The Best Nursing Guide for Nursing Students

MeganS · Apr 12, 2010

I have always liked Lippincott's guides...they have one for just about any nursing subject. Most recently I bought How to Get an A in (put in the subject--med/surg, mental health, mother/child, etc.) There was a different series about 5 years ago, I have those books also, but don't see them published by Lippincott. Those books are very good and will give you the basics of the program...although you will still need to study your course's books. I have used them to study for the NCLEX. Lippincott should have a guide to pharmacology.

I bought my books from Amazon and I was able to see reviews from those who bought the book. You want to go to your college's bookstore or a large bookstore to actually look through the book you are considering buying...but buy the book online, used if you can. It will save you $'s.

Get a good NCLEX book that has a condensed explanation of each section--something like a quick and dirty review at the beginning of each seciton (some NCLEX books do not have this review; I don't remember which NCLEX books offer this benefit). Read the NCLEX book, start answering the questions, and check your answers in the back of the book. If you got a good book, it will not only give you the answer, but the rationale why the answer is correct and why the other answers are incorrect.

I found that having more than one book on a subject helped me understand what I was learning. Best to you :redbeathe

flyingchange · Apr 12, 2010

The Mosby's drug guide is excellent, as is the Davis drug guide. They're all pretty much the same. I bought the Davis because it has related NANDA diagnoses with all of the drugs and I like the layout. I agree with the above, Amazon was a great tool to sort out which books were a good buy. I bought a well-reviewed care plan book from there and was not disappointed.

MeganS · Apr 12, 2010

In another section, on Nursing School must haves, Bananimal said the following and I concur:

"Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review and Prentice Hall's Comprehensive Review for NECLEX. Both of these books include AMAZING reviews-- an outline of key points on every topic-- in addition to a set of practice NCLEX questions in each topic. They also have rationales for every answer-- which are wonderful (I highly recommend reading ALL rationales even if you get the answer right, because they sometimes explain how the others are wrong, and again, its another review of the material)."

Servingshots · Apr 12, 2010

In another section, on Nursing School must haves, Bananimal said the following and I concur:
"Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review and Prentice Hall's Comprehensive Review for NECLEX. Both of these books include AMAZING reviews-- an outline of key points on every topic-- in addition to a set of practice NCLEX questions in each topic. They also have rationales for every answer-- which are wonderful (I highly recommend reading ALL rationales even if you get the answer right, because they sometimes explain how the others are wrong, and again, its another review of the material)."

whats the difference between the comprehensive saunders book and the Q&A version?

MeganS · Apr 12, 2010

whats the difference between the comprehensive saunders book and the Q&A version?

A comprehensive will give you a quick and dirty review of the section (if it were cardiac it would go over the A&P, etc.), then it will give you the standard questions. I don't know if the way the rationals are presented differer from those of the regular Q&A. The comprehensive book may give you a more comprehensive rational for the answer and as well as rational for the wrong answer.

The regular Q&A does not have the section review, just questions and answers.

There is a need for both--depending on the needs of the person who is studying for the exam. :coollook:

Servingshots · Apr 12, 2010

A comprehensive will give you a quick and dirty review of the section (if it were cardiac it would go over the A&P, etc.), then it will give you the standard questions. I don't know if the way the rationals are presented differer from those of the regular Q&A. The comprehensive book may give you a more comprehensive rational for the answer and as well as rational for the wrong answer.
The regular Q&A does not have the section review, just questions and answers.
There is a need for both--depending on the needs of the person who is studying for the exam.

thanks for getting back so quickly! Do you think its a good idea to buy that book before nursing school starts? I start in Aug. and just want to get a little practice in.