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Get together with your colleagues to play the Care Certificate Game.

The game is an effective learning & competency assessment tool, officially endorsed by Health Education England. Borrow this from the library - just ask us at the desk.

Care Certificate

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Login :: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

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Health Care Support Workers Information on Adagio

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Health Care Support Workers Information on Adagio

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Meet the team and learn about the Care Certificate

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Login :: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

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Enrol your OpenAthens account on Imprivata

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Enrol your OpenAthens account on Imprivata

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What do I need to do?

On a Trust PC go to www.openathens.net - select Login - then select Login to MyAthens

Once you have done this your OpenAthens account will have been enrolled on Imprivata. This will make accessing the e-resources more streamlined for you as login should now be automatic.

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Medical terminology is language that is used to describe anatomical structures, processes, conditions, medical procedures, and treatments. At first glance, medical terms may appear intimidating, but once you understand the standard structure of medical words and the definitions of some common word elements, the meaning of thousands of medical terms is easily unlocked.

Most medical terms adhere to a fixed structure of a prefix, a root, and a suffix. These word components are assembled like building blocks to create a vast vocabulary.

The physicians of Greece are considered the founders of rational medicine, and medical terms are primarily derived from Greek and Latin. Over the centuries, the language of medicine has evolved into multiple national medical languages. Today, medical English is the primary language for international communication. It is used in most influential medical journals and has become the language of choice at international conferences.

Basic Term Structure

Medical terms are composed of the following standard word parts:

Prefix: When included, the prefix appears at the beginning of a medical term and usually indicates a location, direction, type, quality, or quantity.

Root: The root gives a term its essential meaning. Nearly all medical terms contain at least one root. When a prefix is absent, the term begins with a root.

Suffix: The suffix appears at the end of a term and may indicate a specialty, test, procedure, function, disorder, or status. Otherwise, the suffix may simply define whether the word is a noun, verb, or adjective.

Combining vowel: A combining vowel (usually the letter "o") may be added between word parts to aid in pronunciation.

Breaking a word down into its component parts should help readers ascertain the meaning of an unfamiliar term. For example, hypothermia has the prefix hypo- (meaning below normal), the root therm (heat or warmth), and the suffix -ia (condition).

Word Roots

A word root is the foundational element of any medical term. Roots often indicate a body part or system.

Common word roots:

Compound Words

A medical word may include multiple roots. This frequently occurs when referencing more than one body part or system. For example, cardio-pulmo-nary means pertaining to the heart and lungs; gastro-entero-logy means the study of the stomach and intestines.

Combining Forms

A combining vowel is used when a root is followed by another word part that begins with a consonant. A combining vowel (usually the letter "o") is added after the root (e.g., neur- o-logy) to aid pronunciation. The root and vowel together (e.g., neur-o) are called the combining form. For simplicity, the word part tables do not include combining vowel options.

Prefixes

A prefix modifies the meaning of the word root. It may indicate a location, type, quality, body category, or quantity. Prefixes are optional and do not appear in all medical terms.

Common prefixes:

Suffixes

Medical terms always end with a suffix. The suffix usually indicates a specialty, test, procedure, function, condition/disorder, or status. For example, "-itis" means inflammation and "-ectomy" means removal.

Alternatively, the suffix may simply make the word a noun or adjective. For example, the endings -a, -e, -um, and -us are commonly used to create a singular noun (e.g., crani-um).

Although the suffix appears at the end of the term, it often comes first in the definition. For example, appendicitis means inflammation (-itis) of the appendix. Accordingly, it is sometimes helpful to read unfamiliar medical terms from right to left.

Occasionally, medical terms are composed of only a prefix and a suffix. For example, apnea includes the prefix a- (without) and suffix -pnea (breathing).

Common suffixes (letters in parentheses are not always present):

Plural Forms

Adding an "s" or "es" to the end of a word is often the straightforward method to make a word plural in English and many modern Romance languages. In medical terminology, however, things are a little more complicated. The plural form of each word is based on the last two letters of the singular suffix.

There are several exceptions. For example, "virus" is a Latin term without a plural form. "Viruses" is the accepted plural form. Elsewhere, the suffix "s" or "es" occasionally prevails in common usage. For example, the plural form of "hematoma" is "hematomas" rather than "hematomata."

Common singular endings and corresponding plural endings:
Additional resources:
Related Guides:

References

1. Banay GL. An Introduction to Medical Terminology I. Greek and Latin Derivations. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. 1948;36(1):1-27.

2. Wulff HR. The Language of Medicine. J R Soc Med. 2004;97(4):187-8.

3. Ehrlich A, Schroeder CL. Introduction to Medical Terminology. 3rd ed. Delmar, Cengage Learning; 2014:5.

4. Nath, JL, Lindsley KP. A Short Course in Medical Terminology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2018:38.

5. Cohen BJ. Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide. 6th ed. Baltimore: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011. Tables 2-4.

