40 Nursing Textbooks Every Nurse Should Read.: The best Nursing Textbooks that every nurse should read consist of inspirational books for nurses, books for novice nurses, books for seasoned nurses, and popular books.
Check out: 14 Free Nursing Schools Without Tuition Fee in 2022
In the field of nursing, as in most other professions, it is crucial to remain up-to-date with industry information. From critical care to professional development, frequent reading is essential. However, there is so much information available that selecting the finest books to read or use as references can be quite challenging.
List of the Nursing Textbooks Every Nurse Should Read
The following is a list of the Nursing Textbooks Every Nurse Should Read:
1. NURSING CARE PLANS: DIAGNOSES, INTERVENTIONS, AND OUTCOMES, 7TH EDITION
The work of Meg Gulanick and Judith L. Meyers
This Nursing Textbooks provides nurses with more than two hundred care plans designed to treat the most common ailments they encounter. It is sufficiently technical for nurses to be able to provide adequate care, but it is also easy to follow and has a format that is unlike most care plan books. It also includes an online companion. The seventh edition includes care plans for eleven new conditions, including Fibromyalgia, Solid Organ Transplant, and Cystic Fibrosis.
2. COOKED: A MEMOIR OF URBAN NURSING
authored by Carol Karels
This Nursing Textbooks memoir tells the story of a young nurse who worked in a hospital on the west side of Chicago at a time when drug use was widespread. She describes her experience with stress and triumph and provides a very interesting, relatable perspective on nursing.
3. 2009 LIPPINCOTT’S NURSING DRUG GUIDE
By Emily M. Karch
This Nursing Textbooks provides nurses with a wealth of information that is still pertinent regarding the various drugs commonly used by nurses.
Also read: 2-year Nursing Programs in NC
4. ROSS AND WILSON ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN HEALTH AND ILLNESS
authored by Anne Waugh
This is a fascinating and comprehensive Nursing Textbooks that describes the anatomy and physiology of the human body in the traditional sense, as well as what the body undergoes and does when certain diseases develop. This Nursing Textbooks can offer nurses with a clear grasp of what, so to speak, “breaks,” making the process of mending it simpler and more straightforward.
5. THE EVERYTHING NEW NURSE BOOK
By Kathleen Quan
This is a wonderful resource for new nurses, as it describes the common circumstances they may face and how to address them.
6. COMPLICATIONS: A SURGEON’S NOTES ON AN IMPERFECT SCIENCE
authored by Atul Gawande
The author describes his actual experiences as a surgeon and comments on the field’s capabilities and limitations, providing a fairly balanced perspective on the profession.
7. THE COMFORT GARDEN, TRAUMA UNIT STORIES
by Laurie Barkin
This profoundly moving and instructive Nursing Textbooks uses true stories from a nurse who worked for five years as a mental nurse in a surgical and trauma unit to illustrate the necessity for psychiatric treatment for caregivers routinely exposed to terrible occurrences.
8. SAVING LIVES: WHY THE MEDIA’S PORTRAYAL OF NURSES PUTS US ALL AT RISK
By Sandy Summers
This is a timely and much-needed assessment of how the false portrayal of nurses in television shows, films, and the media in general may have a profound effect on how patients perceive nurses. She describes how nurses are typically portrayed as pill-givers and supply-gatherers rather than true medical professionals with a wealth of expertise, and how this image, however unintended, can hinder patients’ trust in their nurses. The Nursing Textbooks also provides recommendations for enhancing this image.
9. NURSING DIAGNOSIS HANDBOOK: A GUIDE TO PLANNING CARE
By Betty J. Ackley and Gail B. Ladwig
This is yet another excellent care planning Nursing Textbooks that every nurse should purchase and keep on hand for planning the treatments they will provide to their patients. This Nursing Textbooks guides the nurse through the process of developing and implementing care plans for a wide range of illnesses and situations in which careful preparation is vital. Instead than merely providing pre-written care plans, it guides nurses through the process of writing their own care plans, empowering them to do so for practically any circumstance.
