Excellent books just discovered!

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I have just discovered AMAZING books to help you study, maybe the best I have ever seen in fact. They are called the Memory Notebook of Nursing and I bought the three that I saw at Barnes and Noble (I don't know if there are more in the series). The books are hard to explain, they kind if incorporate mostly visual aids with pertinent information, but they are great. I highly recommend going to a book store and looking for them, or online somewhere. They run about 25.00 a piece. Good luck searching if you're interested!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

These books are awesome. I used them during school..in fact...a couple of my professors borrowed them and copied them and incorporated them into their lecture notes....

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There are a lot of good books out there, and many of them cater to your specific needs. I read a lot of posts here by people asking "which book is the best?" or questions along similar lines. The simplest answer is whatever works for you!

Probably the best advice is to go to a book store, pull several books off the shelf, take a seat and start looking through them. I had many people recommend books like saunders or mosby's, but when I looked at those books I felt like I was reading a dictionary. Great reference book, but totally unstimulating, and I'd probably study less because of it. In order for your studies to be successful they have to be stimulating.

Speaking of excellent books, I just picked up "NCLEX-PN Made Incredibly Easy" - The title threw me off because I thought it wasn't going to be detailed enough, but it's very thorough and the layout doesn't bore me to death.

I'd also like to add that I returned my Exam Cram NCLEX book. I'd definitely discourage people from it. There's numerous spelling errors, but worse than that is I found a lot of misinformation in it. The book completely confused Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors, for example. And later suggests that the thyroid produces thyroid stimulating hormone. Just a few examples of the errors that I can't afford to be unclear on. Also, the rationale for the answers in the Q&A section sucks.

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Specializes in LTC.

I think I am going to go look at those books today. I hope I can find them.

What is it about them that you liked so well?

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NCLEX-PN Made Incredibly Easy.

It goes through each of the systems, and begins each one with a little A&P reminder. Then there's a 'cheat sheet' which is basically a list of the disorders with key S&S, interventions, treatments etc. Then there's a section on the diagnostic tests involved in this system, and includes any nursing actions you'll need to know (ie diet requirents prior/after the test). This is followed by a more detailed examination of the disorders - each one has the pathology, etiology, s&s, interventions, drug therapy, treatments (with rationale for the interventions which I really liked.) Also, all of the key elements in this detailed account is highlighted in purple (and is also what is found on the 'cheat sheet'). Then there's the obligatory question and answer section - excellent questions with very clear rationale for the answers, even the distractors.

Scattered through the book are images along the sides with helpful reminder tips, acronyms for things etc. Also, there's a bunch of 'stepping up' reminders through the book, explaining how to perform certain procedures (eg, NG suctioning).

What appealed to me most is that it didn't read like a dictionary, or like a reference book. It's very much a learning tool, rather than a 'look up' book, which I found many of the other leading books to be. I aslo really liked that the book can be very detailed, or concise - so if you're strong on a certain system you can use the quick cheat sheet for a referesher, and if you're weak you can go into muhc more detail quickly and easily.

Thumbs up imo.

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I have just discovered AMAZING books to help you study, maybe the best I have ever seen in fact. They are called the Memory Notebook of Nursing and I bought the three that I saw at Barnes and Noble (I don't know if there are more in the series). The books are hard to explain, they kind if incorporate mostly visual aids with pertinent information, but they are great. I highly recommend going to a book store and looking for them, or online somewhere. They run about 25.00 a piece. Good luck searching if you're interested!

I agree, they're wonderful! My instructors photocopied pages from these books and used them as handouts during lectures; they ALWAYS made whatever was being discussed clearer, and easier to remember.

The cartoon-like drawings, with notes scattered around the edges, ALWAYS gave me memory tricks to use. I can STILL SEE the Addison's and Cushing's ones, lol...and yes, I STILL remember tips about each one, from those drawings only. :)

I never shelled out the money for the individual books, mostly I think because I had a fair number of the pages already, but I'd highly recommend that anyone who is able to use visual memory tricks GET these. Thanks for reminding me, and suggesting to others :)

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I have just discovered AMAZING books to help you study, maybe the best I have ever seen in fact. They are called the Memory Notebook of Nursing and I bought the three that I saw at Barnes and Noble (I don't know if there are more in the series). The books are hard to explain, they kind if incorporate mostly visual aids with pertinent information, but they are great. I highly recommend going to a book store and looking for them, or online somewhere. They run about 25.00 a piece. Good luck searching if you're interested!

you know peeps as i was reading your comments on that " memory notebook of nursing sounds good..hhmmm i want to try it..but hey, is there a series of this book? ofcourse i want to grab the complete package..inform me please...

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I am preparing to resit my NCLEX exam and I was just wondering if anyone has used NCLEX flashcards to aid them in their preparations....If so, would they recommend purchase or should I continue with practise questions.

Would appreciate any advise now that I am desperate to pass on my second attempt.

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Specializes in ICU.

For me Saunders is very effective.I find it so easy to understand and it's not that very complicated. I find also Mosby,incredibly easy,since they have acronyms for you to remember easy. The Kaplan,is really hard but it test your analysis. For me,no matter what your references are,always remember,book is nothing without perseverance. Goodluck to everybody. You will make it....

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more info

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Specializes in icu-general type.

i'm starting with suzanne's plan...with saunders of course.. :lol2:

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I have just discovered AMAZING books to help you study, maybe the best I have ever seen in fact. They are called the Memory Notebook of Nursing and I bought the three that I saw at Barnes and Noble (I don't know if there are more in the series). The books are hard to explain, they kind if incorporate mostly visual aids with pertinent information, but they are great. I highly recommend going to a book store and looking for them, or online somewhere. They run about 25.00 a piece. Good luck searching if you're interested!

Great post Andrea.

Tall - and veryHelpful!!

:)

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