what book did you find invaluable for first semester nursing program?

francine79 · Mar 24, 2004

I'm sure alot of people will tell you this. Don't read ANYTHING!!! Enjoy the time you have now to do whatever it is that you want, because once you hit your nursing classes all you will be doing is reading.

raynefall · Mar 24, 2004

If you want to get a head start I would recommend buying the nurse made incredibly easy-dosage calculations book and start reading and practicing. I have seen too many students stay back because of the math and practicing is all it takes to get it.

I would also recommend that you go to the movies, rent movies and enjoy yourself now because you won't be doing any of the above for awhile when you start nursing school. Good Luck!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 24, 2004

Read Echo Heron's nonfiction books. You'll learn a lot and they are entertaining

HyperRNRachel · Mar 24, 2004

I agree with the post about drug calculations. Get a book and learn the different types of problems, metric system, and reading drug labels. If you have more time....learn medical terms. Get whatever study guide that comes with your books, they are worth there weight in gold.

Brickman · Mar 24, 2004

The Bartender's Bible (1001 mixed drinks) :)

twarlik · Mar 24, 2004

I'm sure alot of people will tell you this. Don't read ANYTHING!!! Enjoy the time you have now to do whatever it is that you want, because once you hit your nursing classes all you will be doing is reading.

Ditto!

Enjoy your summer and all the time off before nursing school!

irishrose53 · Mar 27, 2004

I'm with Brickman

jemommyRN · Mar 28, 2004

That's easy for you guys to say but you know that us newbies are too excited to not want to get on top of things so you might as well just tell us a book so that we can be satisfied. Please.

Brickman · Mar 28, 2004

OK, I'll give a serious answer. I didn't use any books except my drug guide during first semester. I learn best through lecture. Some students found that the best book for surviving Nursing school was one on how to take nursing school test. The name of the book was: Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students.

Hope this is what your looking for.

jemommyRN · Mar 29, 2004

Thank you. My school recommends that we read a book called "Fundamentals Success". It's a test-taking book also. It's written by the same people who wrote Test Success. I wonder what is the difference?

belladelicious · Mar 29, 2004

I wanted to read everything in advance before I started too. I ended up not reading anything, and it's all worked out for the best.

Except for the dosage and calc book, and the test success book for fundamentals....I wouldn't get into the actual nursing books, they're too thick, and you never know where to begin...way too much info.

If you're dying to though...you could read about the history of nursing. I think most Fundamentals courses have a little section where they want you to know the history of nursing.

Or, look at those "Made Incredibly Easy" books - possibly the Physical Assessment made easy one, or the nursing procedures made easy...just read things you'll do the first semester, like iv's, meds, cath,etc...

You could go ahead and learn all those common medical abbreviations. Maybe they're on the internet, or you could look in the back of a book and make flashcards for them.

Make sure you know how to take blood pressure, pulse, respirations. And really make sure you are able to do the dosage calculations with at least 90% accuracy!