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50 Nursing Books Every Nurse Should Read

The best nursing books every nurse should read include inspirational books for nurses, nursing books for beginners, experienced nurses, and also popular books. In the field of nursing, as in most professions, it is incredibly important to stay current on industry information. From critical care to professional development, it is important to read frequently. However, there is so much information available that narrowing down which books are best to read or use for reference can be a rather daunting task.

What’s One Book Every Nurse Should Read?

We couldn’t pick just one, so we’ve listed fifty for you! Start with one of these top 50 books that every nurse should read. And, we’re sure you’ll find more than one you want to check out. The list is given in no particular order, as each book provides its own unique benefit. It was compiled mainly by speaking with nurses and consulting reviews of nurses who have actually read and utilized the books in their careers.

1. Nursing Care Plans: Diagnoses, Interventions, and Outcomes, 7th edition

By meg gulanick and judith l. meyers, featured programs.

This book provides nurses with over 200 care plans that are designed to treat the most common ailments nurses encounter. It is technical enough for nurses to be able to provide adequate care but is also easy to follow and has a very reader-friendly format, which is unique to most care plan books. It even comes with an online companion. The seventh edition comes with 11 new conditions for which care plans are included, such as Fibromyalgia Solid Organ Transplant, and Cystic Fibrosis.

2. Cooked: An Inner City Nursing Memoir

By carol karels.

This non-fiction memoir tells the story of a young nurse who worked at a west-side Chicago hospital during a time when drug use was rampant. She tells about her experience with stress and triumph and offers a very interesting look into nursing to which all nurses can relate.

3. 2009 Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Guide

By amy m. karch.

An excellent resource for the various drugs commonly used by nurses, this book offers a wealth of information to nurses that is still relevant.

4. Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness

By anne waugh.

This is an interesting and thorough book explaining the anatomy and physiology of the human body, in a traditional sense, and which explains what the body is going through and doing when various illnesses occur. This can provide nurses with a clear understanding of what “breaks”, so to speak, so that fixing it is more simply and easily addressed.

5. The Everything New Nurse Book

By kathy quan.

This is an excellent resource for new nurses, explaining the typical situations that new nurses encounter and how to handle them.

6. Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science

By atul gawande.

The author recounts actual experiences he has had as a surgeon and comments on the abilities and limitations of the field, offering a very balanced view of the profession.

7. The Comfort Garden, Tales from the Trauma Unit

By laurie barkin.

Outlining the need for psychiatric support for caregivers routinely exposed to traumatic events, this beautifully touching and informative book uses real-life events from a nurse who worked as a psychiatric nurse for five years in a surgical and trauma ward.

8. Saving Lives: Why the Media’s Portrayal of Nurses Puts Us All At Risk

By sandy summers.

This is a current and very much needed account of how the unrealistic portrayal of nurses on TV shows, movies, and in the media, in general, can significantly impact how patients see nurses. She outlines how nurses are usually portrayed as pill-givers and supply-gatherers instead of actual medical professionals with a wealth of knowledge, and how this image of nurses, however unintentionally, can inhibit the trust patients have in their nurses. The book also outlines suggestions for improving this image.

9. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: A Guide to Planning Care

By betty j. ackley and gail b. ladwig.

Another great care planning book, this handbook is a resource every nurse should own and keep on hand for planning the treatments they will be carrying out for their patients. It covers a wide range of illnesses and situations in which careful planning is extremely crucial and walks the nurse through how to develop and carry out these plans. Instead of simply offering pre-written care plans, it helps nurses through the process of how to write their own care plans so that they are equipped to do so to suit nearly any situation.

10. Intensive Care: The Story of a Nurse

By echo heron.

This book was originally published in the 1980s but still holds amazing relevance for nurses today. Through her description of both her experiences as a nurse and her reflections on the work she did, she still helps nurses today, particularly those working in emergency rooms and other critical care environments.

11. Cardiac Surgery Essentials for Critical Care Nursing

By sonya r. hardin.

This book is absolutely essential for nurses who are working in cardiac critical care. It is a guide to patients’ first days and weeks after cardiac surgery and is critical for nurses who are caring for those who have just undergone such an operation.

12. Think Twice! More Lessons from the ER

By brady pregerson.

Although it is certainly a humorous account at times, these stories, told in a conversational manner, do offer nurses an insight into the ER and critical care and are easy to read.

13. When Nurses Hurt Nurses: Recognizing and Overcoming the Cycle of Bullying

By cheryl dellasega.

This book offers a much-needed discussion of the conflicts that can sometimes arise between nurses when working in close quarters for long hours begins to take its toll. Nurse bullying can be a problem, but knowing how to spot it before it gets out of hand and knowing how to handle confrontational situations provides nurses with the necessary steps to diffuse such situations.

14. The Nurse’s Communication Advantage

By kathleen pagana.

Nurses work long hours with a large variety of people. From different personalities of patients to doctors and other professionals, nurses must communicate with a wide array of people and in varied situations. This is a succinct and helpful guide designed to help nurses effectively communicate in these situations and with these people so their jobs are a bit easier and everyone is accurately informed, ensuring the efficiency of everyone’s job.

15. Rnotes: Nurse’s Clinical Pocket Guide

By ehren myers.

This great guide is, as the name implies, small enough to fit in your pocket and contains valuable information pertaining to the most basic and common pieces of information you’ll need during your days, such as coagulation formulas and conversions. It is truly a must-have for all nurses.

16. Health Assessment & Physical Examination

By mary ellen zator estes.

This comprehensive guide illustrated with color photos offers nursing students a practical description of basic health assessments that nurses must perform. It includes such information as clinical examination techniques, patient instruction guidelines, and developmental assessment and focuses on the patient as an entire human being, both physical and psychosocial, for the best approach.

17. Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

Edited by donald venes, clayton l. thomas, and clarence wilbur taber.

This comprehensive dictionary is a wonderful resource for any nurse and is also helpful for the nursing student , as well. It also includes full-color illustrations, tables, charts, and other references that are helpful to the nurse and nursing student, and it also comes in a thumb-indexed version, making it extremely easy to find the information you’re looking for.

18. How Doctors Think

By jerome groopman.

