Overwhelmed

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

You will probably use some books for several semesters - Med/surg is one of those. It also is a good reference for several years as you get used to nursing. You generally only do a few chapters at a time. and different portions in various semesters.

However, the reading is pretty heavy at times.

With any luck, they will not change M/S books halfway through the program. Sometimes, they do and you have to buy a new one after a couple of semesters.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

PS. I went to Polk Community College in Winter Haven...about 50 miles south of Orlando.

tramalady45 · Jul 19, 2005

OK. I know Nursing school is hard, but the books are ridiculous!!!
Well, today I went to the college where I will be starting nursing school in the Fall. I purchased my books and just cant believe it!! Am I really going to go over every chapter of those books in one semester? Or will I probably be using some of the same books throughout the program? I mean.... one particular book "Medical Surgical Nursing" is abot over 2000 pages in tiny print!! I mean.. this thing is bigger than the old bible my grandfather had in the middle of the living room. It seems the whole world could fit in there, and this is only one book of the over eight they determined to be required!!
I know you read plenty, but this just seems impossible.
Please someone tell me what this is all about?
Frankie

Well, I can feel ya there. My first semester of nursing school my college actually required 19 text books-yes, that is right, 19 :angryfire ! I was so overwhelmed the first few weeks I really just wanted to give up and quit. Don't. It is very scary at first and you keep asking yourself "what did I get myself into..." But I guarantee it will be worth it in the end. Most of the books will carry you through the entire program. Don't think ahead and don't look ahead, take it piece by piece and you won't feel so crazed. Good Luck!

KnarfKS · Jul 19, 2005

I don't know where you go, but I have never had a class that read an entire textbook except for novels in a lit. class. Calm down and don't worry before you start. The reading will be heavy, but very feasible. You won't read all 2000 pages from your med surg. Textbooks are more for reference than actual sitting down and reading through chapters from everything I have ever done.

suzy253, RN · Jul 19, 2005

Textbooks are more for reference than actual sitting down and reading through chapters from everything I have ever done.

Don't agree with this statement. If you have an assigned reading from pages xxx to xxx, you might miss out on some pretty important stuff if you don't read it. Certainly not just for reference. they give you assigned readings for a purpose. A lot of those assigned readings will appear on tests and may not even be covered in class.

the Med Surg texts are used throughout the entire program. We get specialty books for various subjects like psych, cardiac, community health, etc.

JohnRN04 · Jul 19, 2005

OK. I know Nursing school is hard, but the books are ridiculous!!!
Well, today I went to the college where I will be starting nursing school in the Fall. I purchased my books and just cant believe it!! Am I really going to go over every chapter of those books in one semester? Or will I probably be using some of the same books throughout the program? I mean.... one particular book "Medical Surgical Nursing" is abot over 2000 pages in tiny print!! I mean.. this thing is bigger than the old bible my grandfather had in the middle of the living room. It seems the whole world could fit in there, and this is only one book of the over eight they determined to be required!!
I know you read plenty, but this just seems impossible.
Please someone tell me what this is all about?
Frankie

Frankie,

Nursing school like anything else is a game. Play the game..go with the flow...don't rock the boat......and no you don't have to read all 2000 pages. But definitely read, get plenty of tech experience, do research outside of nursing school. It will make the transition from student to nurse smoother. good luck.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

Most of the books you'll use the entire program. It is overwhelming to look at that huge stack of books isn't it?

Good luck to you.

KnarfKS · Jul 19, 2005

Don't agree with this statement. If you have an assigned reading from pages xxx to xxx, you might miss out on some pretty important stuff if you don't read it. Certainly not just for reference. they give you assigned readings for a purpose. A lot of those assigned readings will appear on tests and may not even be covered in class.

I didn't mean to not read anything, but there is no way your going to read a 2000 page med surg book and retain everything. It is mainly a reference. I barely read the books, but I do skim them for important information and read them if I need in depth material on a certain topic, but I don't read chapters. I figure I'm doing alright considering I have done this for 2 years in college and have yet to get worst than an 88 on a test. It mostly depends upon your learning style. I'm an auditory learner rather than a person who can read and retain.

Momto3andNurse2B · Jul 19, 2005

I know in my program the first semester is the bad one...something like 18-20 books. Many if not all are used throughout, with only an additional book or two each semester.

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

OK. I know Nursing school is hard, but the books are ridiculous!!!
I mean.... one particular book "Medical Surgical Nursing" is abot over 2000 pages in tiny print!! I mean.. this thing is bigger than the old bible my grandfather had in the middle of the living room.
Frankie

Is it Lewis Med Surg? It is an awesome book. It has care plans and nsg diagnoses in it. It is my NS bible.

BETSRN · Jul 20, 2005

OK. I know Nursing school is hard, but the books are ridiculous!!!
Well, today I went to the college where I will be starting nursing school in the Fall. I purchased my books and just cant believe it!! Am I really going to go over every chapter of those books in one semester? Or will I probably be using some of the same books throughout the program? I mean.... one particular book "Medical Surgical Nursing" is abot over 2000 pages in tiny print!! I mean.. this thing is bigger than the old bible my grandfather had in the middle of the living room. It seems the whole world could fit in there, and this is only one book of the over eight they determined to be required!!
I know you read plenty, but this just seems impossible.
Please someone tell me what this is all about?
Frankie

More than likely, your med-surg text will cary you through. Don't forget, you'll have to do a lot of referencing all throughout school.