an introduction to the best books for nursing students
The best books for nursing students are the ones that will help prepare you for your future career. there are many books for nursing students, but not all of them are good.
The best ones will teach you what you need to know without overwhelming you with too much information. they must also be relevant to the current curriculum and up-to-date with recent changes in health care regulations.
You are reading: Books for nursing students
here is a list of great nursing books that stand out from the rest; These books cover everything from anatomy to pharmacology, and they’ll be there with you every step of the way.
1. saunders complete review for nclex-rn exam (best for nclex-rn prep)
Whether you are a future nurse or someone considering nursing as a career, this book is for you. will prepare you to take the nclex-rn exam and be successful in your new profession.
This eighth edition of Saunders’ comprehensive review for the nclex-rn exam has been updated to reflect recent changes to the test plan and the content areas tested on the exam. The 75-question comprehensive exam covers all of the book’s content areas in percentages that match those found on the actual tests, making it an accurate representation of what to expect on test day.
The 5,200 practice questions not only help fill in the gaps left by other study materials, but also provide additional opportunities to practice answering real-world questions.
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key takeaways:
- helps you pass the nclex on the first try if used correctly.
- gives a good representation of what to expect on test day.
- generates confidence in your skills and knowledge for when the time comes to take the exam.
reddit reviews of saunders full review for the nclex-rn
quora reviews of saunders comprehensive review for nclex-rn
2. lewis medical-surgical nursing (best for med-surg)
lewis medical-surgical nursing is a comprehensive textbook that prepares nursing students to care for adult patients in all health care settings. offers more than 60 standardized nursing care plans and more than 800 full-color illustrations. the eleventh edition includes new chapters on the provision of safe and compassionate health care; attention to vulnerable populations; drug safety; and evidence-based practice.
This book covers everything from how the body works to medications, diseases, surgical procedures, lab tests, infections, and much more. This text also has a strong focus on professional values, including ethics and communication skills, and organizational structures within hospitals or other health care facilities. Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing is an excellent resource for any student entering the nursing field!
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key takeaways:
- provides a comprehensive overview of adult patient care.
- breaks down illnesses appropriately, especially based on the nursing process
- its component approach basics makes even the most complex concepts easy to understand
reddit reviews of davis’s medication guide for nurses
3. davis’s drug guide for nurses (#1 best drug book for nursing students)
The Davis Medication Guide for Nurses is a must-have resource for nursing students and professionals. This reference guide provides everything you need to know about medications, from their indications and side effects to the latest information on how they work in your body. Covering more than 1,000 generic and nearly 2,500 brand-name medications, this book includes monographs with easy-to-use features such as boxed warnings, key clinical points, dosing instructions, tips for patients/caregivers when taking medications at home or when they travel. abroad.
The Davis Nurses Medication Guide is much more than a medication reference guide; It also includes a comprehensive introduction to pharmacology that will prepare you well for nursing school courses. Plus, it can help you learn about everything from antibiotics to blood thinners so you feel more confident in your ability as an RN.
key advantages:
- Saves you time and effort by having all the medication information you need in one place.
- Gives you the latest updates on medications, including side effects and how they work.
- makes you feel confident about your knowledge of drugs and their effects.
reddit reviews of davis’s medication guide for nurses
4. mosby’s drug guide for nursing students
Mosby’s Medication Guide for Nursing Students is a reliable and up-to-date medication reference book. offers a comprehensive description of more than 1,000 drugs in use today. Includes detailed information on the latest agents used to treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions.
You’ll also find details on the newest medications available to treat mental disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. And don’t forget about pain relief treatments! Plus, you get expert guidance on how to safely administer medications with clear dosing charts that are easy to understand at a glance.
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key takeaways:
- gives you fast and accurate information about medications.
- keeps you up-to-date with the latest treatments for diseases and disorders.
- helps you learn about all medication interactions that can occur with your patients.
reddit reviews of mosby’s medication guide for nursing students
5. Nursing Diagnosis Manual: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care (Best Nursing Diagnosis Book)
6. nursing diagnosis manual: planning, individualization and documentation of client care
Nurses are the unsung heroes of our health care system, providing hands-on care and wellness education to patients, and working behind the scenes in administration and research. The nursing profession needs nurses who can not only perform their daily tasks but also think critically about health care.
This book will help you be that nurse by giving you a comprehensive introduction to clinical reasoning: how to identify client problems, plan interventions, and accurately document progress.
explains how client symptoms relate to diagnoses (the “why”), which treatments are best suited to each diagnosis (the “what”), and what documentation is needed for optimal patient outcome ( the how”).
With this knowledge, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about your patients’ care every day.
