Need a good ICU book

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2005

Mark, I've been using your site as a reference for a few months now... ever since I was hired on as an extern at my local community hospital's SICU and was offered a job at a big teaching hospital as a trauma ICU RN. I learned lots from it. I'd write down questions and come home to look up the answers. Just wanted to say thanks! I've bookmarked it.

dorimar, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2005

As far as any advice goes, I would suggest seeking out whatever learning experiences you can. Go to house codes and trauma calls etc., just to watch. Be present in the rooms of the really sick patients (even when they are not your own) when you have time. Watch your peers and learn who to emulate. Realize that a good strong nurse doesn't need to be cocky and make others look bad in order to make themselves look better. Follow the nurses who work hard and really care, because every nurse is not the same. Also, I know you come out of school with a lot of fresh knowledge, but respect the knowledge others have gained from years of experience. Critical thinking is developed over time. Many times experienced nurses know just what to do in a situation even if they can't explain the why of it at the time. Also don't expect that ICU nurses don't work hard... we do! Also... ask, ask, ask (and know who to ask). Join committees like patient care council that keep up on latest data and research. if your hospital offers free inservices and seminars.. go. I guess that's it for now.

FloridaCCRN, CRNA · Oct 18, 2005

Great advice dorimar!

bjlee · Dec 9, 2005

"The ICU Book" by Paul Marino is the book to have. It was recommended to me by one of our surgical residents, seems every nurse, resident, and intern around here has a copy or wants one.

zoinks22 · Jan 19, 2006

The ICU Book by Paul Marino.....Excellent book. When I graduated I went to work on a MICU and this book is simply the best.....Also have to give the due to M. Hammerschmidt and his website.....Excellent info there as well. Good luck and good learning....

AtlantaRN, RN · Jan 22, 2006

check out http://www.campusi.com, excellent resource for books, used but good resource!

linda

augsburg · Feb 15, 2006

Dear Mark,

I am a big fan of your articles. I have been a nurse for 5 years and an ICU since may and I stumbled across your website last spring. You have made so many things way more understandable than any text book I could get my hands on. I really appreciate the time you put into these factoids and I have spread the word to all the new and old ICU nurses about your website. Thanks so much!!!

necrogato · May 22, 2006

You might want to check out the hemodynamics booklet at rnbooklets.bravehost.com It's only nine bucks.

erinsparinRN · Sep 17, 2006

MarkHammerschmidt said:
May I humbly recommend my series of free articles at www.icufaqs.org ?

Great resource. All those questions I just don't get a chance to ask in the specific situations--or have never thought to ask.

I will be sharing this site with my coworkers.

:nurse:

oneillk1 · Sep 27, 2006

MarkHammerschmidt said:
May I humbly recommend my series of free articles at http://www.icufaqs.org ?

May I totally back up this humble recommendation - I am starting in ICU in a month and it is (hopefully) bringing me up to speed quickly. But also fun to read!

lisa3828 · Sep 27, 2006

originally posted by markhammerschmidt

may i humbly recommend my series of free articles at www.icufaqs.org ?

this is a fantastic resource. as a newbie icu nurse, i have found mark's references to be down to earth in an easy to read manner that helps me to understand the material. thanks so much mark!!

sscathlab · Oct 20, 2006

When I started in ICU 10 years ago, a friend of mine was interning at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and they used the following book for most of the classes: CRITICAL CARE SKILLS A CLINICAL HANDBOOK BY BARBARA C MIMS. It is stil what I use as a reference. They have a new edition out but it gives PEARLS about what to chart and what to look for.