakdown the word parts of complex medical terms to determine the meaning of the word and construct common medical and health related words from common combining forms.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)
3.4 Given the context of a word within a sentence or paragraph, determine the meaning of the medical words.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

General SLO 4.  Spell and pronounce common medical, health related words, and abbreviations correctly.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
4.1 Spell and pronounce common medical terms and health related words correctly, following word structure guidelines.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)
4.2 Accurately use and interpret abbreviations in medical/nursing reports, health records, and patient cases.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

General SLO 5.  Utilize common terms that reference pathology, diagnostic procedures, therapies, and pharmacology.

Student Learning Outcomes

Assessment Strategies

5.1  Recognize common terms related to pathology and diagnostic procedures.	Quizzes, exams,Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)
5.2 Accurately use and interpret medical/nursing reports, health records, and patient cases with pathology, diagnostic procedures, therapies, and pharmacology terms.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

General SLO 6.  Discuss the legal and professional workplace ethics related to use of medical and health terms in verbal and written communication.

Student learning Outcomes

Assessment Strategies

6.1 Discuss HIPPA guidelines for confidentiality of medical and health record information.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)
6.2 Identify common barriers to maintaining confidentiality in verbal, written, and electronic communication.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

General SLO 7.  Use medical terminology and abbreviations accurately to report patient/client health status, interpret nursing care plans and health records, and communicate health information.

Student Learning Outcomes

Assessment Strategies

7.1 Practice interpretation of nursing care plans and health care records.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)
7.2 Develop and present short reports given health information data, using correct spelling and pronunciation.	Quizzes, exams, Report interpretation (with rubric Group presentation (with rubric)

D. COURSE CONTENTS

1. Resources for medical terminology
2. Word forms
3. Analysis of words
4. Body structure and systems
5. Common terminology by body systems
6. Abbreviations
7. Legal and professional workplace ethics and medical terminology

E. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

1. Lectures: in class mini-lectures
2. Interactive group discussions and exercises
3. Games
4. Web-based activities
5. Presentations

F. REQUIRED TEXT(S) AND COURSE MATERIALS

Davis Jones, B  (2011). Comprehensive medical terminology. (4th ed.) Clifton Park, NJ:Delmar.  (or most recent edition)
Audio CD’s for Jones’ Comprehensive medical terminology. Clifton Park, NJ:Delmar. (or most recent edition)

G. REFERENCE MATERIALS

Selected journal, text, website readings and media.
Medical Dictionary any type: Dorland’s, Mosby’s, Taber’s
General Dictionary

H. INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS

None

I. EVALUATION

None

J. CREDIT-BY-EXAMINATION

None