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key takeaways:
- makes for an easy read, with a conversational tone that makes it enjoyable to read.
- gives you more confidence in your abilities as a future nurse.
- gives you He is very knowledgeable in making decisions about his patient’s care.
7. I wasn’t that strong when I started: True stories of how I became a nurse
The stories in this book will inspire you and show you that although it’s hard, becoming a nurse is worth it.
This book shares personal experiences of nurses who have weathered many storms to succeed in their profession, and through them, you’ll see how your own story can be just as rewarding.
Get ready to laugh out loud, cry with these women, be inspired by their triumphs and be ready to face anything!
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key takeaways:
- You will learn how to be a nurse from the professionals.
- Gives you an inside look at what it is like to become a nurse.
- You will find your inner strength and courage in these stories of nurses.
- You will discover that you can do anything if you put your mind to it!
reddit review
8. Dosage Calculations for Nursing Students: Master Dosage Calculations the safe & easy way without formulas!
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It’s never too early to start learning about dosage, and the best way to do so is with this book.
This book will teach you how to calculate dosages without using formulas or doing complicated math! dosages are also listed so you can quickly look up the dosage of any medication.
what you will find in this book:
-the 100 best doses of potentially lethal drugs
-700+ dosage tips (includes dosages for infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors)
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key takeaways:
- helps you know which medications are used for what purpose.
- saves time and takes the stress out of calculating dosages.
- should help you be fully prepared for clinical rotations.
9. Mosby’s Pharmacology Flash Cards: Visual, Mnemonic, and Memory Aids for Nurses
Written by experts in pharmacology education and use, this book will not only teach you how to use medications safely, but also serve as a reference guide.
This handy pocket guide features more than 300 cards with key drug facts, including indications and uses; drug names; dose; side effects; interactions with other drugs (including food); precautions/warnings; Nursing considerations, such as evaluating the benefits versus risks of drug therapy management decisions.
Best of all, it even has space for your own notes. These cards are perfect for students because they can be easily carried with you and provide a quick reference guide when needed.
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key takeaways:
- perfect for on the go
- very visual with pictures and cartoons to aid in memorization
10. nursing fundamentals: the art and science of person-centered care
This is a comprehensive textbook that provides the knowledge base needed to be an effective nurse.
Written by nursing experts, it covers all aspects of nursing practice, including pathophysiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, leadership, and management.
also includes up-to-date information on changes in health care delivery systems, including managed care organizations. This book will provide you with the necessary foundation to prepare for a nursing career.
key takeaway:
- builds your knowledge base to be an effective nurse
11. lippincott 2022 pocket medication guide for nurses
The 2022 Lippincott Pocket Medication Guide for Nurses offers quick access to information on essential medications and more detailed coverage of medications used in specific settings or populations.
You’ll find it useful when you’re standing at the bedside, juggling multiple tasks. this guide will be an invaluable resource, whether you provide direct patient care or simply want to stay abreast of new developments impacting practice in your area of specialty.
The book includes practical advice on dose calculation, available preparations, routes of administration, monitoring guidelines and adverse effects.
As a nursing student preparing to enter one of the most rewarding and challenging professions, you must read this book. is a comprehensive guide to nursing medications and will be an essential reference for you, both as a nursing student and as a future nurse and practitioner.
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key takeaways:
- It will save you time by knowing which medicine to administer in different scenarios.
- It will increase your knowledge of medicines and their effects on patients.
- It will make it a better nurse for your patient’s health and well-being.
- It’s literally a pocket book, which means it’s very portable to carry around.
12. lippincott’s review of questions and answers for nclex-rn (lippincott’s review for nclex-rn) 13th edition
This book is a comprehensive content review that includes over 4,500 practice questions with detailed fundamentals and test-taking tips. It also has an online component to help students prepare for the nclex-rn computerized adaptive testing environment.
The book has been painstakingly updated to include all nclex content changes and reflects feedback from nursing educators across the country. This edition includes new clinical simulations that feature realistic scenarios involving real patients so readers can get hands-on experience while they study.
The book is a good reference for students preparing for the nclex-rn exam. It’s hard for nursing students to find comprehensive question books, but this one fills that gap.
You can use lippincott’s Q&A review for nclex-rn as a study tool to review important content quickly. It’s not helpful if you need information about the theory behind nursing care, but it’s a good resource if you want to take practice tests and learn strategies for taking them.
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key takeaways:
- helps you prepare for computer adaptive tests.
- provides excellent content review.
- builds confidence to take the nclex exam.