Also read: Top 10 Cheapest Nursing Schools in USA in 2022
10. INTENSIVE CARE: A NURSE’S STORY
by Heron Echo
This Nursing Textbooks was initially published in the 1980s, yet its relevance to nurses today is astounding. Through her depiction of her experiences as a nurse and her comments on the work she did, she continues to assist nurses, especially those working in emergency departments and other critical care settings.
11. ESSENTIALS OF CARDIAC SURGERY FOR CRITICAL CARE NURSING
authored by Sonya R. Hardin
This Nursing Textbooks is an important necessity for nurses working in cardiac intensive care. It is an essential resource for nurses caring for patients who have recently undergone heart surgery, as it details the initial days and weeks after the procedure.
12. THINK TWICE! ADDITIONAL LESSONS FROM THE ED
authored by Brady Pregerson
These anecdotes, which are written in a conversational tone and offer nurses insight into the ER and critical care, are easy to read and occasionally hilarious.
13. WHEN NURSES HURT NURSES: RECOGNIZING AND OVERCOMING THE CYCLE OF BULLYING
By Cheryl Dellasega’s work
This Nursing Textbooks provides a much-needed exploration of the problems that can occur between nurses when long hours of close quarters work begin to wear them down. Bullying among nurses can be an issue, but nurses who know how to identify bullying before it escalates and how to handle confrontational circumstances are able to diffuse such situations.
14. THE NURSE’S COMMUNICATION ADVANTAGE
by Kathleen Pagana
Nurses work long hours with a diverse population. From patients with varying personalities to doctors and other professionals, nurses must communicate with a wide range of individuals and in a variety of settings. This concise and useful Nursing Textbooks is intended to help nurses communicate effectively in these situations and with these individuals, thereby making their jobs easier and ensuring that everyone is fully informed, thereby maximizing the efficiency of everyone’s job.
15. RNOTES: A CLINICAL POCKET GUIDE FOR NURSES
by Ernst Myers
This great Nursing Textbooks is, as its name suggests, pocket-sized and contains valuable information on the most basic and common pieces of information you will need throughout your day, such as coagulation formulas and conversions. It is an absolute necessity for all nurses.
16. HEALTH ASSESSMENT & PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
authored by Mary Ellen Zator Estes
This comprehensive, color-illustrated reference provides nursing students with a realistic understanding of the fundamental health assessments that nurses must conduct. It incorporates clinical examination procedures, patient instruction standards, and developmental evaluation, and it focuses on the patient as a physical and psychosocial whole for the optimal approach.
17. TABER’S CYCLOPEDIA OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Donald Venes, Clayton L. Thomas, and Clarence Wilbur Taber edited the volume.
This encyclopedic dictionary is a valuable resource for any nurse and is especially beneficial for nursing students. It also includes full-color drawings, tables, charts, and other references useful to nurses and nursing students, and it comes in a thumb-indexed version, making it exceedingly simple to access the information you need.
18. HOW DOCTORS THINK
authored by Jerome Groopman
Although unrelated to nurses, this Nursing Textbooks provides an in-depth look at life from a physician’s perspective. Since nurses work closely with doctors, this knowledge is vital and can help nurses better understand their coworkers and be of greater support.
19. YOUR FIRST YEAR OF PRACTICE AS A NURSE
by Donna Cardillo
Nursing is a highly rewarding job, but it can also be physically demanding. This book is a wonderful first-year survival handbook for nurses written by a nurse. This Nursing Textbooks has become a closest friend to many first-year nurses, leading them not just through the how-tos of the first year but also providing inspiration for the difficult days.
20. BEDLAM AMONG THE BEDPANS: SENSE OF HUMOR IN NURSING
Emily Y. Young
This Nursing Textbooks will make you laugh and help you recognize the humor in the human condition if you’re a nurse having a bad day.
21. WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?
authored by Spencer Johnson
This Nursing Textbooks, written by a physician and containing a good amount of comedy, is really interesting and explores the four fundamental personality types in terms of how people respond to change. Every day, nurses must deal with change, and this book can be a fantastic resource for equipping you not only to deal with change but also to understand your personality type and how to cohabit with others.
