How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School: A Guide for Students by Students

by Kelli S. Dunham RN BSN

This light-hearted, fun, fresh, and easy-to-read guide for nursing students by nursing students is full of practical information to help them cope with―and get the most out of―nursing school.

Genres: Nursing, Health, School, Health Care, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2001

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm there was a lot of stuff I read in here that I never even thought of. I'm going into nursing school this September with out any prior definite knowledge or expectation whatsoever. Somethings that Dunham noted that opened my eyes in the world of nursing school:

- study tips
- preparing a portfolio of skills and experiences
- being aware of personal differences of patients, colleagues and staff
- basic things to be aware of in preparation for clinicals
- warnings of the nature/context of nursing in the "real world"- the shortage, other options of work outside of the hospital, the hospital environment itself (staff management vs. patient care, dealing with authorities, pay, work conditions etc.)

One of the most important things I need to consider after reading this book is:
- what I want out of a career; my priorities
- preparing myself clinically by reading up skills, and more of what to expect
- interviewing/researching different fields of nursing

I think Kelli did a good job of telling us the straight (sometimes frightening) facts of what to expect, yet comforting us a lot by her humour and hope that we will all become good nurses and proud of our work.

[KristenReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a life saver! Highly recommend it!

[Epochi David · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a wonderful book

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the second time I have read this book and I will probably read it at least two more times.

The first time I read the book, I was just getting started with my pre-requisites. While I found everything in the book super-helpful most of it did not apply to me yet.

The second time I read this book (now), it was like I had never read it before. Now that I find myself finished with all of my pre-requisites, on the waitlist for the program, and on the very tail end of my co-requisites; I really absorbed the information in the book.

The author writes with humor and wit while presenting information that is very useful. I must of bookmarked 20 websites in my favorites that were discussed in this book.

There are a lot of great study hints, websites, and ideas to think about and look at.

Now I just have to survive clinicals. Yikes!

[Emily Rehfus · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found this book to be humorous, informational, and honest, I didn't feel as though it all applied to me as a perspective nursing student. I do, however, plan to re-read this in the future as more and more of this book will apply to me.

[Pam Reeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This helped somewhat.

[Jennifer Mitchell]

I wish I would have had this book while I was in the practical nursing program. So informative.

[Terri-lynn Wheaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting and had some very useful tips, but a large part of the book was American based and therefore irrelevant to me.

[Ashwise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it when i was in nursing school...

[Khadijah Abdul-aleem · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of very practical tips that apply to not only nursing school but life. The tone of the book also makes it an easy and humorous read.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few good tips in here that I hadn't seen before that made it worth the read.