While not directly related to nurses, this book gives an in-depth look into life from a doctor’s perspective. Since nurses work closely with doctors, it is valuable information and can help nurses better understand the doctors they work with and better equip them to be of assistance.

19. Your 1st Year as a Nurse

By donna cardillo.

Nursing is an extremely rewarding profession, but it can be grueling, as well. This book is a great guide by a nurse for nurses on how to survive their first year. This book has become like a best friend to many first-year nurses, guiding them not only on the how-to’s associated with the first year but also providing encouragement for the rough days.

20. Bedlam Among the Bedpans: Humor in Nursing

By amy y. young.

If you’re ever having a rough day as a nurse, this book will make you laugh and help you appreciate the humor in the human condition.

21. Who Moved My Cheese?

By spencer johnson.

Written by a doctor, and carrying a fair amount of humor, this book is very informative and discusses the four basic personality types when it comes to how people deal with change. Nurses have to deal with change on a daily basis, and this book can be an excellent tool to equip you not only to deal with change but to discover what personality type you are and how you can coexist with other personality types, as well.

22. The Last Lecture

By randy pausch.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of obstacles on the way to achieving your goal, this book will inspire you to jump right over them in a heartbeat. Written by a man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer , the book is filled with excerpts from the last lecture he gave at the college for which he taught. The lecture was all about achieving your dreams, and the author certainly lived out that determination in the last years of his life.

23. Journal of Nursing Administration

By lisa burkhart.

This authoritative journal is the leading resource for academic writing in the field of nursing, providing up-to-date information and new research.

24. Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking in Client Care, Single Volume

By priscilla (lemone) koeplin.

Utilizing many case studies and informative information this book clearly outlines the importance of decision-making in the field of nursing and how to apply critical thinking skills to arrive at the best possible solutions and conclusions.

25. Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, and Management

By barbara cherry.

In the ever-changing world of nursing, this book provides a relevant and current look at the issues and trends facing nurses today and suggests ways to address them.

26. Nursing Ethics in Everyday Practice

By connie m. ulrich.

While the physical and medical aspect of a nurse’s job is the most commonly recognized aspect, the ethical side of nursing is also incredibly important. Aimed specifically at those nurses who serve in surgical , outpatient, and hospital settings, this ethical guide to the nursing profession is a must-read for every nurse.

27. Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Clinical Judgement in Nursing: A Practical Approach

By rosalinda alfaro-lefevre.

Another excellent guide to the importance of critical thinking and reasoning in the nursing profession, this guide should be consulted by every nurse. Not only does it outline the importance of critical reasoning and thinking but it provides practical tips for the implication of such thought, which helps nurses to make the best possible decisions in a variety of circumstances.

28. Too Busy For Your Own Good: Get More Done in Less Time With Even More Energy

By connie merritt.

The author speaks from experience in the area of letting life take over. She was on top of the world, doing everything for everyone, and then one day found herself hospitalized with a panic attack. She realized something had to change, and she learned valuable lessons in prioritizing so that life is less busy, and in this book, she passes that wisdom on to others. For nurses, who spend long hours working and have many different stressors on their plate, this book offers essential advice.

29. How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Your Life as a Nurse

By kelli s. dunham and staci j. smith.

Kelli and Staci both have many credentials as a nurse, Kelli being an RN and BSN and Staci being an RN-C, and together they provide a light-hearted but also very instructive guide on how to manage stress, finances, difficult patients and people, and other aspects of nursing life so that you can enjoy your life and your job.

30. How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier

By jan garavaglia.

Known simply as “Dr. G” on TV, Jan Garavaglia gives some interesting tips on how people can stay healthier longer and prevent an early demise. Although this book is aimed at the general public, nurses can still learn a lot from it, gain advice for passing on to patients, and simply enjoy the book as a fellow medical professional.

31. Leadership and the Sexes: Using Gender Science to Create Success in Business

By michael gurian.

By utilizing the knowledge science has on male and female brain differences and creating practical implications of that knowledge for every area of business life, Michael Gurian offers readers a unique insight into how gender science can open doors of opportunity for both sexes. This knowledge can be applied directly to a medical setting, as well, so it is a suitable suggestion for nurses.

32. A Paramedic’s Diary: Life and Death on the Streets

By stuart gray.

While most specifically helpful for nurses who work in emergency care, this account of the lessons learned by one paramedic is of much use to medical professionals across the board. It offers a great insight into what patients and paramedics experience and is very useful for nurses who not only work in an emergency capacity but who treat patients of trauma at a later date, as the effect the trauma originally has is better remembered and described by the paramedic than the patient, oftentimes. This first-hand account is a valuable tool for all nurses.

33. Confessions of a Trauma Junkie

By sherry jones.

There is hardly an emergency or critical care situation that Sherry has not worked in as a nurse. From the emergency room to Hurricane Katrina, she has put her nursing skills to work saving countless lives. In this book, she discusses traumatic situations and critical care from the patient’s and nurse’s point of view and offers an honest look into the life of a critical care nurse. Even for nurses who do not specialize in critical care, this book is a great read.

34. Something for the Pain: Compassion and Burnout in the ER

By paul austin.

While the author’s experience working in the field of nursing may have made him somewhat of a cynic, this book still offers a unique and interesting perspective into the life of a critical care nurse and is a beneficial read for nurses in all specializations.

35. The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Budgeting & Finance

By al rundio.

While the main point of this book is to provide nursing managers with essential information on the budgeting and financial management skills required to run a nursing unit, it is a beneficial read for all nurses, particularly if you hope to achieve a management position at some point during your career.

36. The Nurse’s Social Media Advantage

By robert fraser.

An incredibly relevant and current discourse, this book provides insight into the ways in which nurses can use social media to their advantage. Since social media has infiltrated nearly every profession, and nursing is not exempt, it is not only an interesting read but an instructive guide on utilizing this technological tool to your advantage throughout your nursing career for a variety of purposes.

37. Helping Children Overcome Fear in a Medical Setting

By rob luka.