Published: January 9, 2020

Last updated: March 22, 2023

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Medical terminology is language that is used to describe anatomical structures, processes, conditions, medical procedures, and treatments. At first glance, medical terms may appear intimidating, but once you understand basic medical word structure and the definitions of some common word elements, th…

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Support for your education, learning, study and CPD at DGT

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Support for your education, learning, study and CPD at DGT

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Accessibility to the Library space & resources - How can we help you?

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Accessibility to the Library space & resources - How can we help you?

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If there is anything else that you think we should be doing to help make library services & resources more accessible to ALL staff please let us know.
Email dgn-tr.library@nhs.net or come & have a chat with one of the team.

Electric height adjustable desk with PC - for wheelchair users or if you have a bad back & need to stand to work - please book 24hrs in advance to be sure it is available when needed.

Dedicated PC with specialist software for converting text to speech (or vice versa) - Nuance Dragon Naturally Speaking software - please book 24hrs in advance to be sure it is available when needed.

Page overlays in assorted colours available to borrow - ask at the desk

Longer book loans

Access to books from the RNIB Bookshare scheme for users with a neurodiverse condition or who are blind and partially sighted.

Coloured paper available on request for printing/photocopying

Assistance with retrieving books off the shelves during staffed opening hours. (Mon-Fri, 09.00-16.00)

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Managing your career—some top tips for healthcare assistants

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Managing your career—some top tips for healthcare assistants

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Manage your career

OpenAthens login required

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Safeguarding (Adults) :: ADAGIO (dgt.nhs.uk)

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The 5 Principles of the Mental Capacity Act

1. Assume capacity: always start by assuming capacity unless proved otherwise

2. Practicable Steps: take all reasonable steps to enable a person to make their own decision.

3. Unwise Decisions: you must not assume incapacity, simply because a person makes an unwise decision.

When acting or making decisions on behalf of someone lacking capacity;

4. Best Interests: decisions made on behalf of someone lacking capacity must be in their best interests.

5. Least restrictive: the decision made should be the least restrictive option.

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Access via Adagio, login using OpenAthens or access via the App

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Access DGT policies, procedures & guidelines on Adagio HERE

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NHS - Health Careers - Healthcare Assistants

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NHS - Health Careers - Healthcare Assistants

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Healthcare assistants make sure the patient experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. It can also be the stepping stone into many other NHS roles.

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Healthcare assistants make sure the patient experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. It can also be the stepping stone into many other NHS roles.

Working life

You'll work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and your job will vary depending on where you're based. For example, in a hospital you may:

wash and dress patients

serve meals and help to feed patients

help people to move around

make beds

make patients feel comfortable

monitor patients' conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight

In a health centres and GP surgery, you may

sterilise equipment

do health checks

restock consulting rooms

process lab samples

take blood samples

do health promotion or health education work

As well as nurses, HCAs work with doctors, midwives and other healthcare professionals. They have a lot of contact with patients.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ.

Employers expect you to have some experience of healthcare or care work. This could be from paid or voluntary work. There are sometimes apprenticeships in healthcare that can give you experience to apply for HCA posts.

If you're applying for a role in the NHS, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work.

Skills and personal characteristics needed

To be a healthcare assistant, you'll need to be

caring and kind

cheerful and friendly

willing to be hands-on with patients

willing to do personal care tasks (washing, toileting, etc)

able to follow instructions and procedures

able to work in a team but use their own initiative

You'll also need

communication skills, including listening

organisation skills

observational skills

Training and development

Your training as a healthcare assistant will include basic nursing skills and you'll work towards the Care Certificate, developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education England and launched in 2015.
Find out more about the Care Certificate
You may also be offered the chance to study for qualifications through an apprenticeships such as:

the NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services

the NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support

With experience and further training, you could become a senior healthcare assistant. You could then apply to train as an assistant practitioner or nursing associate. With the appropriate qualifications/evidence of academic ability, you could also train as one of the many degree-level healthcare professionals such as a nurse, podiatrist, midwife or occupational therapist.

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. As a healthcare assistant, you'll be paid on the Agenda for Change ( AFC) pay system, typically starting on band 2.

You'll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you're in service.

Other roles that may interest you

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Entry requirements There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ. Employers expect you to have some experience of healthcare or care work.

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Find out more about the Care Certificate

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The Care Certificate | 11 Standards for Care | authored by Skills for Health

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The Care Certificate is a trusted set of standards that identifies the expected skills, knowledge & behaviours that health & social care workers adhere to.

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Access HERE - Click on the yellow bar at the top of the screen then login using your OpenAthens account.
Look for the blue icon on the desktop of your Trust computer.
The Knowledge and Library Hub gives access to many resources all in one place.

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Access engage to complete your mandatory training.

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Royal College of Nursing - Nursing Support Workers

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Royal College of Nursing - Nursing Support Workers

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Nursing support workers (NSWs) are the bedrock of our wards, clinics and community teams working with everyone from children to adults in all aspects of physical and mental health.

