Made Incredibly Easy series

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2010

I am starting nursing school this fall and am wondering which, if any, of these Made Incredibly Easy books would be helpful to have as a reference?
Which ones are NOT worth getting? Is getting a previous edition to save $$ worthwhile or would they be very outdated?
TIA.

I have the Med-Surg and the Pathophys. I am not terribly impressed with either but I was too lazy to take them back. I did use the Pharm one but I checked it out from my school library. I have found my old anatomy and physiology textbooks far more useful. The nursing care plan one is OK but the information itself was already in the care plan book that was assigned (Ackley).

Are you worried about not understanding the material? If so just make sure you have done ALL the reading before class time. That way you can ask questions in class (or after class) before it becomes a big issue. This helped me a lot. I was able to do this before my classes even started by getting the textbooks and syllabi early then asking the instructor what we were covering first. Then I got on with the reading assignments.

I had to work ahead because I have rather an eventful life with a lot of competing responsibilities. Otherwise I would get behind.

Try to check them all out from your school's library first (even if they are old versions) and see what you think. Maybe you will find them more useful than I did. They are not cheap.

CBsMommy · Jul 5, 2010

I personally like the Med-Surg version. It's a quick basic overview and down to the nitty gritty. It was especially helpful since I haven't taken an A&P class in 5 years. For instance, the chapter about fluids and electrolytes, although very basic, was a good overview before I started those chapters in Med-Surg. They are expensive though. I would check with your local library first before you go and buy them.

P.S. I also agree with DolceVita that if you do the assigned reading before class it will help you feel better prepared. And write down your questions as you are doing the reading so you don't forget any!

Good luck!!!

wifeofwhiskeyg · Jul 5, 2010

I too am starting NS in the fall. I was given "Nursing Care Planning made Incredibly Easy" as a congrats gift from a family member. I have found it to be WONDERFUL in introducing the Nursing Process & Care Plans. It is more of a casual read and i feel as though i have a little better grasp on the bones of the process. I have recommended it to friends. Just my 2 cents...

RN Dave DNP CNE CCRN-K · Jul 5, 2010

This type of book is an absolute and enormous waste of time and money. Use your text books, and look up things online and you will be just fine! Use the money that you would have spent on the "incredibly easy" gimmicks to give yourself a well deserved treat after studying instead. Good luck with school, you'll do great! :up:

Dave

caliotter3 · Jul 5, 2010

The only person who has told me they found these books useful was my daughter. I looked at them in the bookstore and I looked at her copies and found them to be difficult for me to follow.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2010

The only one I purchased was the fluids and electrolytes... I really like it. I prefer Reviews and Rationales by Hogan. Much more in depth.

racquetmom · Jul 5, 2010

I have the fluids and electrolytes and dosage calculations. I now have calculate with confidence which is a required math book. I am still reading through fluids/electrolytes. They are a little different read but I am finding it helpful. My friend's program required the fluid/electrolyte for the program where mine doesn't. I am trying to read through it prior to starting in the fall. I typically don't have time or the luxury of reading these "extra" books they recommend and study guides and just stick to the main books and teachers handouts/powerpoint etc. I only picked up this fluids/electrolytes to review this summer prior to starting the program. I can't imagine using it for reference at a later date. It's not really that type of book in my opinion.

in2ICU · Jul 6, 2010

I have purchased so many "helper" books during school - they all have their pros and cons. That being said, I never thought there was a problem "getting" the concepts in NS. The information you learn is actually pretty straightforward.

The real problem is volume overload... the amount of information you are expected to internalize is enormous.

My favorite solution to the overload problem = Prentice Hall (PH) review books, which contain really nice, adequately detailed outlines of the key topics. They can be purchased individually (med-surg, psych, peds) or you can buy the one BIG PH book called "Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-RN" which has all of them crammed into one spot (much cheaper than buying them individually). It has a white and rusty/maroon cover.

Instead of reading 500 pages of the text, I would read the corresponding PH outline before class to get an understanding of what we'd be covering. Then, if there were gaps in the information, I would go back to the text and fill in as necessary. It saved me a ton of time, I still learned a bunch, and made straight A's. The info in the PH book(s) will carry you through your HESIs quite well too.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2010

I have purchased so many "helper" books during school - they all have their pros and cons. That being said, I never thought there was a problem "getting" the concepts in NS. The information you learn is actually pretty straightforward.
The real problem is volume overload... the amount of information you are expected to internalize is enormous.
My favorite solution to the overload problem = Prentice Hall (PH) review books, which contain really nice, adequately detailed outlines of the key topics. They can be purchased individually (med-surg, psych, peds) or you can buy the one BIG PH book called "Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-RN" which has all of them crammed into one spot (much cheaper than buying them individually). It has a white and rusty/maroon cover.
Instead of reading 500 pages of the text, I would read the corresponding PH outline before class to get an understanding of what we'd be covering. Then, if there were gaps in the information, I would go back to the text and fill in as necessary. It saved me a ton of time, I still learned a bunch, and made straight A's. The info in the PH book(s) will carry you through your HESIs quite well too.

I like those too. Pharmacology particularly.

BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2010

Thanks for all the great info everybody!