22. THE LAST LECTURE
authored by Randy Pausch
If you’ve ever felt the burden of hurdles on your path to reaching a goal, this book will encourage you to leap over them in an instant. Written by a man diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the book is comprised of fragments from his final lecture at the college where he taught. The talk was about accomplishing your goals, and the author clearly exemplified this tenacity in his latter years.
23. JOURNAL OF NURSING ADMINISTRATION
by Lisa Burkhart
This prestigious publication is the premier source for academic writing in the profession of nursing, giving current information and original research.
24. MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING: CRITICAL THINKING IN CLIENT CARE, SINGLE VOLUME
by Priscilla (LeMone) Koeplin
This Nursing Textbooks explains the significance of decision-making in the field of nursing and how to employ critical thinking skills to arrive at the best possible answers and conclusions via the use of numerous case studies and helpful information.
25. CONTEMPORARY NURSING: ISSUES, TRENDS, AND MANAGEMENT
by Catherine Cherry
This Nursing Textbooks takes a relevant and up-to-date look at the difficulties and trends facing nurses today and suggests solutions to handle them in the ever-changing world of nursing.
26. NURSING ETHICS IN EVERYDAY PRACTICE
authored by Connie M. Ulrich
Although the physical and medical aspects of a nurse’s profession are the most well-known, the ethical component of nursing is also of the utmost importance. Designed primarily for nurses who work in surgical, outpatient, and hospital settings, this ethical guide to nursing is required reading for all nurses.
27. A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CRITICAL THINKING, CLINICAL REASONING, AND CLINICAL JUDGMENT IN NURSING
the work of Rosalinda Alfaro-Lefevre
This is yet another fantastic resource on the significance of critical thinking and reasoning in the nursing profession, and every nurse should consult it. It not only emphasizes the significance of critical reasoning and thought, but also provides practical advice for its application, enabling nurses to make the best possible decisions in a range of situations.
28. TOO BUSY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD: COMPLETE MORE IN LESS TIME AND WITH MORE ENERGY
Connie Merritt’s work
The author speaks from personal experience of letting life take precedence. She was on top of the world, doing everything for everyone, until she had a panic attack and was hospitalized. In this book, she imparts the knowledge she gained on prioritizing tasks to make life less hectic. This book provides crucial guidance for nurses who work long hours and deal with a multitude of challenges.
29. HOW TO SURVIVE AND POSSIBLY EVEN LOVE YOUR NURSING CAREER
By Kelli S. Dunham and Staci J. Smith
Kelli is an RN and BSN, and Staci is an RN-C. Together, they present a humorous yet instructional guide on how to manage stress, finances, difficult patients and people, and other areas of nursing life so that you can love your life and your work.
30. HOW NOT TO DIE: SURPRISING LESSONS ON LIVING LONGER, SAFER, AND HEALTHIER
authored by Jan Garavaglia
Jan Garavaglia, often known as “Dr. G” on television, provides helpful advice on how to live a longer, better life and avoid premature death. Although this book is intended for the general audience, nurses can still learn a great deal from it, obtain information to pass on to patients, and appreciate it as a fellow medical professional.
31. LEADERSHIP AND THE SEXES: APPLYING GENDER SCIENCE TO BUSINESS SUCCESS
authored by Michael Gurian
Michael Gurian offers readers a unique perspective on how gender science can open doors of opportunity for both sexes by harnessing the scientific knowledge on male and female brain variations and developing practical consequences of that knowledge for all aspects of business life. This knowledge can also be immediately applied in a medical setting, making this a great recommendation for nurses.
32. A PARAMEDIC’S DIARY: LIFE AND DEATH ON THE STREETS
authored by Stuart Gray
This account of the lessons acquired by a paramedic is particularly beneficial for nurses who work in emergency care, but is also of great service to other medical professionals. It provides a great insight into what patients and paramedics experience and is very useful for nurses who not only work in emergency settings but also treat trauma patients at a later date, as the paramedic is often better able to recall and describe the initial effects of the trauma than the patient. This first-person report is an invaluable resource for nurses.