The term 'nursing support worker' encompasses hundreds of different job titles and roles, including health care assistants (HCAs), health care support workers (HCSWs), assistant practitioners (AP), trainee nursing associates (TNA) and nursing associates (NAs) (England).

The RCN is the 'go to' organisation for all members of the nursing team. We understand your needs better than anyone else, whether you aspire to develop your career or remain in your support role and be the best you can be in that role. We're here every step of the way.

What can the RCN do for you?

Ofrah Muflahi - Professional Lead, Nursing Support Workers, talks about some of the support the RCN can offer you.

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Nursing Support Workers | Professional Development | Royal College of Nursing

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The term 'nursing support worker' encompasses hundreds of different job titles and roles, including health care assistants (HCAs), health care support workers (HCSWs), assistant practitioners (AP), trainee nursing associates (TNA) and nursing associates (NAs) (England). The RCN is the 'go to' organisation for all members of the nursing team.

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Code of conduct for Healthcare support workers

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Code of conduct for Healthcare support workers

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Need to find articles on a particular topic?

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Need to find articles on a particular topic?

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We can help you with this. Just email dgn-tr.library@nhs.net with your request, come & see us or fill in our online search request form.

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Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical and Cancer Nursing Procedures, 10th edition

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Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical and Cancer Nursing Procedures, 10th edition

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Access the Royal Marsden via the link on Adagio or click HERE and login using OpenAthens

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Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical and Cancer Nursing Procedures, 10th edition

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If you need to use a PC for your mandatory training, work or study these can be booked 24 hours in advance by contacting the library. Headsets can also be borrowed.

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Need something to read in your downtime?
Come & take a look at the selection of fiction books we have to choose from on our book swap.

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Essential knowledge and skills for healthcare assistants by Zoe Rawles

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Essential knowledge and skills for healthcare assistants by Zoe Rawles

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Access this e-book by clicking here then login using OpenAthens.

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Essential Knowledge and Skills for Healthcare Assistants

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This revised edition of Essential Knowledge and Skills for Healthcare Assistants is an accessible and comprehensive text designed to equip you with the necessary skills for your practice. This book equips you with the knowledge to provide the safest and most effective patient care possible and supplies comprehensive coverage of both primary and secondary care settings, with an emphasis on primary care. It provides evidence-based guidelines to ensure best practice that is matched to the National

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Access Clinical Skills.net via the link on Adagio or click HERE and login using OpenAthens.

Select Dashboard at the top of the screen then select Healthcare Assistants to see all relevant procedures.

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To register with the library just fill out our membership form HERE

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Can't find what you need?

Email, phone or pop in and see us and we will be able to help you.

Email: dgn-tr.library@nhs.net

Phone: 01322 42 8548

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Is there a specific book or journal article you would like to find? Fill out our request form with the details and we will locate if for you.

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Do you want to learn how to find journal articles?

We can help you with that. Book onto one of our sessions via engage or email dgn-tr.library@nhs.net

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The Library currently offers 9 modules of information skills training sessions.

We recommend that complete beginners start with Module 1 - How to find information and work their way through to Module 9 - Critical appraisal of qualitative studies.

If you have some experience of searching already then just select the module or modules that are suitable for you. If you are not sure, a member of library staff will be able to advise you.

If you work for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, please book your training via Engage or alternatively send an email request to the library team on:

These sessions can also contribute towards the following KSF dimensions and the RCN competencies for Finding, using and managing information:

KSF: HWB1, HWB2, HWB3, HWB4, HWB5, HWB6, HWB7, IK2, IK3 & G2
RCN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

You may also wish to look at our Training resources (useful internet resources) page to view the relevant websites used in the training sessions.

If these dates and times are not suitable speak to a member of library staff and we may be able to arrange something for you. In addition the Library now has a Clinical Librarian who can arrange to hold a group session for your department. If this is something you would be interested in then please don't hesitate to contact us.

There are also e-learning literature searching modules available which are free to access at
www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/literature-searching/

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The Library currently offers 9 modules of information skills training sessions. We recommend that complete beginners start with Module 1 - How to find information and work their way through to Module 9 - Critical appraisal of qualitative studies. If you have some experience of searching already then just select the module or modules that are suitable for you.

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This list includes some of the print & e-books available for HCAs at DGT. To access the e-books you will need your OpenAthens account.

Can't find what you need? Just send an email to dgn-tr.library@nhs.net and we will try to find it for you.

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To access all the e-resources, including articles, e-books & healthcare databases you will need an OpenAthens account. Click above to register.

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British Journal of Healthcare Assistants

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British Journal of Healthcare Assistants

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Access BJHA using your OpenAthens account.

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If the address matches an existing account you will receive an email with instructions to reset your password

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Search the catalogue HERE to find books & journals.