13. Nursing School Cheat Sheets: 50 Tips to Get the Degree
This is a manual that helps nursing students prepare for and excel in their classes. contains fifty tips and tricks to help you qualify, including:
- hacks for taking notes during lectures so you can review those notes later
- tips on what to do when you have a difficult teacher or a TA who doesn’t teach very well
- a list of books every nurse should read in preparation for their future career as a nurse
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key takeaways:
- gives you all the tips you need to do well in nursing school.
- increase your confidence and chances of success with these tips.
in conclusion- the best books for nursing students
Nursing school is challenging. It’s hard to get the grades you want, but it doesn’t have to be. therefore, it is important to prepare with the proper resources.
This list of the best books contains excellent references for any nursing student who wants to succeed. In a nutshell, these books:
- help you succeed in nursing school and graduate with good grades
- reduce anxiety and stress from nursing school
- provide an excellent source of reference for you as a nursing student and future intern
- make it easy for you to get all the tips that will help you finish nursing school
frequently asked questions (faqs)
me. what is the best way to prepare for nursing school?
The best way to prepare for nursing school is to study and get a good education.
Nursing school is demanding and the only way to do it well is with good planning and practice. read your textbooks before class; allows you to come to the lesson prepared for what will be covered in that particular class period.
talk about your lectures with friends outside of class; this allows you to think critically about what was said and understand difficult concepts better than reading textbooks alone. get help when needed; Even if you’re sure something might be easy, don’t hesitate to find a tutor.
ii. How many hours a day should a nursing student study?
There is no definitive answer to this question. every nursing student is different and each person has their own strengths and weaknesses. however, a good rule of thumb is to study at least three hours a day.
This will give you plenty of time to review the material that was covered in class, as well as do some more study on your own. It’s also important to take breaks during study sessions so you don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated.
and finally, don’t forget to relax and have fun from time to time; you need to balance your schoolwork with downtime so you don’t burn out.
iii. what is the hardest class in nursing school?
The most difficult class in nursing school will vary for each student. some students may struggle with anatomy and physiology, while others may have trouble mastering pharmacology. what varies even between different courses is the relative emphasis on science/theory versus practical skills.
Also, the content can be dense or technical to be understood by inexperienced people who are new to the concepts, without useful contextual frameworks to help them understand it all at once.
Depending on the country of origin of the program, or which individual instructors teach a particular course or type of course (humanities vs. hard sciences), some subjects may be more challenging than others due to cultural differences between schools within the regions of each country, academic perspectives and opinions on clinical education methodologies.
so the specific answer is different and really subjective.
iv. I’ve heard that anatomy & Physiology is the most difficult class in nursing school. is?
This varies depending on the university you attend. Some colleges put more emphasis on theory than practical skills, while others strike a more balanced balance. Furthermore, different schools have different teaching styles. some teachers are more interactive and hands-on, while others are more traditional in their teaching methods.
v. What should a nursing student do if they are having difficulty in a class?
If you’re having trouble in a class, the best thing to do is talk to your instructor or course coordinator. you don’t need to wait until you are about to fail the class; there are many options available that your instructor may not have told you about.
You can make an agreement with them to give you extra time on exams, take make-up exams, etc. if you really want to do well in class, this is your best option. if you don’t talk to them until it’s too late, all you’ll get is a failing grade at the end of the semester.
vi. what are some common types of assignments in nursing school?
Different universities will assign different activities depending on what they want students to take away from that course. assignments may include:
- critical analysis of research articles or books.
- write reports or papers on a given topic and defend their ideas and opinions in front of the class.
- interactive courses such as labs, tutorials, workshops, etc., can be done in small groups or individually.
vii. How long does it take for a nursing student to qualify in the United States?
It usually takes four years to qualify as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the US. In the US, two of those years are pre-nursing general education courses and two years of nursing school.
vii. How do I stay motivated during nursing school?
Some students find it helpful to make a list of their goals and post it in a visible place. this can help you remember why you are working so hard. Also, talking to other nursing students and sharing your experiences with them can help boost your motivation.
finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for completing small tasks; this can help provide the motivation you need to complete that research paper, for example. If you keep looking ahead and don’t dwell too much on the past, you’ll find it easier to stay motivated throughout your studies.
ix. How do you update nursing knowledge?
There are several ways that nurses can update their knowledge. for example, many hospitals offer continuing education programs that nurses can come to after hours and earn credits to update their skills.
And while not required, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing suggests that individuals complete at least 15 credit hours of nursing-related courses per year from an accredited institution to maintain their accreditation.
Related reading:
the absolute 5 best nclex prep books
best nclex preparation courses, according to nurses
How To Write Nursing School Personal Statement: Steps, Tips & Examples
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