Why It’s Important for Fundamentals Students to Continue Using Books — Reading is a Crucial Skill

The nursing field is constantly evolving, and nurses are expected to address a wide range of health challenges in society.
To meet these challenges, nurses must build a solid foundation of knowledge and develop the skills needed to improve patient outcomes and promote well-being.
Unfortunately, some critics argue that nursing educators should move away from using textbooks and fundamental content in nursing programs.

This is concerning because nursing textbooks provide a reliable, evidence-based foundation that is hard to replicate with other resources, such as YouTube videos or general academic websites.

The Role of Textbooks in Nursing Education

As someone who has been involved in nursing education for over 30 years, I can confidently say that evidence-based practice and nursing fundamentals are best taught through textbooks. Current, up-to-date, and evidence-based content is not easily available on platforms that may lack the academic rigor required for healthcare education. Nursing textbooks provide well-organized, scientifically-backed material that is essential for developing critical thinking and clinical decision-making in nursing students.

The Changing Landscape of Nursing Education

The role of textbooks in nursing education cannot be overstated. While digital learning tools in nursing (such as adaptive learning platforms and online resources) can enhance the learning experience, they cannot replace the solid foundation that nursing curriculum built around textbooks provides. Nursing students need nursing skills that come from reading, understanding, and applying textbook knowledge in real-world situations. These books not only present foundational theories but also contain nursing care plans, evidence-based research, and case studies that help students develop the critical thinking necessary for nursing critical thinking and clinical judgment.

Moreover, nursing students also benefit from learning how to think critically through these textbooks. In the nursing process, textbooks explain how to gather data, assess patient needs, develop plans, implement interventions, and evaluate outcomes. These steps, which form the core of the nursing process, help students understand the importance of patient-centered care in nursing and give them the tools they need to succeed in clinical settings.

Evidence-Based Knowledge in Nursing

One of the primary reasons textbooks are so valuable in nursing education is that they provide evidence-based knowledge in nursing. As nurses, we must make decisions based on the latest research and best practices to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Nursing textbooks are continuously updated to reflect the most current research and provide students with the tools needed to understand and implement evidence-based practice. For instance, when nursing students learn to create nursing care plans, they are guided by the latest studies and clinical guidelines found in their textbooks.

By integrating evidence-based practice into nursing curricula, textbooks give students the knowledge they need to make informed decisions in the clinical setting. Nursing textbooks often incorporate case studies and real-world scenarios that help students apply nursing process concepts, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making skills to complex patient situations.

Enhancing Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment

Developing critical thinking and clinical judgment is central to nursing education. Nursing critical thinking involves analyzing patient data, recognizing health problems, evaluating possible interventions, and deciding on the best course of action. Nursing textbooks provide a structured approach to developing these skills, often breaking down each step of the nursing process and illustrating how critical thinking should guide decision-making.

To ensure that future nurses are prepared to face real-world challenges, it is essential that we use textbooks that include not only theoretical knowledge but also practical examples and problem-solving exercises. This is where digital learning tools like Sherpath with Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing (EAQ) come in, enhancing retention and applying critical concepts through videos, interactive activities, and case studies.

Holistic Care and the Nursing Process

One of the most important aspects of nursing is the ability to provide holistic nursing care. This means understanding and addressing the physical, emotional, psychological, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients. Cultural competence in nursing is vital for providing patient-centered care that respects diversity and promotes inclusivity. Nursing textbooks teach students about cultural considerations, patient rights, and how to provide holistic care tailored to each individual’s unique needs.

However, due to limited clinical hours and fewer hands-on opportunities in some nursing programs, it’s becoming more difficult to teach students these skills. Textbooks, combined with digital learning tools, can bridge this gap by offering scenarios and case studies that allow students to practice and reflect on how to apply holistic nursing principles in real-world situations. Nursing care plans that incorporate holistic care models help students understand how to tailor interventions that are not only medically sound but also culturally sensitive and patient-focused.

The Future of Nursing Education: Integrating Digital Tools

Looking ahead, the future of nursing education lies in the integration of both traditional textbooks and modern digital learning tools in nursing. As technology continues to play an increasingly important role in healthcare, it is essential that nursing students become proficient in using digital platforms for learning. Adaptive learning for nursing systems like Sherpath and Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing provide students with a personalized learning experience, helping them focus on areas where they need improvement while also reinforcing foundational knowledge from nursing textbooks.

These digital tools can complement traditional methods, offering interactive content such as videos, quizzes, and case studies that promote deeper engagement with the material. While nursing textbooks provide the core knowledge, these digital tools support and enhance the learning process, allowing students to develop critical thinking and clinical skills at their own pace.

Conclusion: Lifelong Learning and Reading in Nursing

As educators, our primary responsibility is to prepare future nurses to face the complex and ever-changing demands of healthcare. This preparation requires a strong foundation in nursing fundamentals, evidence-based practice, and nursing process—all of which are best learned through textbooks and supported by digital learning tools in nursing. We cannot afford to ignore the importance of reading, comprehension, and knowledge-building in the early stages of nursing education.

Nursing students need a comprehensive curriculum that combines the best of both worlds: the depth and structure of traditional textbooks with the flexibility and interactivity of digital resources. By ensuring that students have access to the latest research, well-designed textbooks, and adaptive learning systems, we are giving them the tools they need to become competent, compassionate, and skilled nurses. As Sir Richard Steele said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body,” and we must never underestimate the value of reading as part of the learning process.

Lifelong learning is an essential part of the nursing profession, and reading continues to be a key component of that journey. Whether through nursing papers, nursing assignments, online nursing exams, or custom nursing papers, students must continue to engage with literature and research throughout their careers. By fostering a love of learning through textbooks and digital resources, we are helping shape the next generation of nurses who will be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s healthcare world.