books required for 1st semester of nursing school?

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I am applying for entrance to nursing school for this fall semester. I know I will have to buy lots of books, but was wondering exactly what kind of books are required for the first semester. I already have an english dictionary, chemistry dictionary, Taber's medical dictionary, chemical periodical table, word-to-go program, and multiple medical calculator including bmi, dose calculator, iv drip rate, units conversion, etc. for my Palm. I was thinking I could get some more of the required books for my Palm also so I could not have to carry so much stuff but have as much information with me as possible to study during those in-between times of waiting in line, etc. I also plan to get a good voice recorder to record lectures and then transfer them to cd as my commute will be an hour each day and I would like to take advantage of that time too. Don't worry, I won't be studying every available minute, but want to make sure that I have some time with the family when we are all at home. Thanks in advance for sharing what you all had to get during your first semesters.

I hope you have a Happy and safe New Year's eve and year to come.

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Kats,

You've got a good start with some basics and great ideas for keeping on top of things ... best of luck to you! The following are the books sitting on my bookshelf next to me right now ... all required for the first semester:

Tabers Medical Encyclopedia

Fundamentals of Nursing & Study Guide - Taylor

Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests

Pathophysiology - Price & Wilson

Pediatric Nursing & Study Guide - Wong

Handbook of Clinical Procedures - Temple & Johnson

Self Care Deficit Theory of NUrsing - Dennis

Nursing Process and Critical Thinking - Wilkinson

Test Success - Nugent and Vitale

Nursing Diagnosis - Carpenito

Pharmacology & Study Guide - Kee

Nursing Care Plans - Carpenito

Medical Surgical Nursing & Study Guide - Lemone

Nurses Drug Guide 2004 - Wilson

I also have a Davis Drug Guide, other nursing care plan books and additional patho books ... and others, of course!

But I think that's all ... I have them so spread around that I'm not quite sure! Books for first semester cost about $1000 ... and I just bought the books for second semester and it was another couple of hundred dollars.

Everyone's school requires something different but I hope this helped a little!

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Specializes in orthopaedics, perioperative.

I have a laptop with MS Office on it. I read the assigned readings for all of my classes on Sunday night. Then I type my notes when I am in class. I don't study until about a week or so before midterms/finals. I also watch "Residents" on the Learning Channel. Doing this and having tons of time to do things in my life that are not nursing-related is what enabled me to get all A+ with less effort than most people in my class. I tried taping lectures before but found it did not work for me very well (although I know some people swear by that mehtod). I also don't carry my textbooks to class. Occasionally I will bring the big bible (Fundamentals of Nursing) to lab with me, but that is the only time because it is sooooo heavy!

So I would seriously reccommend a laptop, a good stethoscope, and the Fundamentals of Nursing by Potter and Perry for first semester. I am still looking for the perfect dictionary/thesaurus CD-ROM... til then my life is almost perfect.

^_^

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I actually do have a laptop. That is what I am using right now. I just wasn't sure if I was going to be using it in school. I also do have a stethoscope too. I forgot to include that my Dad bought me a Littman Cardiology III after my first semester of nursing pre-reqs. It was a very stressful semester for many reasons including my husband being at sea.

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Specializes in orthopaedics, perioperative.

I love the Littmann Cardiology III! :D Seems like you are all set. ;)

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The following books are required for our first semester.

Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary $38.95

Practical Guide to Health Assessment thru the Life Span $35.95

Mosby's Pocket Guide to Cultural Health Assessment $24.95

Mosby's Drug Guide $36.95

Physical Examination and Health Assessment Software $39.95

Calculation of Drug Doses $39.95

Pharmacology, A Nursing Process Approach $59.95

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook $36.95

Diagnostics, An A to Z Guide to Lab Tests & Diagnostic Procedures $45.95

Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice $64.95

Medical Surgical Nursing, Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems $95.95

Fundamentals of Nursing, Caring and Clinical Judgment $74.98

Nutrition Essentials for Nursing Practice $44.95

I also purchased several Made Incredibly Easy books, RNotes, You Are Smarter Than You Think, How to Survive and Even Love Nursing School and Test Success for Beginning Nursing Students.

The only other textbooks I should need for the rest of the program are Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn and Mental Health Nursing. Be sure to look for your books online, it is much cheaper than buying at the school bookstore.

Good luck!

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I also have subscribed to the "Nursing Made Incredibly Easy" magazine and my Mom got me "How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School" by Kelli S. Dunham. I am reading it right now.

I was also wondering, do schools require the exact title and author or is it ok to get any medical dictionary, drug guide, etc?

Also, thanks for your replies.

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We could pick our own dictionary, drug guide and lab/diagnostic tests book. Everything else had to be the exact title, author and edition.

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Specializes in ER then CVICU now.
Originally posted by kats

I was also wondering, do schools require the exact title and author or is it ok to get any medical dictionary, drug guide, etc?

Also, thanks for your replies.

My opinion would be for you to wait until you actually get into the nursing program before you start buying all these books because new editions are constantly being put out. In my case we weren't allowed to get "any" medical dictionary, drug guides and etc, we had to get specific ones.

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Specializes in Home Health, Primary Care.

Ditto Raynefall!!!

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

My mentor and others strongly suggested "Fluids and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy" as must-have.

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I appreciate you all answering my post. I will, however, also wait to make sure that I don't have to buy extra books due to newer editions or not being the exact title. I did find a program for my Palm called RN Fast Facts by Taber's though that I will probably buy as it looks like a very good and thorough program. Are there any other books that aren't required that you would recommend that aren't required that you read to prepare for nursing school? Thanks in advance for suggestions.

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