Written by an RN, this is a wonderful tool for nurses, particularly those with a pediatric specialization. Children are often fearful of medical environments, scary procedures, and big technical equipment, and even simple procedures can become quite an ordeal. Learning how to calm a child and help them to overcome their fear not only expedites the entire process for everyone involved but provides children with the comfort they need and helps them better deal with frightening situations. This book is a great read for every nurse.

38. A Daybook for Critical Care Nurses

By ellen gallen bademan.

Written by an RN and BSN, this critical care book is unique in that it not only provides guidance for the critical care nurse but daily inspiration and journal space, as well, which is incredibly beneficial to nurses.

39. Nurse Practitioner’s Business Practice and Legal Guide

By carolyn buppert.

While written specifically for nurse practitioners, understanding the business and legal side of nursing, in general, is helpful for nurses, as well. While nurse practitioners will experience the most applicable benefits from the book, nurses can also gain valuable insight by reading it.

40. Curriculum Development in Nursing Education

By carroll iwasiw.

This book is specifically aimed at the nursing educator who is faced with the task of developing an interesting, informative, relevant, and current nursing curriculum. While it is helpful for all nurses to read in some way or another, it is most specifically helpful for those in an educational position and offers excellent tips on creating the best curriculum possible.

41. Inspired Nurse

By rich bluni.

As an RN, Rich knows how wonderful the job of nursing can be and also how stressful it can become. Sometimes nurses face burnout, or perhaps just a very difficult day, and it can be difficult to feel that fire and passion for nursing that was once there. This book was written to remind nurses of why they first began their career, help them to feel that inspiration once more, and provide just enough fire to overcome burnout and nurses back on their feet. This is an excellent book that every nurse should keep on his or her bookshelf.

42. A Complaint Free World

By will bowen.

Will Bowen, a Kansas City preacher, explains why he thinks that if everyone focused only on the positive things in their lives, there would be a world free from complaints. While clearly neither the author nor anyone else expects that the world will literally be free of complaints someday, the book provides a much-needed focus on positivity. This is a great inspirational book for nurses and can be of great help in focusing on the positive aspects of every day.

43. Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses Working with disAbilities

By donna maheady.

This book is directed both at nurses who work with disabilities and those who have disabilities, as well. It is inspiring and makes the point that disabilities may exist but it doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your dreams. This is an exceptional book with an inspirational message and is a great read.

44. Conspiracies of Kindness: The Craft of Compassion at the Bedside of the Ill

By michael ortiz.

While nursing is a very clinical and analytical job, the human touch cannot be neglected, either, particularly when dealing with very ill patients. In this book, the author argues that compassion is not something you either have or don’t but rather it is a skill you can teach yourself and an art form with which you must become intimately familiar in order to be the most effective nurse possible. This is a wonderful book that is recommended by many nurses in all specializations.

45. Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses

By cynthia saver.

Widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and helpful books on writing for nurses, this book takes you from writing ideas all the way through publishing for a variety of mediums, such as academic journals or book publications. The author and 15 of the most recognized names in nurse writing offer highly valuable information for those nurses who hope to become published authors.

46. The Last Adventure of Life: Sacred Resources for Living and Dying from a Hospice Counselor

By maria dancing heart.

From her many years as a Hospice counselor comes Maria’s elegant and beautiful outlook on death, seeing it not as a scary and fearful thing but as life’s last adventure. Through her writing, she hopes to teach others how to deal with death and how to see it as a peaceful transition rather than a terrifying destination. Since nurses will inevitably have to deal with death during the course of their careers and since it is important to know how to teach patients to deal with death, this book should absolutely be on the bookshelf of every nurse.

47. Notes on Nursing

By florence nightingale.

Even though this book was penned, literally, by Florence Nightingale in 1859 , it is still highly relevant to the career of every nurse today and deserves a place at the top of every nurse’s reading list.

48. My Name is Mary Sutter

By robin oliveira.

Although this is a work of fiction, it is still highly relevant to and enjoyable for every nurse. The brave story of a woman who struggled to overcome gender discrimination and make a name for herself as a nurse. It is a story of strength, conviction, and determination, and is highly inspiring for nurses especially. While Mary Sutter is not a real person, her story is similar to many historical accounts of women who became nurses and tended to Civil War soldiers, so it is grounded in enough fact to make it relevant.

49. Way of the Peaceful Warrior

By dan millman.

Though Dan is a New Age writer and has a unique set of spiritual beliefs, the lessons he learned while trying to find his identity in life are still applicable, regardless of your religious or spiritual affiliation, even if that means no affiliation at all. The universal lessons he shares are thought-provoking and inspiring for everyone and nurses can gain a lot of wisdom from his thoughts and conclusions about life.

50. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By rebecca skloot.

Though Henrietta Lacks was not famous while she was alive, her cells have made her nearly immortal. In the 1950s, Henrietta’s cells were taken without her consent while she was undergoing medical treatment and since then have become the subject of over 60,000 research studies. This story is the story of a patient but it has vast implications for those in the field of nursing and is an incredible read.

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15 Books That Every Nurse Should Read

Our team independently chose these products. If you click on a product link, we may earn a commission. Learn more .

Nursing is a complicated profession, and nurses must master both technical and human aspects of healthcare. Mostly written by or for nurses, the books in this list feature historical insights, advice on getting through nursing school and the first year of nursing, inspiring and uplifting stories from nurses, thought-provoking ethical explorations, and quick reference tools.

Read on for our roundup of the top 15 books for nurses, including picks from other professionals in the nursing field.

Top Books Recommended for Nurses

Notes on Nursing: What it Is, and What it Is Not (Florence Nightingale)

Florence Nightingale is credited with inventing modern nursing, training nurses as healthcare professionals, proving the importance of sanitation and fresh air, and advocating for nursing as a vital profession. Dr. Jenna Liphart Rhoads describes Nightingale’s book, the profession’s first body of knowledge, as “a must-read for any nurse who wishes to truly understand the passion of Florence Nightingale.”

Editor’s note: While Nightingale’s influence and contributions to modern medicine are undeniable, we acknowledge and believe it is important that readers understand other aspects of her legacy, such as Nightingale’s role in colonialism .

