Medical Terminology and Abbreviations Flashcards for Nursing Students

Learning and “decoding” medical terms enables you to:

Understand concepts faster

Improve your test-taking skills

Be better prepared for working in a healthcare setting.

This flashcard deck allows students entering in or currently enrolled in a healthcare-related program to build a strong foundation of medical terminology and abbreviations. 

This deck is divided into 4 main parts:

1. Medical Terminology:

• This section contains the most common and important prefixes, root words, and suffixes you will see in medical terminology.
• Related terms are grouped together in a practical, easy-to-digest way (vs. just an alphabetical list of terms).
• The most important prefixes, roots, and suffixes are tagged with a magnifying glass. These are terms you will definitely need to know!
• Examples are provided for each prefix, root, and suffix. We made sure to include common examples that you are likely to see in school and on the job.
• Cool chicken hints are found throughout this section to give you helpful and silly ways to remember many of the terms.

2. Basic Anatomical Terminology:

• Anatomical Landmarks, Directional Terms, Body Planes, and Body Cavities are included in this section.
• This section will help you learn the proper way to describe body parts, positions, and directions in a healthcare setting.
• Illustrations are provided to enhance your understanding of the terminology.
• Cool chicken hints are also included in this section to give you silly or helpful ways to remember difficult-to-remember terms.

3. Medical Abbreviations:

• The most common abbreviations used in the healthcare setting (and their meanings) from A to Z are provided in this section.
• These abbreviations are used frequently in charting and communications, so being familiar with these terms will give you an edge as a healthcare provider.

4. Prescription Abbreviations:

• Common prescription abbreviations and their meanings are provided, so you can easily “decode” prescriptions and understand what is ordered for your patient.
• Error-prone abbreviations that are sometimes seen in medical practice, but are not recommended for use have been included separately. It is good to be aware of these high-risk terms, so you can clarify orders and advocate for safer terminology as a health care provider.

This deck comprises two hundred two (202) 3” x 5” flashcards plus cover cards and index cards. Each card is durable, with a glossy front and a matte back for easy note-taking.

This deck is for you if you are:

• A Pre-Nursing or a current PN/RN Nursing Student
• Any student in a healthcare-related field, such as: Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Radiology Technicians, Ultrasound Technicians, Medical Assistants, Surgical Technicians, EMTs, Respiratory Therapists, MRI Technologists, and Nuclear Medicine Technologists.