College of Micronesia
PO Box 159
Pohnpei, FM 96941
Course Title:
Medical Terminology
Department & Number: NU 100
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.
Course Prepared by: K. Benjamin, J. Dolberry
Hours per week
Credits
Lecture
Laboratory
Workshop
_____3____
__________
__________
x
x
x
State COM-FSM National
No. of week
____16__ x
___
x
______ x
Total Hours
___48___
________
________
=
=
=
Semester
___3______
__________
___________
Purpose of Course:

Degree Requirement _____
Degree Elective
_____ _____
Certificate
_____x______
Other
__________
This course also meets PLO #(s) 4 of the Nursing Assistant program.
Prerequisite Courses: ESL 089; ESL 099
________________________________________
Signature, Chairperson, Curriculum & Assessment
Committee
__________________
Date Approved
________________________________________
Signature, VPIA, COM-FSM
__________________
Date Approved
NU100 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
RECOMMENDED BY CAC:
APPROVED BY VPIA: 1/30/12
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 ethicallegal 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
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
PLO1
PLO2
PLO3
PLO4
I, D
I, D
I, D
I, D
I, D
I, D
I, D
PLO5
PLO6
PLO7
I = Introduced
D = Demonstrated
M = Mastered
NU100 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
RECOMMENDED BY CAC:
APPROVED BY VPIA: 1/30/12
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
Quizzes, exams, Report
for medical terminology.
interpretation (with rubric)
Group presentation (with
rubric)
1.2 Select appropriate print, media, and online resources
Quizzes, exams, Report
for medical terminology uses.
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
Quizzes, exams, Report
terms, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.
interpretation (with rubric
Group presentation (with
rubric)
2.1 Identify the combining vowel forms to connect
Quizzes, exams, Report
common word forms.
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 Quizzes, exams, Report
determine the meaning of the word and construct
interpretation (with rubric
common
Group presentation (with
medical and health related words from common
rubric)
combining forms.
3.4 Given the context of a word within a sentence or
Quizzes, exams, Report
paragraph, determine the meaning of the medical
interpretation (with rubric
words.
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
Quizzes, exams, Report
health related words correctly, following word
interpretation (with rubric
structure guidelines.
Group presentation (with
rubric)
NU100 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
RECOMMENDED BY CAC:
APPROVED BY VPIA: 1/30/12
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
Quizzes, exams, Report
diagnostic procedures.
interpretation (with rubric
Group presentation (with
rubric)
5.2 Accurately use and interpret medical/nursing reports,
Quizzes, exams, Report
health records, and patient cases with pathology,
interpretation (with rubric
diagnostic procedures, therapies, and pharmacology
Group presentation (with
terms.
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
Quizzes, exams, Report
medical and health record information.
interpretation (with rubric
Group presentation (with
rubric)
6.2 Identify common barriers to maintaining
Quizzes, exams, Report
confidentiality in verbal, written, and electronic
interpretation (with rubric
communication.
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 Quizzes, exams, Report
care records.
interpretation (with rubric
Group presentation (with
rubric)
7.2 Develop and present short reports given health
Quizzes, exams, Report
information data, using correct spelling and
interpretation (with rubric
pronunciation.
Group presentation (with
rubric)
D. COURSE CONTENTS
1. Resources for medical terminology
2. Word forms
NU100 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
RECOMMENDED BY CAC:
APPROVED BY VPIA: 1/30/12
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Analysis of words
Body structure and systems
Common terminology by body systems
Abbreviations
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
NU100 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
RECOMMENDED BY CAC:
APPROVED BY VPIA: 1/30/12