5 Important Reads for Nursing Students
- House of God
- Why Hospitals Should Fly: The Ultimate Flight Plan to Patient Safety
- The Everything New Nurse Book
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters
- The Total Money Makeover
It’s impossible to choose just five great books for nursing students. That’s why this list cover the most important topics, like how to get along with doctors and how to survive your first day on the job. Readers will get an overview of everything they need to be great nurses and an idea of which topics need further exploration.
1. House of God
This is a book about a physician’s first year of medical training. What’s it doing on a list of five important books for nursing students? It’s simple. Nurses carry first-year residents through the struggle of applying med-school theory to the real world. This book will give you more empathy for the baby doctors you encounter every year.
2. Why Hospitals Should Fly: The Ultimate Flight Plan to Patient Safety
In this book, aviation expert John J. Nance details his theories for why hospitals should incorporate safety lessons from the aviation industry. This is a must-read if you’re interested in healthcare administration or just keeping patients safe. Nance discusses common mistakes made by hospital staff and the simple solutions to fix them. A big piece of the puzzle centers around making nurses valued member of the healthcare team. If nothing else, this book will give you the motivation to go for your Master’s of Science in Nursing.
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3. The Everything New Nurse Book
Every graduating nursing student should receive a copy of this book. Long-time registered nurse (RN) Kathy Quan covers everything you need to manage your career, your patients and your life. You’ll learn about dealing with doctors, working through patient life and which specialty is the best fit for your personality. Quan’s book is targeted at new nurses who want to thrive on the job, but it’s also helpful for student nurses wanting to prepare themselves for their career. You need this practical guidebook so you can hit the ground running your first day on the ward.
4. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost ten percent of nurses work in skilled nursing facilities like rehabilitation facilities or nursing homes. Many newly graduates nurses work at these facilities because of the ease of getting hired, particularly in understaffed rural areas. That’s why any list of required reading for new nurses has to include an entry on skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Gawande’s book is a thoughtful exploration of the history of long-term care in the United States and efforts to improve it. You’ll learn how small animals can make a big difference in patient outcomes and the complicated legislation that forces facilities to focus on patient safety over patient happiness. You might even gain more understanding of the difficult decisions nurse managers have to make every day.
5. The Total Money Makeover
This personal finance book might not seem like it belongs on a list of great books for nursing students. However, far too many new nurses find themselves wondering how their shiny new paychecks disappeared. Before you sign a lease for a new car, agree to give money to family members or treat yourself to a five-star vacation, learn to manage your money. Financial guru Dave Ramsey will ensure the monetary rewards of your nursing career last beyond pay day.
Don’t let your exploration of nursing stop here. Use this list of five awesome books for nursing students as a springboard and continue building your library.
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