The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives (Theresa Brown)

Author Theresa Brown is a nurse and columnist for The New York Times. Here, she describes a twelve-hour shift in a teaching hospital’s oncology ward. While the book covers one nurse’s duties in just twelve hours, it also provides broader insights into the nursing profession , the challenges and rewards of nursing, and how healthcare and major hospitals function. This is one of the best nursing books to read for healthcare professionals and laypeople alike.

First Year Nurse: Wisdom, Warnings, and What I Wish I’d Known My First 100 Days on the Job (Kaplan Nursing)

Best known for its test preparation services, Kaplan also publishes books for professionals. This collection of advice for beginner nurses includes sections on topics such as organization, dealing with challenging patients, and the value of mentors. Each section features short quotes and advice from seasoned nurses. One of the best books for nursing students, it may hold less value for experienced nurses.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)

This bestseller describes how researchers at a free clinic found extraordinary properties in cancer cells from a Black patient named Henrietta Lacks. Researchers and medical establishments used these cells without notifying or compensating Lacks or her estate. This book delves into the historical context and ethical issues related to this event.

Rhoads notes that this is “an excellent book for nurses or nursing students who wish to think deeply about the ethical implications of science, health care, and humanity.”

Nursing School Thrive Guide (Maureen Osuna)

This is one of the best books for nursing students, this volume explores study and learning habits, getting and staying organized, managing coursework, maximizing the value of study groups, and getting the most out of clinical rotations. Much of the material covers general study and organization habits, so students who have already attended college may benefit most from the book’s nursing-specific sections.

Your First Year as a Nurse (Donna Cardillo, Ph.D.)

The first year at any profession presents challenges and opportunities. This book is full of insights into choosing a specialty, working as part of a healthcare team, and avoiding burnout. Rhoads recommends it as “a great read for nursing students or new nurses to help get past some of the stumbling blocks that nurses experience early in their practice.”

Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life, and Everything in Between (Theresa Brown)

This book describes the author’s experiences as a nurse in an oncology ward. Nursing students, those considering a career in oncology nursing , and individuals with a loved one with cancer can also benefit from this engaging look at healthcare’s human side.

A Daybook for Beginning Nurses (Donna Cardillo)

Nurse and columnist Donna Cardillo offers advice for new nurses in this daybook. Organized into 365 separate segments, it includes prompts and quotes for reflective writing to help nurses learn more from their experiences and manage stress.

The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story (Christie Watson)

Detailing the author’s career as a nurse in British hospitals, this memoir is one of the best nursing books to stress the importance of kindness in healthcare and the difference that compassionate nursing can make. The New York Times Book Review, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker praised Watson’s memoir for its depth of humanity and storytelling.

I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse (ed. Lee Gutkind)

Lee Gutkind interviewed nurses of all kinds to collect stories of their most intense professional experiences. These stories include ethical dilemmas, first births in the maternity ward, facing a patient’s death, and moments of crisis and doubt, reflecting each nurse’s resiliency and passion.

Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis (Lisa Sanders)

Lisa Sanders’ New York Times column Diagnosis was a major inspiration for the television drama “House M.D.” Her book explores some of the most puzzling cases in medical literature and how they were solved. While it is not specifically about nursing, the book’s insights make it one of the best books for nursing students interested in diagnostics.

Oh Sh*t I Almost Killed You, A Little Book of Big Things Nursing School Forgot to Teach You (CCRN Sonja M. Schwartzbach, BSN, RN)

Using a lively and engaging style, this book surveys the things nurses need to know that may not be included in clinical textbooks. Prospective nurses can gain insight into the profession, while seasoned nurses may enjoy this book like a chat with an experienced colleague.

Charge nurse Sandra Crawley praises this nursing book for its ability to “remind us that we are human and that humor is the best medicine.”

RNotes®: Nurse’s Clinical Pocket Guide (Ehren Myers)

This quick reference guide is one of the best nursing books for students and new graduates alike, offering helpful illustrations on procedures such as bladder irrigation or opening airways, lists of medicine interactions, and laboratory test result ranges. The book covers topics which have appeared on the NCLEX-RN examination. Its printed format is designed to fit into scrubs pockets.

Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul: Stories to Celebrate, Honor and Inspire the Nursing Profession (Jack Canfield)

This bestselling title features heartwarming stories about the nursing profession, reminding readers of the difference that nurses can make. One of the best nursing books for inspiration, Crumpton describes it as “a great book to check out if you are short on time because the stories are short and sweet.”

Nursing Mnemonics: 108 Memory Tricks to Demolish Nursing School (John Haws)

Mnemonics, or memory tricks, are one of the easiest ways to remember complex lists. This collection is ideal for students or practicing nurses who need to memorize lists such as the causes of pancreatitis, symptoms of shock, types of anemia, or medication classes for irritable bowel disorder.

Meet Our Contributors

Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D.

Dr. Jenna Liphart Rhoads is a nurse educator and freelance author and editor. She earned a BSN from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and an MS in nursing education from Northern Illinois University. Jenna earned a Ph.D. in education with a concentration in nursing education from Capella University, where she researched the moderation effects of emotional intelligence on the relationship of stress and GPA in military veteran nursing students. Her clinical background includes surgical-trauma adult critical care, interventional radiology procedures, and conscious sedation in adult and pediatric populations. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and two children.

Sandra Crawley

Sandra Crawley Sandra Crawley, BSN, RN is a charge nurse in a family birth center and serves as a medical consultant for MomLovesBest.com . She provides medical expertise and care for expectant mothers and their newborn babies. Crawley takes pride in knowing she can be of service to families during this memorable and life-changing time.

Rosa Crumpton

Rosa Crumpton, RN, BSN, BS, MBA/HCM considers herself a Jill of many trades and has worked in many roles and specialties in her career. She currently works in nursing management. Rosa helps experienced healthcare professionals reconnect with their purpose without setting unattainable goals, burning out, or feeling demoralized.

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13 Best Books for Nursing Students to Read- Reviewed

An Intro to the Best Books for Nursing Students

The best books for nursing students are the ones that will help you prepare for your future career. There are many books for nursing school students out there, 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 should also be relevant to the current curriculum and up-to-date with recent changes in healthcare regulations.

Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing

Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook by Ackley & Ladwig

Saunders Comprehensive Review

Here is a list of excellent nursing books that stand out among the rest- These books cover everything from anatomy to pharmacology, and they’ll be there with you every step of the way.

1. Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination (Best for NCLEX-RN Prep)

Whether you’re a future nurse, or someone considering nursing as a career, this book is for you. It will prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN exam and succeed in your new profession.

This 8th edition of Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination has been updated to reflect recent changes in the test plan and content areas tested on the exam. The 75-question comprehensive exam covers all content areas in the book in percentages that match those found on actual tests – so it’s an accurate representation of what to expect come test day!

The 5200 practice questions not only help fill any gaps left by other study materials but also provide additional chances to practice answering questions similar to those on the real thing.

Key Takeaways:

• Helps you pass the NCLEX on the first try if used properly.
• Gives a good representation of what to expect come test day.
• Builds confidence in your skills and knowledge for when it comes time to take the test.

Reddit Reviews of Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN

Saunders NCLEX prep book is great to supplement your materials for class.

–  u/Guaco-Taco  responding to  Helpful books/tools to have for nursing school?

Saunders NCLEX is my bible !!!!!!!

–  u/[deleted]  responding to  Helpful books/tools to have for nursing school?

As another has said, Saunders NCLEX review (all my class calls it the “teal book”) is excellent. It has thousands of practice questions on specific subject areas like fundamentals and med surg. I don’t know what I would have done without it this past semester. If your school doesn’t provide it, then  Davis Drug guide  is also a must for pharmacology. My school provided an app with it included so not sure what yours may do. Good luck!

–  u/snomma  responding to  Helpful books/tools to have for nursing school?

Saunders nclex review book was very helpful when I needed cram sessions. Has everything in a nice concise layout.

–  u/lostperception  responding to  What books are truly necessary for nursing school?

Med. dictionary and an NCLEX review really helped me. I used Mosby and Saunders, respectively. Buy used. Some text will be essential but which ones depend on your program.

–  u/semi-lucid_comment  responding to  What books are truly necessary for nursing school?

Quora Reviews of Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN

…First thing I did was reviewing the course content of NCLEX RN. Then I prioritized the areas of my weakness, for example cardiovascular nursing and pharmacology. I took more time to review my weak areas of study and I used  Saunders NCLEX RN textbook . I purchased  Uworld  started taking practice NCLEX RN similar test items in timed mode from the beginning itself. It helped me get to manage time while choosing right answers.

Hope it helps. Good luck.

–  Ranjini Nair  responding to  How did you prepare for R.N. (NCLEX)?

I medical dictionary is key. Most of the books I used were when I was a student. Incredibly easy fluid and electrolytes is good and I still have a Saunders nclex review.

–  Anne Fox  (ICU Nurse) responding to  What books are must-haves for doctors & nurses?

2. Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing ( Best for Med-Surg )

Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing is a comprehensive textbook that prepares nursing students to care for adult patients in all health care settings. It offers more than 60 standardized nursing care plans and over 800 full-color illustrations. The eleventh edition includes new chapters on the delivery of safe, compassionate healthcare; caring for vulnerable populations; medication safety; and evidence-based practice.

This book covers everything from how the body functions 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’s Medical-Surgical Nursing is an excellent resource for any student entering the field of nursing!

• Provides a comprehensive overview of adult patient care.
• Breaks down diseases appropriately, especially based on the nursing process
• Its building-block approach makes even the most complex concepts simple to grasp

Reddit Reviews of Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses

Our school uses Lewis Med/Surg. I personally really liked the book. I think it breaks diseases etc down appropriately, especially based on the nursing process.

–  u/MrsPaulsen87  responding to  Most helpful medsurge books?

Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems, 10th Edition. Lewis, Bucher, Heitkemper, Harding.

This is what we used and I thought it was well formatted and easy to follow.

–  u/WeAngelfish  responding to  Best Med-Surg Textbooks

3. Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses ( #1 Best Drug Book for Nursing Students )

Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses is a must-have resource for nursing students and professionals. This go-to guide provides everything you need to know about drugs, from their indications and side effects to the latest information on how they work in your body. With coverage of more than 1,000 generic and nearly 2,500 brand drug products, 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 traveling abroad.

Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses is much more than a drug reference guide; it also includes a complete introduction to pharmacology that will prepare you well for courses in nursing school. Also, it can help you learn about everything from antibiotics to anticoagulants so you feel more confident in your ability as an RN!

Key Benefits:

• Saves you time and effort by having all the drug information you need in one place.
• Gives you the latest updates on drugs, including side effects and how they work.
• Makes you feel confident about your knowledge of drugs and their effects.

Davis, hands down. All the information you need, organized in a way that is efficient and makes sense. Plus, all the forms I needed to fill out for clinicals followed Davis, and the online content is a life-saver. The app on the phone is pocket-friendly, and just as useful as the book. The book itself is not going to fit in your pocket, but from my experience, no book worth buying can either. You will not be disappointed! Amazon has  the best deal .

–  u/zackakvan  (BSN Student) responding to  Best drug book/app for clinical

Davis Drug Guide, has everything you need, nothing you don’t.

–  u/MarkJay2  (RN) responding to  Any Recommendations for a good drug guide book for school?

I used Davis Drug Guide for Nurses and it’s great. ATI also supplied everyone in my program a drug book (Nurses Drug Handbook) and I don’t ever use it.

–  u/halfdecentbanana  (Graduate Nurse) responding to  Any Recommendations for a good drug guide book for school?

Davis Drug Guide is what we use.

–  u/mendOK  responding to  Recommended Drug Handbook?

I have the mosby and the davis book and personally prefer the davis book. They generally have the exact same information but sometimes the davis book is more concise, and I like the way the pages are arranged a little better – it’s just easier to skim than the mosby book

– u/superpony123 (Accelerated BSN student) responding to  Best Drug Guide?

I use Davis Drug Guide. I haven’t used anything else so I’m not an expert on all the options, but it’s worked well for me so far. It’s also convenient to be able to access it on a mobile device through an app called uCentral (though this probably doesn’t help you as our school purchases that subscription).

