Critical Care books

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

Can anyone recommend any books to get me started in critical care? It's where I think I want to work after graduation and I just got a job working in an ICU. I want to familiarize myself with the ICU before I actually start working and also have textbooks to reference after I start the job. I ordered Kathy White's Learning System for Critical Care but was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations? We have only studied geriatric nursing so far in school...Spring is med-surg, ob, and peds so you can see I have no experience with this area at all. Thanks in advance!!! :D

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I have been reading the CVICU's copy of Thelan's Critical Care Nursing at work when I haven't been busy. Seems to have similar content to the 3-ton Brunner and Suddarth's Medical-Surgical Nursing. Hope this helps.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0323014615/102-5614354-0640160?v=glance

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Specializes in MedSurg, LTC.

The website http://www.icufaqs.org/ is informative and witty and I wish I could remember all of it. I've also got Critical Care Nursing (Swearingen/Keen) published by Mosby in the home (my home, not the home ) library. It is just so darned interesting and sometimes makes me a real pain at work :cool: . I work LTC FT 3-11 and go to ADRN school like way PT so they're of limited use for me

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

http://www.healthbookclubs.com/doc/homepage.jhtml

Try going here- The Nurses Book Society. Someone recommended them on this site several months ago, and I have purchased about 10 books from them so far! They have loads of books you might be interested in, and I think you get 3 free ones (your pick) when you join.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I recommend Thelan's Critical Care Nursing text! IT's pricey at $75 but well worth it!

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

If you want the nuts and bolts....and one of the texts that is usually used to help develope critical care policies and also contains much of the theory for the CCRN exam get Core Curriculum for Critical care Nurses published by Saunders....very dry but has good stuff. Also any book by Laura Gasparis would be helpful, she does nationide seminars for prepping for the CCRN exam and she makes it fun and has great tricks for remembering things. Spring house also has a little book called Critical care and Emergency Nursing. Used to come with a disk to use on your computer.

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I think Thelan is a good choice. So is the CCRN review by Gasparis. My personal favorite is "The ICU Book"by Marino. Marino's book is pretty technical and may be a little heavy for a newbie, but an excellent resource book. A lot of our residents use it as well as the nurses.

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