Understanding the clinical terms and abbreviations commonly used during verbal or written communication in U.S. hospitals is challenging. This course is designed for U.S. health care profession students and for international students and practitioners who want to become more familiar with the language of the U.S. clinical setting. Others, such as caregivers and medical interpreters, who wish to develop a better understanding of terms and abbreviations used by health care providers will find this course helpful. The course provides visual and auditory learning experiences to enhance the understanding of terms and abbreviations commonly encountered on a general U.S. hospital unit. All content including quizzes are available at no cost to the learner. If you need a certificate, you can apply for financial aid or pay the fee. To find out more, click Learn more and apply next to the information about Financial Aid. (Use a computer, not a mobile device, for this step.)
Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students
ofrecido por
Universidad de Pittsburgh
Acerca de este Curso
4.8
301 calificaciones
Habilidades que obtendrás
English LanguageClinical ExperienceVital SignsMedical Device
Programa - Qué aprenderás en este curso
Semana
14 horas para completar
Introduction to Clinical Terms and Abbreviations
In the week 1 video lecture, Dr. Swigart introduces the course and strategies for understanding the structure of clinical abbreviations and complex terms. In week 1 readings, we focus on learning abbreviations related to vital signs. Understanding the structure of abbreviations will help you to identify the meaning of abbreviations presented in this course, as well as those you encounter in the future.
1 video (Total 6 minutos), 12 readings, 6 quizzes
12 lecturas
Welcome to Clinical Terminology!10m
Course Overview10m
Learning Objectives10m
Guidelines for Understanding Clinical Abbreviations10m
Key Terms10m
Prefix, Root, Suffix (PRS) List10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Vital Signs10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Temperature10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Pulse10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Respiratory Rate, SpO2 and TPR10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Blood Pressure10m
Week 1 Study Guide10m
6 ejercicios de práctica
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Vital Signs14m
Abbreviations and Terms Related toTemperature24m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Pulse12m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Respiratory Rate, SpO2 and TPR18m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Blood Pressure8m
Week 120m
Semana
24 horas para completar
Decoding Complex Medical Terms
In week 2, we expand our focus to learn about abbreviations and terms used in the hospital environment. You will tour a modern U.S. clinical unit and visit the bedside of three patients. These vicarious bedside experiences will help you to imagine the context in which the terms and abbreviations are used. Making associations of the terms or abbreviations to specific people, places or types of patients will help to “set” them in your memory. Begin Week 2 by previewing the complex medical terms you will find in this lesson and sharpening your skills for analyzing the structure of complex terms.
8 videos (Total 22 minutos), 14 readings, 10 quizzes
8 videos
Tour of the US Clinical Unit9m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Health Care Provider Titles1m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Electronic Medical Records1m
Abbreviations and Terms related to the History and Physical Examination22s
The Surgical Patient: Mrs. Gerto1m
The Comatose Patient: Mr. Taggert40s
The Medical Patient: Mr. Cope58s
14 lecturas
Learning Objectives10m
Guidelines for Understanding Complex Medical Terms10m
Key Terms10m
Prefix, Root, Suffix (PRS) List10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Health Care Provider Titles10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Hospital and Associated Clinical Units10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Electronic Medical Records10m
Abbreviations and Terms related to the History and Physical Examination10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Patient Health Care Practitioner Notation10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Clinical Assessment Notation10m
The Surgical Patient: Mrs. Gerto10m
The Comatose Patient: Mr. Taggert10m
The Medical Patient: Mr. Cope10m
Week 2 Study Guide10m
10 ejercicios de práctica
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Health Care Provider Titles12m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Hospital and Associated Clinical Units8m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Electronic Medical Records2m
Abbreviations and Terms related to the History and Physical Examination10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Patient Health Care Practitioner Notation8m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Clinical Assessment Notation2m
The Surgical Patient: Mrs. Gerto6m
The Comatose Patient: Mr. Taggert8m
The Medical Patient: Mr. Cope6m
Week 220m
Semana
33 horas para completar
Advanced Decoding Strategies for Clinical Terms
This week, Dr. Swigart shares more strategies toward discovering the meaning of complex medical/scientific words. It focuses on three essential clinical topics: abbreviations used in emergency situations, the timing and route of medications, and the administration of intravenous infusions. Learning about abbreviations related to medication and intravenous fluid administration requires that you pay close attention.
