A Guide to Medical Terminology For Nurses- Part 1

The ability to communicate effectively with other health professionals and the ability to accurately describe observations and events are important skills for nurses. Health professionals use a standard structured way of describing events or conditions and are therefore able to communicate accurately and concisely with each other. For example, a nurse may describe a patient's pulse as bradycardic, and this conveys a specific message ( a slow heart rate) to other health professionals familiar with medical language and terminology. Initially, the terms may seem complex and difficult to understand, but by using a structured approach with some knowledge of the meanings of the different parts of the term, you will be able to understand and communicate effectively in the clinical enviroment.