Sometimes it’s lacking some information though, such as pharmacological class (though I’ve found that this is usually when the pharm class is more “complicated” and perhaps less helpful to nurses; ex: 1-amino-methyl cyclohexoneacetic acid [which is Neurontin’s class!])

–  u/la_doble_de_Consuelo  (Nursing Student) responding to  Advice on drug books

4. Mosby’s Drug Guide for Nursing Students

The Mosby’s Drug Guide for Nursing Students is a trusted and up-to-date drug reference book. It offers a comprehensive overview of more than 1,000 drugs in use today. It 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 about the newest drugs available for treating mental disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. And don’t forget treatments for pain relief! Plus you get expert guidance on how to administer medications safely with clear dosages charts that are easy to understand at a glance.

• Gives you quick, accurate information about drugs.
• Keeps you up to date with the latest treatments for diseases and disorders.
• Helps you know all of the drug interactions that can happen with your patients.

Reddit Reviews of Mosby’s Drug Guide for Nursing Students

Mosby’s drug guide for nursing students is well organized and helpful for providing information about nursing interventions and assessments. My pharm teacher recommended it very highly. Also, you can get it  affordably on amazon

–  u/O_x_3  responding to  Best Drug Guide?

I prefer Mosby’s drug guide. That’s what all out local hospitals stock and it’s what my school required but it’s more of a personal preference.

–  u/thackworth  (RN – Psych/Mental Health) responding to  Advice on drug books

I’ve used Mosby’s, it’s perfectly adequate. Just go by personal preference. Whatever layout makes it easiest for you to absorb information.

–  u/lornad  (Rapid Response RN) responding to  Advice on drug books

5. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care ( Best Nursing Diagnosis Book )

This is a comprehensive resource for nurses, students, and educators alike. This book provides evidence-based information on over 200 nursing diagnoses, which are organized into six domains of human function–nutrition, elimination, activity/participation, sleep patterns/disturbances, cognitive status, and mood disorders.

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook also includes the latest diagnostic codes from ICD-10-CM to help you accurately document patient care at all levels of care.

With this book, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to provide safe and effective care.

• Provides evidence-based information on over 200 nursing diagnoses.
• Helps nurses identify patients’ needs and plan care.

Reddit Reviews of Nursing Diagnosis Handbook by Ackley and Ladwig

My school had us buy the  Swearingen All in One  and it was beyond useless. I ended up getting a copy of the  Ackley & Ladwig book , and it was really useful to me. I see not everyone agrees with that, but I guess everything is YMMV. What I like about A&L is that the front half of the book is a list of conditions with possible nursing dx (i.e. you might look up “cystic fibrosis” and find dxes of ineffective airway clearance, impaired gas exchange, etc.) and then the back of the book was just nursing diagnoses in alphabetical order, with indications, outcomes, and interventions.

So if you had looked up CF in the front of the book and wanted to write a care plan about ineffective airway clearance, you’d flip to the ineffective airway clearance section in the back and just pick out however many interventions you need.

–  u/gnomicaoristredux  (Critical Care RN) responding to  What is the   Best Nursing Diagnosis Book

I use Ackley and Ladwig and love it. I have an older edition, pretty sure  this is the newest

–  u/dee789  responding to  in need of a nursing care plan book recommendation

We are required to get Ackley’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care, 11th Edition in our program and it’s so nice! I would definitely recommend it!

It’s very easy to follow and you can even look up potential nursing diagnoses by what condition your patient has, which is really helpful. It honestly makes doing care plans not so awful lol

–  u/carly793  responding to  Best Nursing Diagnosis Handbook?

I have used Ackley and Gulanick nursing care plan books. I love both. Someone linked the Ackley one already.

Here’s the  Gulanick

–  u/BenzieBox  (Student RN) responding to  Best Nursing Diagnosis Handbook?

My school made us purchase an E-book bundle so I didn’t really have a choice on books but the most useful have been:

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care – Ackley & Ladwig ( a careplan book)

Drug reference book – we have  Mosby’s  – I like it

And if you take HESIs, I highly recommend the  HESI comprehensive review for NCLEX-RN

–  u/lopsee90  (BSN Student) responding to  What books are truly necessary for nursing school?

6. Nursing Diagnosis Manual: Planning, Individualizing, and Documenting Client Care

Nurses are the unheralded heroes of our health care system: they provide hands-on care and wellness education to patients, and they work 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 healthcare.

This book will help you be that nurse by providing a thorough introduction to clinical reasoning – how to identify client’s problems, plan interventions, and document progress accurately.

It explains how clients’ presenting symptoms relate to diagnoses (the “why”), which treatments best suit each diagnosis (the “what”), and what documentation is needed for an optimal patient outcome (the “how”).

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about your patients’ care every day.

• Makes for an easy read, with a conversational tone that makes it enjoyable to read.
• Makes you more confident in your skills as a future nurse.
• Gives you strong knowledge to make decisions about your patient’s care.

7. I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse

The stories in this book will inspire you and show you that even though it’s hard, becoming a nurse is worth the challenges.

This book shares personal experiences from nurses who have weathered many storms to become successful in their profession, and through them, you’ll see how your own story can be just as rewarding.

Prepare to laugh out loud, cry with these women, feel inspired by their triumphs-and get ready to take on anything!

• You will learn how to be a nurse from the pros.
• Gives you an inside look at what it’s like to become a nurse.
• You will find your inner strength and courage in these nurse stories.
• You’ll find out that you can do anything if you put your mind to it!

Reddit Review

This is a good one about nursing in general and dealing with the hard stuff.

– u/prettymuchquiche  (BSN, RN | bedside escapee)

8. Dosage Calculations for Nursing Students: Master Dosage Calculations The Safe & Easy Way Without Formulas!

It’s never too early to start learning about dosages, and the best way to do that is with this book.

This book will teach you how to calculate dosages without using formulas or doing complicated math! The dosages are also listed for you so that you can look up the dosage of any drug quickly.

What you will find in this book:

-The Top 100 Potentially Lethal Dosages Of Drugs

-700+ Dosage Tips (includes dosages for infants, children, teens, adults, and seniors)

• Helps you know which drugs are used for what purpose.
• Saves time and avoids the stress of calculating dosages.
• Should help you get fully prepared for clinical rotations.

