If you can only buy 3 books...

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Dec 2, 2005

Here are my three suggestions..... I have all three, and couldn't function as a new nurse without them.

1: Care of the Sick Neonate - [can't remember author] great book that boils down most conditions and procedures related to NICU into a smallish spiral bound book. It's great to keep next to your charts.

2: NeoFax - Its a NICU-specific drug book. It covers almost all meds you will ever give in NICU, and their interactions with other meds. It also includes baby-sized dose ranges.

3: Core Curriculum for Neonatal intensive care nursing - Great PB text that deals with almost all neonatal conditions in depth. Also gives procedures, labs and some radiographic interpretation material.

I pretty much keep #1 and #2 with a calculator at my desk all night, and use them all the time. #3 I keep in my locker when I need to look something up. Hope this helps! Try Amazon or B&N

SteveRN21

Tiny1Nisolet · Dec 2, 2005

Thanks so much Steve! I reread the posts from earlier, but some of them are very old. I want to make sure If I am spending the $$$ I do it wisely. :rolleyes: Thanks for your input.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 2, 2005

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0323014712/qid=1133558835/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8616194-0951147?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

This would be my #1 pick, along w/Neofax. I'd also subscribe to Neonatal Network.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2005

I agree all the books mentioned above - they cover the basics of caring for neonates and the very specific medications they recieve.

Once you start working in a NICU, though, I have another book that I recommend. It's not exactly fiction, not exactly biography - kind of a combination. It's kind of strange, and it's British so the terminology is much different than what we are used to here. But it is FABULOUS.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312253338/qid=1133605990/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7357341-2899234?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

A woman wrote this book after the birth of her son at 23 weeks gestation. It is written from the baby's point of view, and it remains the most unique book I have ever read. While it is of course the mother's imagination behind the words, it really makes you think a little bit differently about NICU nursing. It opens your mind to what that baby might be thinking and feeling. It's a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it to NICU nurses.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 3, 2005

This is another one in the same vein as Gompers. It has a very religious (Christian) tone, so if that's not your thing, don't get it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561706175/qid=1133640740/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-8616194-0951147?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Oh, and if you do decide to get it, stock up on Kleenex!

Tiny1Nisolet · Dec 3, 2005

Well, soon finals will be over so... I had the library order Gompers book for me today. It should be in around the time I am finished up with the semester. Thanks prmenrs for your recommendations. I think I will be getting those too. I knew Merenstien was on my list. I added Neofax and I am still deciding on the third.

Tiny1Nisolet · Dec 3, 2005

One more question, have any NICU nurses out there written any good books. I like Echo Heron's style and was wondering if there were any out there written about the NICU?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2005

One more question, have any NICU nurses out there written any good books. I like Echo Heron's style and was wondering if there were any out there written about the NICU?

Well, not written by a nurse, but a good book for you might be "Baby ER" by Edward Humes. I believe he had a child in the NICU for a short time, and it inspired him to write about what happens in the NICU. He recognized how unique this type of unit is - how everything happens right there at the bedside, and how it's like trauma nursing sometimes. And that is one of the neatest things about NICU - it can go from being totally quiet to absolute chaos in the matter of minutes. All it takes is one sick new admission or one baby going down the tubes and suddenly the unit is alive with all kinds of procedures and emotions. Cool read.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/068486410X/qid=1133684220/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7357341-2899234?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Another book written by a parent that talks quite a bit about NICU nurses and doctors is "Born Too Soon" by Elizabeth Mehren. This book is actually what inspired me to be a NICU nurse when I was in high school.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1575663155/qid=1133684669/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-7357341-2899234?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I can't think of any books written by nurses except for parent guides and things along those lines.

Kalico · Dec 4, 2005

I would have to second Gomper's mention of Baby ER. The book is amazing and I read it several times.