33. CONFESSIONS OF A TRAUMA JUNKIE
authored by Sherry Jones
Sherry has worked in nearly every emergency and critical care circumstance as a nurse. From the emergency department to Hurricane Katrina, she has saved countless lives with her nursing expertise. In this Nursing Textbooks, the author examines traumatic scenarios and critical care from both the patient’s and the nurse’s perspectives, and provides an honest glimpse into the life of a critical care nurse. This is a great read even for nurses who do not specialize in critical care.
34. SOMETHING FOR THE PAIN: COMPASSION AND BURNOUT IN THE ER
authored by Paul Austin
While the author’s experience in the nursing field may have left him somewhat cynical, this book nonetheless offers a unique and interesting viewpoint on the life of a critical care nurse and is a worthwhile read for nurses of all specialties.
35. THE NURSING DIRECTOR’S GUIDE TO BUDGETING AND FINANCE
BY AL RUNDIO
While the primary purpose of this book is to provide nursing managers with essential information on the budgeting and financial management skills required to run a nursing unit, it is a worthwhile read for all nurses, especially those who hope to attain a management position at some point in their careers.
36. AN ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NURSES
By Richard Fraser
This Nursing Textbooks provides insight into the ways in which nurses can utilize social media to their advantage. Since social media has entered practically every industry, including nursing, it is not only an interesting read but also an informative guide on how to utilize this technology tool for a number of objectives during your nursing career.
37. ASSISTING CHILDREN TO OVERCOME FEAR IN A MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT
by Rob Luka
This is a fantastic Nursing Textbooks for nurses, particularly those who specialize in pediatric care. Children are frequently frightened by medical facilities, frightening procedures, and large technological equipment, and even simple operations can be a traumatic experience for them. Learning how to calm a child and assist them in overcoming their anxiety not only speeds up the process for everyone involved, but also offers children with the comfort they require and teaches them how to better handle terrifying circumstances. This book is an excellent read for all nurses.
38. A Daily Journal for Critical Care Nurses
by Ellen Gallen Bademan
This critical Nursing Textbooks, written by an RN and BSN, is unusual in that it not only provides instruction for the critical care nurse, but also daily inspiration and journal space, which is extremely valuable to nurses.
39. NURSE PRACTITIONER’S BUSINESS PRACTICE AND LEGAL GUIDE
by Carolyn Buppert
Although this Nursing Textbooks was intended primarily for nurse practitioners, understanding the financial and legal aspects of nursing is beneficial for nurses in general. While nurse practitioners will experience the most applicable benefits from reading the book, nurses will also receive useful knowledge.
40. DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM IN NURSING EDUCATION
Carroll Iwasaw’s
This book is written specifically for nursing educators who are tasked with building an engaging, informative, contemporary, and relevant nursing curriculum. While it is beneficial for all nurses to read in some form, those in educational positions will find it particularly useful, as it provides excellent advice for developing the best curriculum.
FAQs On Nursing Textbooks
What books should I read to prepare for nursing school?
How to Succeed in Nursing School. ...
The Ultimate Guide to Getting into Nursing School. ...
Barron's Nursing School Entrance Exams. ...
How to Survive & Maybe Even Love Nursing School. ...
The Everything New Nurse Book.
Which course is best in nursing?
Undoubtedly, if a person wants to make a magnificent career in the sphere of the healthcare industry, then B.sc Nursing course is better than General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM). In the matter of career growth, higher studies, and salary the value of B.sc Nursing is more than General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course.
Is BSc Nursing very hard?
There's a lot to learn, the exams are challenging, the schedules are complicated, and the assignments keep piling up. All of these factors can make life difficult for you as a student. Nursing is a highly competitive field from the moment you begin the application process until you receive your degree.
Is there a lot of math in nursing?
Nursing in the "real world" generally requires very basic math skills, but almost all programs require at least one college-level math class — usually algebra. Some nursing schools may require a basic statistics course as well, so if you know what schools you're applying to, be sure to check for this requirement.
English 
العربية 
Deutsch 
हिन्दी 
简体中文 