25 Books Every Nurse Ought to Read
Date: August 30, 2021
The healthcare industry, specifically nursing, is constantly evolving as new medical technology, discoveries, and innovations occur. As a nurse, it is your responsibility to inform, inspire, and educate yourself, your co-workers, and your patients. Reading is one of the most effective and enjoyable ways to do this. There are a countless number of nursing books on the Internet and in bookstores, which means you may feel overwhelmed. We’ve done a bit of research to make your reading venture a little easier and compiled our list of 25 must-read books for nurses just like you! Keep in mind, these books are in no particular order or preference and were independently researched only to benefit our readers.
- Inspired Nurse by Rich Bluni, RN
Written by a registered nurse, this book is a thought-provoking workbook meant to keep readers inspired by their chosen nursing careers. Bluni, an inspirational speaker, utilizes spiritual stretches to help readers discover the many gifts that nursing brings, such as joy, wonder, gratitude, and grief. - Medusa’s Clot by Dr. Michael Helzner
Pulmonary embolism, America’s least-known serial killer, took Dr. Helzner’s life by a storm. He received over 20 surgeries after having two pulmonary embolisms. His new book, packed with humor, science, and faith, is a must-read! - Bedlam Among the Bedpans: Humor in Nursing by Amy Y. Young
Every nurse can resonate with a funny, true-to-life story that another nurse has experienced. Author Amy Young has collected the funniest, most creative stories from books, journals, and the Internet. They are sure to brighten your day and make you chuckle! - We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by Elizabeth M. Norman
When the Japanese overtook the Philippines during World War II, 77 American women, Navy, and Army nurses were captured. This book features the diaries, journals, and interviews of 20 of the 77 nurses who experienced imprisonment, faced starvation, disease, and bombings. Their dedication to their patients and country is sure to inspire you. - Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War by Stephen B. Oates
Every nurse has heard of Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross. But do you know anything more about her journey and involvement in nursing during the Civil War? This book dives into Barton’s dedication as a war nurse but doing so as a one-woman relief agency, surrogate mother, sister, and wife, while comforting countless sick, wounded, and dying men. - Notes on Nursing: What It Is, and What It Is Not by Florence Nightingale
Another book delving into history, this one is written by one of the most influential nurses in history. Florence Nightingale was the first nurse to document her findings, present evidence, and make changes in the struggling world of nursing. Whether you are a new or senior nurse, this book will enlighten and edify. - Stuck Up! 100 Objects Inserted and Ingested in Places They Shouldn’t Be by Rich E. Dreben, Murdoc Knight and Marty A. Sindhian.
This book may not be the most inspiring, but it will surely add some comic relief into your stressful workday! Featuring 100 real-life X-ray images of things stuck in people—it’s all wrong.
- Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: A Guide to Planning Care by Elizabeth Ackley and Gail Ladwig
When a book has ten editions (and counting), it’s probably one you should have on hand! This manual helps nurses create and diagnose individual care plans, is NANDA-I approved, and utilizes a simple, three-step system. - Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary by Donald Venes
This isn’t your standard pocket dictionary. A must-have for all healthcare professionals, the book features the latest medical references and terminology alongside quality photographs and visuals to help readers better understand information. It’s a staple! - The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Budgeting and Finance by Al Rundio
Nurse managers are responsible for more than just hiring and firing. Their roles include financing and budgeting, which can be difficult tasks inside and outside the working field. If you’re a nurse manager in need of reference and tips on best-budgeting practices for your nursing unit, this book is perfect. - Nurse Practitioner’s Business Practice and Legal Guide by Carolyn Buppert
This reference book provides the legal scope and federal regulations foundation that NPs need for the best, most effective practices. It’s perfect for new and older NPs and can even be used by nurses interested in legal perspectives. - Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses by April Hazard Vallerand, Cynthia Sanoski, and Judith Deglin
If you’re in healthcare, you’ve probably heard of this classic. It’s a comprehensive drug guide of best practices across an expected lifespan and includes monographs for both generic and trade-name drugs. - Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth
If you’re interested in nurse-midwifery or simply looking to be inspired by feminine empowerment and dedication, this historical book is for you. While delivering babies all over London, the main character experienced all types of women. - Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing by Marilyn J. Hockenberry and David Wilson
Caring for the tiniest hearts is a huge responsibility, and this book is the most readable, accurate, and up-to-date resource for those in the field of pediatric nursing. It includes colorful illustrations, charts, and concepts that you can’t miss. - The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Hiring, Firing and Inspiring by Vicki Hess
Nurse managers have to be leaders—a challenging task to most. This all-inclusive guide includes tips on hiring the right person, making the best financial decisions, ways to improve employee morale, and much more. - A Daybook for Critical Care Nurses by Eileen Gallen Bademan
Critical care nursing means inevitable stress, which can result in burnout. This book includes up-to-date encouraging tips, quotes, ideas, and meditations for the modern critical care nurse. It also features journal pages to help critical care nurses find space to meditate and reflect. - A Healing Touch: True Stories of Life, Death, and Hospice edited by Richard Russo
This Hospice book offers hope, smiles, inspiration, and some tears in the often-sad world of Hospice. Offering six hopeful stories, it is sure to inspire Hospice nurses and individuals involved in grief care. - Merenstein and Gardner’s Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care edited by Sandra Lee Gardner, Brian Carter, Mary I Enzman-Hines, and Jacinto Hernandez
With easy-to-understand information, this multi-disciplinary approach to NICU nursing provides clinical-based practices essential in an NICU ward. Each section in the book was written in collaboration with both physicians and nurses for teams to benefit.1
___________
Citation: 1 Mar 21, 2016. “Twenty-five Books Every Nurse Ought to Read” Save a Life by NHCPS. Save a Life. April 22, 2016.