9. Mosby’s Pharmacology Memory NoteCards: Visual, Mnemonic, and Memory Aids for Nurses

Written by experts in pharmacology education and usage, this book will not only teach you how to use drugs safely but also serve as your reference guide.

This handy pocket-sized guide features over 300 cards with key facts about medications including indications/uses; drug names; doses; side effects; interactions with other drugs (including foods); precautions/warnings; nursing considerations such as assessing benefits vs risks of medication 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 around with you and provide a quick reference guide when needed.

• Perfect to carry around
• Very visual with pictures and cartoons to aid in memorization

10. Fundamentals of Nursing: 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 experts in nursing, it covers all aspects of practicing nursing, including pathophysiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, leadership, and management.

It 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 you for a nursing career.

Key Takeaway:

• Builds your knowledge base to be an effective nurse

11. 2022 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses

The 2022 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses offers both quick access to essential drug information and more detailed coverage of drugs used in specific settings or populations.

You’ll find it handy when you’re on your feet at the bedside, juggling multiple tasks. This guide will be an invaluable resource whether you’re providing direct patient care or just want to keep abreast of new developments that impact practice in your specialty area.

The book includes practical tips on dosage calculation, preparations available, administration routes, monitoring guidelines, and adverse effects.

As a nursing student preparing to enter one of the most rewarding and challenging professions, you should read this book. It is a comprehensive guide to nursing drugs and will be an essential reference for you- as a student nurse, and as a future nurse and practitioner.

• It will save you time by knowing what drug to administer in different scenarios.
• It will increase your knowledge of drugs and their effects on patients.
• It will make you a better nurse for your patient’s health and well-being.
• It is literally a pocket book, which means it’s very portable to take with.

12. Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN (Lippincott’s Review For NCLEX-RN) 13th Edition

This book is a comprehensive review of content that includes over 4,500 practice questions with detailed rationales and test-taking tips. It also features an online component to help students prepare for the computerized adaptive testing environment of the NCLEX-RN.

The book has been thoroughly updated to include all changes in NCLEX content and reflects feedback from nursing educators across the country. This edition includes new clinical simulations which 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 is difficult for nursing students to find comprehensive question books, but this one fills that gap.

You can use Lippincott Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN as a study tool to review important content fast. It is not helpful if you need information on the theory behind nursing care, but it is a good resource if you want to take practice tests and learn test-taking strategies.

• Helps you prepare for computerized adaptive testing.
• Provides an excellent review of content.
• Builds confidence in taking the NCLEX exam.

13. Nursing School Cheat Sheets: 50 Tips for Making the Grade

This is a handbook that helps nursing students prepare and excel in their classes. It contains fifty tips and tricks to help you make the grade, including:

• Tricks for taking notes during lectures, so you can review those notes later on
• Tips for what to do when you have a difficult professor or TA who doesn’t teach very well
• A list of books every nurse should read as preparation for their future career as a nurse
• Gets you all the tips you need to make the grade in nursing school.
• Builds your confidence and chances of success with these tricks.

Related: Accelerated Nursing Programs in Chicago

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 that way. Therefore, it’s important to prepare yourself with the right resources.

This list of best books contains excellent references for any nursing students who want to be successful. In a nutshell, these books will:

• Help you succeed in nursing school and graduate with good grades
• Reduce the anxiety and stress of nursing school
• Provide a great reference source for you as a student nurse and as a future practitioner
• Make it easy for you to get all the tricks that will get you through nursing school

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I. what is the best way to prepare for nursing school.

The best way to prepare for nursing school is by studying and getting a sound education.

Nursing school is demanding, and the only way to do well in it is with good planning and practice. Read your textbooks before class; it allows you to come into the lecture prepared for what’s going to 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 by reading textbooks alone. Get help when needed; even if you’re confident that something may be easy, don’t hesitate to get a tutor.

II. How many hours a day should a nursing student study?

There is no one 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 for at least three hours a day.

This will allow you enough time to review the material that was covered in class, as well as to do some extra studying on your own. It’s also important to take breaks during your study sessions, so you don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated.

And lastly, don’t forget to relax and have fun occasionally; you need to balance your schoolwork with downtime so you don’t get burnt out.

III. What is the hardest class in nursing school?

The hardest class in nursing school will vary for each student. Some students might struggle with anatomy and physiology, while others might have trouble mastering pharmacology. What varies even among different courses is the relative emphasis on science/theory versus hands-on skills.

Moreover, content can be dense or technical to grasp for inexperienced people who are new to the concepts, without helpful contextual frameworks to help them understand it all at once.

Depending on the program country of origin, or which individual instructors teaching a particular course or type of course (humanities vs hard sciences), some subjects may be more challenging than others due to cultural differences across schools within each country’s regions, academic perspectives, and opinions about clinical education methodologies.

Therefore the specific answer is different and really subjective.

IV. I’ve heard that anatomy & physiology is the hardest class in nursing school. Is it?

This varies depending on which university you attend. Some universities place more emphasis on theory than practical skills, whereas others have a more even balance. Additionally, different schools have different teaching styles. Some professors are more interactive and hands-on while others are more traditional in their teaching methods.

V. What should a nursing student do if they have difficulty in a class?

If you’re having difficulty in a class, the best thing to do is to speak to your instructor or course coordinator. You don’t need to wait until you’re about to flunk the class; there are many options available that your instructor may not have told you about.

You can work out an arrangement with them to give you extra time on tests, do make-up exams, etc. If you really want to do well in the class, this is your best option. If you don’t speak 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 can include:

• Critical analysis of research articles or books.
• Writing reports or papers on a certain topic and defending your ideas and opinions to the class.
• Interactive coursework such as labs, tutorials, workshops, etc., may be done in small groups or individually.

VII. How long does it take for a nursing student to be qualified in the US?

It usually takes four years to be qualified as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the US – two of those years are pre-nursing general education coursework and two years of nursing school.

VIII. How do I stay motivated throughout nursing school?

Some students find it helpful to make a list of their goals and post it in a visible place. This can help remind you why you’re working so hard. Additionally, talking to other nursing students and sharing your experiences with them can help bolster your motivation.

Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for completing small tasks; this can help provide the motivation you need to get through that research paper, for example. If you keep looking forward and don’t dwell too much on the past, you’ll find it easier to stay motivated throughout your studies.

IX. How do you refresh nursing knowledge?

There are a number of ways for nurses to refresh their knowledge. For example, many hospitals offer continuing education programs where nurses can come during off-hours and get credits for updating skills.

And though it’s not required, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing suggests that RNs complete at least 15 credit hours of nursing-related courses per year from an accredited institution in order to maintain their accreditation.

Related Readings:

13 Best Online Nursing Programs for Non-Nurses

How to Write the Nursing School Personal Statement: Steps, Tips, And Samples

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Books for Nursing Students that are a Must-Read 

Expand your knowledge and fill your bookshelf with these must-read books for nursing students. These helpful nursing books will cover you from your first year as a student to passing the NCLEX. Find the 15 reads you need to succeed in nursing school below!

Books for First Year Nursing students

1. nursing: a concept-based approach to learning, volume 1 and 2, 3rd ed..

This nursing book prepares nursing students to practice. It’s comprehensive as Volume 1 covers 21 biophysical concepts and Volume 2 covers 30 concepts as well as a nurse’s role in accountability, advocacy, and safety.

2. Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 8th Ed., Jarvis*

Covering health assessment and physical examination, patient teaching and health promotion, vital signs, cultural assessment, and tons more, this book has extensive learning resources for first-year nursing students.

3. RNotes®: Nurse’s Clinical Pocket Guide, Meyers

When you start clinicals in your second semester of nursing school, you’ll want this nursing book in your pocket. Described as “waterproof and reliable”, reviewers say this guide is “handy during clinicals”. It even has NCLEX tips for future use.

4. Ross & Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness Grant, Waugh, Wilson

Anatomy and physiology are integral in nursing. This book has tons of helpful illustrations, diagrams, and photographs to help you learn anatomy and physiology. It will teach you the prefixes, suffixes, and roots necessary to break down the terminology, and there is a self-assessment for every chapter.

NCLEX Prep Books

5. saunders comprehensive review for the nclex-rn examination*.

Nursing students swear and live by this book. It has 5,200 NCLEX-style questions and will help refine your clinical judgment skills. It offers test-taking strategies and detailed rationales to help you pass the NCLEX-RN with flying colors.

6. Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, LaCharity, Kumagai, et al.

Practice makes perfect. With 18 chapters by subject and 21 case studies, this has all the nursing need-to-knows for formative assessment. Chapters are broken down by prioritization, delegation, and assignment so you can see which skills you need a little more study time for.

7. Strategies for Student Success on the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Test Items L. Silvestri, A. Silvestri, Ignatavicius 

The NGN emphasizes clinical judgment, and nursing students who read this book can practice the NGN questions and test-taking strategies. It even offers clues for analyzing and answering questions correctly.

Fundamentals of Nursing Books

8. fundamentals of nursing: the art and science of person-centered care, 10th ed., taylor, lynn & bartlett*.

Clinical reasoning and decision-making are essential nursing practices. Use this book to practice clinical judgment, learn NCBSN concepts and terms, review case studies, answer NCLEX questions, and study clinical examples and illustrations.

9. Fundamentals of Nursing, 11 Ed., Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall*

Every chapter in this nursing fundamentals book has review questions. Figure out the best care plans, learn the nursing process, and discover how to apply concepts to your nursing practice via case studies. You’ll have opportunities for reflective learning and refine your nursing skills and procedures with this one.

10. Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice

This 10-unit book helps up-and-coming nursing hone their nursing approach. Used as a  “foundation for nursing excellence”, it covers key nursing concepts and a lot of useful information for student nurses.

Pharmacology for Nurses Books

11. karch’s focus on nursing pharmacology, 9th ed., tucker*.

Pharmacology is one of the most difficult topics in nursing school. This pharmacology read has drug lists and tables, safe medication administration, calculation and measurement skills, and drug classes.

12. Pharmacology: A Patient-Centered Nursing Process Approach 10th Ed., McCuistion*

Another one for the books! Taking a patient-centered approach to pharmacology, it’s useful to determine dosage calculations, learn drug therapies, and prototype drugs. It even has anatomy and physiology illustrations to demonstrate how drugs work in the body. Avoid medication errors, learn safety, and more in this book.

13. Pharmacology for Nurses – A Pathophysiologic Approach, 6th Ed., Adams, Holland & Urban*

Taking a pathophysiologic approach, this vibrant book speaks to visual learners. They engage with great colors and show nursing students how to approach drugs by body systems and diseases.

14. Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 9th Ed., Lilley, Rainforth Collins & Snyder*

Learn pharmacology, prioritization, and the nursing process all at once. This book has drug facts, FDA approvals, withdrawals, and therapeutic uses nursing need to know throughout their careers. It also has illustrations, learning strategies, and learning aids throughout.

15. Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Ed., Burchum & Rosenthal*

Written by nursing educators, this book makes pharmacology approachable. Discover drug prototypes, psychology, pathophysiology, and drug therapy while understanding the information—not just memorizing drug facts.

(*Mnemonics available in Picmonic’s Nursing Plan )

Picmonic Complements Your Nursing Reads

Reading is beneficial, and there is a lot of useful, detrimental information in every one of these books for nurses. To complement your reads and maximize your study time, sign up for Picmonic today. Picmonic’s visual learning study tool for nursing students can be used in conjunction with a variety of your study go-tos.

Nursing students with Picmonic have access to a comprehensive library of picture mnemonics and quizzes to help them through nursing school. This includes mnemonics of your favorite nursing books to enhance your learning experience, pass exams, and retain information long-term. Research-proven to increase long-term memory retention, it’s a must-have for all nursing students.

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Boost your nursing career through academic success, passing your next exam, creating optimal patient outcomes, or developing the next generation of top-performing nurses with a wide range of print and digital products from Springer Publishing. Whether you're a novice or seasoned nurse, we are here to support you in providing evidence-based, patient centered care in a variety of specialties, patient populations, and practice settings. Our award-winning resources are written by noted scholars and practitioners and span over twenty nursing subject areas to support every facet of your profession.

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