2 videos (Total 4 minutos), 8 readings, 4 quizzes
2 videos
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Administration of Medications and IV Fluids40s
8 lecturas
Learning Objectives10m
Guidelines for Safe Use of Abbreviations10m
Key Terms10m
Prefix, Root, Suffix (PRS) List10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Emergency Situations10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Timing of Medications10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Route of Administration10m
Week 3 Study Guide10m
4 ejercicios de práctica
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Emergency Situations44m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Timing of Medications14m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to Route of Administration36m
Week 320m
Semana
44 horas para completar
Diseases of the Bodily Systems
This week turns the focus to the acronyms commonly substituted for the name of diseases and conditions of the bodily systems. To help you relate the disease and its acronym, we have organized the diseases according to systems of the body. First letters of words or syllables usually form the acronym, and commonly at least one letter relates to a system of the body.
1 video (Total 3 minutos), 13 readings, 9 quizzes
1 video
13 lecturas
Learning Objectives10m
Guidelines for Understanding the Abbreviations for Diseases and Medical Conditions10m
Key Terms10m
Prefix, Root, Suffix (PRS) List10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Neurological System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Musculoskeletal System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Cardiovascular System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Respiratory System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Gastrointestinal System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Genitourinary System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Endocrine System10m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to General Diagnoses10m
Week 4 Study Guide10m
9 ejercicios de práctica
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Neurological System12m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Musculoskeletal System6m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Cardiovascular System20m
Respiratory System14m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Gastrointestinal System6m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Genitourinary System8m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to the Endocrine System2m
Abbreviations and Terms Related to General Diagnoses8m
Week 420m
33%
comenzó una nueva carrera después de completar estos cursos
27%
consiguió un beneficio tangible en su carrera profesional gracias a este curso
Principales revisiones
por FB•Jan 2nd 2018
This course was really helpful. I took notes and will review them often to keep abreast with the medical terms. These will also help me communicate clinically with my PCP. I truly enjoyed this course!
por SH•Aug 26th 2017
I found this course to be very helpful. It was thought out, it was clear, it made you think critically. It changed your mind set intentionally for learning purposes, and it was effective for me.
Instructores
Valerie Swigart, Ph.D. R.N.
Professor of NursingSchool of Nursing
Michael Gold, Ph.D.
Associate Professor EmeritusGraduate School of Public and International Affairs
Acerca de Universidad de Pittsburgh
Leader in Education | Pioneer in Research | Partner in Regional Development
Preguntas Frecuentes
¿Cuándo podré acceder a las lecciones y tareas?
Una vez que te inscribes para obtener un Certificado, tendrás acceso a todos los videos, cuestionarios y tareas de programación (si corresponde). Las tareas calificadas por compañeros solo pueden enviarse y revisarse una vez que haya comenzado tu sesión. Si eliges explorar el curso sin comprarlo, es posible que no puedas acceder a determinadas tareas.
¿Qué recibiré si compro el Certificado?
Cuando compras un Certificado, obtienes acceso a todos los materiales del curso, incluidas las tareas calificadas. Una vez que completes el curso, se añadirá tu Certificado electrónico a la página Logros. Desde allí, puedes imprimir tu Certificado o añadirlo a tu perfil de LinkedIn. Si solo quieres leer y visualizar el contenido del curso, puedes participar del curso como oyente sin costo.
¿Cuál es la política de reembolsos?
¿Hay ayuda económica disponible?
Why do I need to learn these terms, abbreviations and acronyms?
Medical terms, abbreviations and acronyms are a large part of the verbal and written communication that occurs in clinical situations in the U.S. Abbreviations are used to increase efficiency by shortening the time to communicate. If you want to join in any conversation about clinical matters, you will need to understand terms, abbreviations and acronyms.
Can I ask for clarification when someone uses a term or abbreviation?
You can always ask for clarification. However, clinical settings in U.S. hospitals are often very busy, noisy places with people hurrying to meet patients’ needs. There will be little time for explanation of word meanings. The more emergent the situation, the more likely it is that abbreviations will be used. When you know a term or abbreviation before hearing it on the clinical unit, you will be a better communicator and more effective healthcare team member.
Will I learn all the medical or nursing abbreviations and acronyms?
No. This is a course for beginning students. A major advantage is that the course helps you to focus on terms that you are most likely to hear or see during your early clinical training.
How will this course help me in my health care studies and clinical practice?
This course emphasizes learning to recognize and decipher common spoken and written clinical terms and abbreviations necessary for clear communication with patients and health care providers. Understanding and learning clinical language will help you to function more effectively and safely as a healthcare team member.
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