The 10 Bestselling Nursing Books of 2016

After working hard in nursing school to earn your RN license, you probably didn't feel like cracking open a book for a while. After all, you'd just spent the last few years studying to graduate from nursing school and to pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. However, you shouldn't put down the books for good. Every year, new titles emerge that deliver unique, compelling information to nurses and aspiring nurses alike.

From textbooks that explain key concepts to personal memoirs that describe what it's like to be a nurse, the top nursing books of 2016 span many categories. Here are the 10 most popular titles:

1. The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients' Lives

This New York Times bestseller enjoys a 4.5-star rating on Amazon and has proven to be the most popular nursing book of 2016. Written by Theresa Brown, a clinical nurse who specializes in medical oncology, it gives readers an insider's look at a typical 12-hour nursing shift. If you are looking for a unique, personal perspective on what it's like to work int his profession, this is the book for you.

2. The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital

Written by Alexandra Robbins, this top-rated book is a bit like an expose about the surprising lives of nurses and other medical professionals. It goes into detail about how nurses perform their jobs, how they deal with stress and about various aspects of working not only with patients but with fellow nurses.

3. First Year Nurse: Wisdom, Warnings and What I Wish I'd Known My First 100 Days on the Job

If you are just starting out as a nurse, this book provides indispensable insight into the first days of working in this demanding profession. Written by Barbara Arnoldusson, this title has a 4.5-rating on Amazon. The author interviewed hundreds of nurses to gain a broad spectrum of insights into what it's like to be in the nursing field. It's loaded with advice for aspiring nurses and current nurses, including information about coping with patients, dealing with stress and achieving professional growth.

4. Nurse Life: A Snarky Adult Coloring Book

Let's face it: Nursing is a tough job. It pays to have a fun way to let off some steam and stress from time to time, and this adult coloring book is a great way to do so. Featuring bright white pages and large, well-designed drawings, it can be colored in using pens, markers, paint or any type of medium. Each page features a funny quote or phrase about nursing as well.

5. Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination

The seventh edition of this popular book brings even more insights to the table for those who are in nursing school or preparing to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. In addition to including strategies for passing the exam, it includes more than 5,200 NCLEX-RN-style questions and answers. Each answer is explained thoroughly as well, so you can gain an even better understanding of crucial points.

6. Physical Examination and Health Assessment

In the seventh edition of this highly regarded nursing book, Carolyn Jarvis describes tips for performing physical exams across the lifespan. This indispensable guide includes checklists of the steps that must be completed in various exams as well as more than 1,200 illustrations. Whether you read through the whole thing or just keep it handy as a reference tool, you are sure to get a lot out of it.

7. Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care

If there's one subject that most nursing students dread, it's pharmacology. Now in its ninth edition, this book provides clear, easy-to-understand descriptions of various complex pharmacological concepts. Within its pages, you will find in-depth, easily readable explanations of drug prototypes and the ways in which they work. Conveniently, need-to-know information is written in large print, so you can quickly scan to get up to speed about crucial concepts as needed.

8. Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare

Written by Bernadette Melnyk, this popular nursing textbook enjoys a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. It revolves around best practices for clinical decision making in the nursing field. The goal of this book is to help nurses to improve patient outcomes by better understanding what to look for and how to interpret data. It brings various situations to life by including real-world examples of key concepts as well as clearly described strategies for engaging in evidence-based practice.

9. Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses

With its 4.5-star rating on Amazon, it's clear that this book was one of the most popular nursing books of 2016. Written by April Hazard Vallerand, it provides easy-to-understand information about thousands of brand-name medications as well as hundreds of generic medications. Crucial information is printed in red, including things like dangerous side effects. With this book, you can learn how to safely administer a variety of medications across the lifespan, so it will come very much in handy during your career.

10. Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing Theory and Application

This four-star-rated book, which was written by Bessie L. Marquis, isn't just meant for nurses who aspire to take leadership roles in the future. It includes advice that applies to all nurses, whether they are just out of nursing school or have been in the field for years. It tackles a variety of subjects, including how to motivate fellow coworkers, how to manage conflicts, how to properly organize patient care and how to work collaboratively with your team.

Regardless of where you are in your nursing career, it pays to continue to educate yourself about the profession. The best-selling nursing books of 2016 is a great place to start, as they include titles that provide crucial advice and information for nurses at all points in their careers.